When it comes to your home, maintaining an organized, tidy, put-together space is essential in handcrafting a sanctuary conducive to mental and physical restoration. Dirty, cluttered areas often induce anxiety and stress, which can be frustrating to arrive home to after a long day of work, school, or errand running. While it may be impossible to keep your entire house free from dirt and disarray, prioritizing cleanliness in central spaces, like your kitchen, can improve your wellbeing on a day-to-day basis.
For many homeowners, the kitchen is a hotspot for early-morning caffeine refuelings, birthday celebrations, and long-awaited Thanksgiving dinners. Because the kitchen is a hub for the hubbub of day-to-day life, ensuring it remains clutter-free and functional is critical. That said, keeping up on organizational maintenance can be challenging, especially for those with busy lifestyles.
If you’re looking to transform your kitchen from jumbled disaster to organized haven, read on for six tips and tricks for a clutter-free space.
Table of Contents
1. Invest in a wall oven microwave combo
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An excellent way to reduce clutter is by consolidating kitchen tools and appliances instead of sprawling them across your countertops. In particular, a wall oven microwave combo is an upgraded, modern way to combine two key kitchen players into one convenient spot. That way, you can free up counter space by removing your large, bulky microwave and swapping it for a two-in-one feature.
Newer models like those from Goedeker’s are also higher-quality than traditional microwaves and ovens, featuring sleek, stainless steel designs. In addition to adhering to the clutter-free memo, these appliances feature an extended microwave unit, allowing you to heat larger portions at one time. That way, you can feed your whole family in one go rather than splitting meals into two rounds. Wall oven microwave combos also automatically convert conventional temperatures to the convection feature, eliminating heat differences between the two appliances.
2. Clear off countertops
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One of the most straightforward ways to keep your kitchen looking de-cluttered is by ensuring your counter spaces remain free from miscellanea. However, this task is often easier said than done, especially in cramped spaces with limited storage. That said, there are ways to adjust your kitchen space to keep countertops free from disorganization disarray.
One simple hack is storing larger appliances and lesser-used items in cabinets instead of on your counter. While frequently used items like coffee makers, paper towel rolls, or soap dispensers can keep their permanent spot on the island, you should tuck away bulkier objects that stick out like a sore thumb. Additionally, find a place to store items like mail and keys, so you don’t feel tempted to toss them aside, causing more mess.
Another way to keep your countertops clutter-free is by making sure each dirty dish goes directly into the dishwasher—or at the very least—your sink. Not only will loading used plates immediately after eating help free up counter space, but it will also keep pests looking for leftovers away from your area.
3. Utilize your walls and ceilings
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If you’re cramped for space in a small kitchen with insufficient storage, take advantage of your ceiling and wall space by installing hooks, magnet boards, and small shelves to aid your decluttering efforts. If you need your cupboard space for larger appliances or food items, consider hanging your pots and pans to free up shelves and bring unique style into your space. Additionally, you can use hanging fruit bowls instead of countertop baskets to keep production up and out of the way.
As for wall hooks and shelves, consider hanging a suction cup sponge holder behind your sink, use a mounted recipe rack, or set up a coffee station shelf to keep your items organized and clutter-free.
4. Speed round clean up before bed
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Staying on top of de-cluttering efforts can be tiring, especially for those with fast-paced lives or large on-the-go families. Limited time can lead to unintentionally messy spaces with bits and bobs strewn about during early morning or after-school chaos, creating massive disorder after a few days of running around. However, you can minimize carnage and keep your kitchen space tidy by engaging in a speed round clean-up routine each night.
While it may be impossible to jump into full-blown cleaning escapades every day, you can improve your kitchen area by tidying as much as you can in ten minutes. You might be surprised at how much you can accomplish in a short period. While there may still be extra items or bigger messes to tackle at the end of the week, ultimately, your kitchen will be more functional and less stress-inducing day-to-day.
5. Don’t put it down. Put it away
A simple rule to follow if you’re attempting to keep your kitchen free from anxiety-inducing clutter is putting items away instead of setting them down temporarily. While this may take time to acclimate to—especially if you’re a chronic leave-it-for-later personality—you’ll ultimately end up with a cleaner, less overwhelming kitchen space. Instead of placing miscellaneous mail, car keys, empty food boxes, and random odds and ends on your counter make a conscious effort to put items where they belong in the first place. That way, you’ll have less to clean during the week, and everything will be in its proper place.
6. Allow yourself a junk drawer
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While you may want to think twice before tossing random misplaced items onto your kitchen table or counter, allowing yourself an assigned space for chaos can help minimize disorganization where it matters. That said, consider setting aside one drawer as a designated junkyard where you can stow items without ruining your squeaky clean kitchen aesthetic. Though it’s wise to sort through your hidden belongings from time to time, allow this drawer to be your guilt-free dumping ground for homeless items.
Final thoughts
Though it may take time to adjust to a clutter-free mindset, prioritizing cleanliness and organization in your kitchen will ultimately save you time and frustration down the road. By keeping your countertops clear, stowing away unnecessarily bulky items, and spot cleaning your space before bed each night, you’ll notice a clear difference in how functional your kitchen can be.
