Tips for Kitchen Organizing

Organization is the key to staying in control. When your home is not in synch with the rest of your life, things just naturally go awry. By the same token, it seems when the main room of the house is not running smoothly the rest of the house tends to fall apart. These tips for kitchen organizing will keep your kitchen-the most trafficked area in the house-organized and operating smoothly.

Everything in Its Place
In order for a kitchen to run smoothly, every item that belongs in the kitchen should have a designated space. A kitchen that is in disarray is a kitchen that will slow you down.

Keep Like Items Together
When looking for a spatula, you should be able to find it in the utensil drawer, not in some obscure place reserved just for spatulas. But keep in mind that it's convenient to store the utensils you use most often close to the stove. If there isn't room for a rack, however, don't overcrowd the stove. Make sure there's plenty of space on the counters and near the stove, so that cooking and baking can be accomplished with ease.

Keep dishtowels and dishcloths in a drawer that is easily accessible from the sink. Likewise, keep foils, plastic wrap and plastic containers within reach of the counter area. If the wastebasket is placed beneath the sink, and the roll of towels is attached to the wall above the sink, you won't even have to move your feet when you need to clean up a spill.

Downsize
If you have two toasters, two microwaves and two mixers, it may be time for a yard sale. A well-equipped kitchen is a glorious thing, but an overstocked kitchen leads to confusion. Depending on your enthusiasm for the culinary arts, you may find having two or more of certain items is needed. The key is to know what you need and know how many duplicates are necessary. If you bake on a regular basis, having four cookie sheets or six pie pans might be a necessity. The same goes for colanders and mixing bowls. If you know what you need, you can tackle the job of organizing your kitchen much easier.

Compartmentalize Drawers
The reason the silverware drawer is split into compartments is for ease in finding the exact object that is required. The same can be done with many of the drawers in your kitchen. The junk drawer can be split into at least three compartments: one for larger items, such as papers, shopping lists and other paperwork; a small compartment for pencils, pens and scissors; and one compartment for the small odd things you find on the floor when sweeping or on the counter after someone empties their pockets. Find another drawer to compartmentalize items such as rubber bands, bread ties, paper clips and the stapler. Drawers can be divided with small boxes-use the boxes your checks come in-or with store bought drawer dividers.

Use Wall Space
Using wall space is especially smart when the kitchen is small, but take care not to crowd too much on the wall of a small kitchen or you'll start to feel trapped. Keep in mind that not all wall storage will be seen. Start with the behind the scenes wall space and move your way outward.

The broom closet is a perfect example of unseen wall space. Install hooks for brooms, dust pan, mop and ironing board, and create space on the floor of the closet for others things such as a large bag of cat food, a place to store grocery bags or an extra storage space for plastic bins. By adding a high shelf at the back of the closet for the iron, polish and any other cleanser that you might need in the kitchen, you will have created much more space than you realized you had to work with.

If you have the space, using kitchen walls to store plates is also a nice option. While some people like to keep only their decorative or commemorative plates on display, the same type of racks can be used for everyday dishes.

If there is room beside the stove, this would be a good time to install a utensil rack nearby. Take care: If it is too close to the stove, you run the risk of food and grease getting splashed on your clean utensils during cooking. Do a quick measurement with a stretch test. Stand at the stove and stretch your arms out in all directions. If you bang into something in every direction, you are working in too small a space-don't add to the confusion by installing racks in the same area.

If space permits, store your pots and pans in the ceiling area directly above a kitchen island or above the stove. Or perhaps you want to hang a wine glass rack or a wine rack? If you can find the space, it can be done. Just remember: Too much on the walls or hanging from the ceiling can turn a positive area into a negative area. Don't overcrowd.

Alphabetize Spices and Group Canned Goods
Keep spices ready within reach and within their own space. How about one of those nifty back-of-the-door racks? Hide the rack on the back of a cupboard door that holds all of your baking supplies. It's also a smart idea to date your spices on the bottom or back. Spices that stick around too long can become old and tasteless. Rather than take a chance, discard spices as they age. After six months some bottled spices will begin to lose their flavor. Do the sniff test periodically and discard those that fail.

Canned goods should be kept together in groups according to what kind of food they contain. If possible, keep each group on a separate shelf. Soup should be placed in rows of like goods, also. Chicken soup goes in one row, tomato soup in another. The object is to know what's in the pantry with just one glance. If you have a pantry with free-standing shelves, make sure the shelves are secured to the wall and that large or heavy items are placed at the bottom of the storage shelf to help prevent accidental toppling.

Memo Board
Install a memo board or use the refrigerator as a message station. If you have the space, opt for a memo board and keep the fridge free of clutter. If not, buy a magnetic shopping list and another magnetic note pad for messages. Whenever you run out of something or think of something you'd like to pick up at the grocery store, jot it down on your shopping list. Then, when it's time to go shopping, simply tear off the sheet and take it with you. But keep it simple-more than a couple magnets on the fridge and it will begin to look cluttered.

Share Ideas
Next time you go visiting, share more than a cup of coffee. Check out your hostess's kitchen. If you like what you see, ask her to share her secret tips. She'll probably be flattered that you admire her kitchen setup and her organization skills, and be happy to share her tips for kitchen organizing with you.