Tips for Keeping Your Kitchen Clean

I love having a clean kitchen. There's something about clutter-free counters and clean dishes that helps me have a positive attitude about keeping my home orderly. When my counters are clear, it also makes cooking a meal for my family much easier. And when I say "no" to the kitchen as a depository for paper, it also forces me to be more organized in other areas of my home.

So today I'm going to share some of my tips for keeping my kitchen clean.

1. Store seldom-used small appliances in cabinets, pantry, closets or the garage - not on the counters.

2. Use a manual can opener and keep it in a drawer. It also comes in handy when the power is out.

3. Create a coffee/tea center using a pretty tray. If possible, use an under-the-counter coffee maker and tuck the supplies under that.

4. Have one spot for a message center if the phone is in your kitchen. Keep it simple. Consider using a section of the wall for a white board for messages.

5. Keep your sinks clean, and faucet shined. Occasionally fill up your porcelain sinks with water and a cup or so of bleach. Let it soak.

6. Store papers you refer to often in a drawer. I purchase colored pocket folders when school starts and assign one for each child and responsibility. For example, I've had them for sport's teams, PTSO, church committees and so on. Storing the pocket folders flat in a drawer makes them easily accessible.

7. Clean as you cook. Get into the habit of putting things away as soon as you use them. This includes rinsing dishes and putting them in the dishwasher, or hand-washing items.

8. Use the top of your refrigerator for decorative purposes, not storage for cereal boxes. If you need that space for storage, then invest in some beautiful boxes or baskets.

9. Create menus according to what is in your pantry or is leftover in your refrigerator. For example, I've got some capers that are taking up space. I just did a google search and found an entire page of recipes on About.com that use capers. I've also got some canned pumpkin that needs to be made into bread. This keeps your cabinet space functional.

10. Be vigilant about having your family place items where they belong in the house.

If you avoid cleaning your kitchen counters because you don't know where to put all the stuff, then just start with one small section and work your way clockwise around the kitchen. I've found that the major reason we have clutter is we resist making a decision about where it goes. But if you start small, with one small decision, you can reclaim your kitchen in 30 days.

Let me know how it goes.

In His Love,

Glynnis