“The kitchen really is the castle itself. This is where we spend our happiest moments and where we find the joy of being a family.” – Mario Batali
My happiest memories have always taken place in the kitchen. It’s where our family gathered to talk about our days and celebrate life’s little wins. The kitchen is definitely a happy place for me!
And as the famous food connoisseur Ted Allen once said, “The kitchen is a place of adventure and entirely fun, not drudgery. I can’t think of anything better to do with family and friends than to be together to create something.”
It’s so true! And do you know what else is true? Kitchens can also be the gathering spot for grease, clutter, and forgotten leftovers. Ugh…so gross!
One day, I walked into my kitchen and decided that enough was enough. It was time to transform my kitchen from chaos to calm, and with some hard work, I did it. The best part was how much fun it was, which was a total shock!
So, I thought I’d share these five practical tips so you, too, can restore your kitchen to one of peace and organization while having fun doing it. Let’s roll up our sleeves and get to it!
Vacuum and declutter your drawers regularly
Chances are you don’t notice all the stickiness and crumbs that can accumulate at the bottom of your drawers because they’re full of stuff – much of which you might not need. Go through the pile of utensils and get rid of or donate the ones you don’t regularly use. Once the drawer is empty, use a hand vacuum with a petite attachment to clean up those tight spots and corners. A wet microfiber cloth will also do the job. Now, your drawers will be clean and fresh, and you don’t have to sift through seven spatulas every day to get to the one you actually like to use.
Use adhesive hooks inside the cupboards to store extra bits and bobs
This is a pretty cool hack to conserve space and keep my most used items in convenient locations. For example, I’ve hung the coffee tablespoon in the coffee cupboard instead of us having to fish it out of the drawer every time I want to make coffee. My measuring cups are also hung up for easy access when I’m in the middle of a recipe, and – best of all – I’ve hung my oven mitts up in the cabinet closest to the stove so I can quickly grab them before pulling out a batch of cookies. Wins all around – and the cookies are yummy, too!
Wipe down the counters every day
Side note: a big pet peeve of mine is when people use counters to store papers! Aargh! Kitchens are for cooking, not filing, so file them elsewhere or put them in the bin. Plus, countertop clutter makes it hard to keep the counters clean. My nightly ritual: putting my kitchen to sleep by wiping the counters and stovetop before bed. Soon, you’ll realize how peaceful it is to wake up and walk into a clean kitchen counter in the morning. It really does start the day off right.
Clean out your fridge weekly and keep it organized
Okay, I admit this was easier said than done, but once I got into the habit, it was a total game-changer! Cleaning out the fridge weekly has made grocery shopping a breeze because I know exactly what I already have and what I’m running out of. The trick is to put your items in the same spot after every use and not harbour leftovers for too long. Wipe your fridge out for bonus points and change your life for the better.
Implement a container system
Invest in a mix of helpful storage containers in different shapes and sizes to tidy up your kitchen. Clear jars for pantry staples like flour and sugar make it easy to see how much you have. You can also repurpose empty jam containers. Use cute bins for snacks and spices and label them for easy grabbing to encourage others to follow the system. Most importantly, make it your way and be as creative, curated, and fun as you want!
If you’ve come this far, you deserve these two bonus tips!
Connect a good Bluetooth speaker or headphones to entertain yourself
I always make sure my laptop, phone, or any device is hooked up to a speaker or headphones so that I can hear my music, podcasts, or videos over the noisiness of dishes or cooking. Suddenly, you won’t feel like cleaning your kitchen is eating into your leisure time but instead is part of it. And nothing beats kitchen dancing – NOTHING!
Have a place to sit down
I recently bought a small black folding stool that I can tuck near the oven to have a place to sit down while peeling, chopping, and stirring food or while I’m waiting for something to bake in the oven. It’s also an excellent way to make the kitchen cozier, especially if someone’s in the kitchen while you’re cooking. My kitty Pickles loves perching on the stool to watch me cook.
I hope these tips help you enjoy your kitchen more. Remember, with every section you tidy, you are closer to a cozy, warm space that will be just right for cooking a nice dinner, calm, stress-free, and happy.
Enjoy a spotless home with professional home cleaning services in Toronto, Etobicoke, Mississauga, and Brampton
CareHop Home Cleaning Service specializes in simplifying life and saving you time with quality home cleaning services delivered by PHC-certified cleaning professionals. Book now to experience the joys of professional home cleaning today!