Decluttering your kitchen and pantry presents unique challenges. This ‘how to’ guide will help you work your way through them.
For most of us the kitchen is the heart of our home; in constant use and ‘on display’.
When this area of our home isn’t working as it should, as with our own hearts, it causes problems. Stress levels increase, energy levels fall, tempers become frayed and our ‘dream kitchens’ become ‘nightmares’
The kitchen and pantry are interdependent, but separate. Don’t worry I’m not going to continue with the body analogy, I’ll leave that to your imaginations! Chances are if one is clogged with clutter, the other will be too.
For the sake of your sanity and to make this more manageable, we’ll be tackling your kitchen and pantry declutter as two decluttering projects and using the S.A.N.E method.
Decluttering your kitchen first will give us the room we need to declutter the pantry. You may want to tackle this in two seperate sessions, see how your energy levels and time go and make your decision once you’ve completed your kitchen declutter.
Clearing the clutter in this busy area is a challenge, but it will improve the function and flow in your home, making day-to-day living so much easier.
Once you’ve temporarily closed the kitchen to get the clutter chaos under control in the heart of your home you’ll feel on top of things again, and back in control; believe me, I’ve seen it happen!
So that you understand the process before you begin, please read this guide through until the end.
Before diving into the task of decluttering your kitchen, I want to share some images of kitchens from the not-too-distant-past.
Why? Because it’s an opportunity to take a moment to reflect on what we used to manage with very well. It’s probably true to say that, before the arrival of processed foods and ‘must have’ gadgets, more food preparation, baking and making went on in these kitchens than happens today.
So as you work your way through decluttering your kitchen and pantry, keep things in perspective. Don’t be afraid to let go of items you don’t need or use anymore; afterall that is the purpose of the exercise!
The first step when decluttering your kitchen is to pull every item out from your cupboards and drawers onto your workbench or table. Depending on the space you have available, you may need to do break this down, drawers first, then cupboards, or vice versa.
So we can declutter your kitchen we need to be able to see what has been hiding away out of sight! This can be overwhelming, but it’s an essential part of the process.
Deal with the clutter as you go, grouping like with like; bake-ware and cookware, utensils, cutlery and other groupings that make sense.
Now, with your boxes, crates or bags at the ready we’re going to sort and edit using the S.A.N.E method.
The S.A.N.E method will help you declutter your kitchen; seize this opportunity to let go of stuff you’ve been holding on to.
As you work through your items, ask yourself: ‘Is it used sometimes, always, never?’
If it’s ‘never’ then it needs to ‘exit’ and should go straight to the donate, recycle or discard pile.
Remember, our purpose is not to tidy-up or ‘organise’ your clutter. You’re sorting and editing to create function and flow in the heart of your home, that’s the goal!
Most common ‘never’ items’
While you’re decluttering your kitchen think: ‘I’m going to do this once, and do it well because I never want to do this again.’
Stay true to the the S.A.N.E method and you will be able to declutter your kitchen and pantry with relative ease.
How many mugs and cups do two people, or a family need? Two people don’t need 20 mugs, but a family might.
You need enough to get you through the average day and process through the dishwasher, plus a couple for good luck!
Which ones do you use sometimes, always, never? Edit accordingly, it’s a quick win, apply to all your kitchen items!
Use it or lose it: If there is an item that you’re uncertain about discarding, and it’s usually a gadget, set yourself a ‘use again’ time challenge. This should be weeks rather than years.
Several weeks later, if it’s still a ‘never used’ item you have your answer. On the other hand, setting yourself this challenge might make you use the item – either way it’s a win:win!
Look to the future: In another approach, ask yourself: ‘If I was moving home would I take this with me? That question often helps us make a decision.
“When my children were at school, I seemed to be forever baking slices and snacks. Now that they are grown, I rarely bake and gave my bakeware to someone who would appreciate it more.”
Once you have sorted your items into the discard, donate and recycle piles, remove these items from your kitchen and follow through with your exit strategy.
Remember, your kitchen isn’t decluttered until the clutter has been removed from your home.
Wipe down the inside of all your drawers and appreciate the space you have for the things you’ve decided to keep. Pause for thought before you decide how best to use it.
This is your opportunity to perhaps do things differently and create the function and flow you’ve been missing.
You’ve cleared the decks, now clear your mind so you’re ready to get organised.
You may want to take a breather before you turn your mind from decluttering your kitchen to organising your kitchen. When you’re ready:
Put the most frequently used items in the places that are easiest to access for you, and that make sense to how you operate in your kitchen.
Avoid stacking bowls on plates – it makes it harder for you to easily get to what you need.
Put like with like and keep your stacks small, that way they’re easier to use and keep organised.
Keep in mind the weight of an item. To avoid accident or injury if it’s heavy don’t store it too high, or too low.
It’s easier to keep benchtops uncluttered if you only keep essential everyday items on them.
I prefer to tackle the pantry separately as in some homes this is almost a room in itself!
Most people’s pantries or food cupboards contain a vast array of items, here’s how we’re going to sort and edit.
Yes, you’ve guessed it, the first step when decluttering your pantry is to pull out every item and put it onto your workbench or table.
Then apply the same S.A.N.E method we used to declutter your kitchen.
We’re going to apply the same editing process to your pantry items, ask yourself: ‘Do I use this sometimes, always, never? The ‘never’ items need to go exit your pantry and go to the donate, discard, recycle or compost pile!
Unlike the kitchen, your pantry has perishable items. Based on their ‘use by’ dates these items should never be used again and need to be discarded.
Check packages for signs of pests and rodents.
Unfortunately, critters such as pantry moths can travel into our homes in grocery items and love those seldom opened packs where they can lie undisturbed for months and hatch.
Check for clumps inside grains, starches and flours or cocoons on food packages.
Be ruthless in discarding any contaminated items, or our flying friends will return.
For ‘good’ food items, are they stored correctly? Being a huge fan of sustainability, I hate single-use plastics, but I love durable, re-usable pantry storage.
Storing your items correctly will not only make it easier to see what you have, but also avoid duplication in the future.
Refresh and get organised.
Before replacing everything in your pantry, wipe down the shelves (I like to use water and white vinegar). Install shelf steps if you have invested in these.
If you can, transfer all your dry goods including flours, rice, sugars, pasta and other grains into clear, airtight storage. If space is an issue invest in stackable storage, you don’t have to buy new, check out your local ‘op shop.
Some people like to label, I love to be able to see at a glance what’s in the container.
The exception is bread, which I prefer to store in a metal container for space and freshness.
Rearrange your pantry items in logical groups, for example all baking goods together, all breakfast cereals and spreads in an accessible everyday spot. Group pasta and other sauces on one shelf, tea, coffee supplies together, herbs and spices, the list goes on.
In many homes mail, school notes and other printed items seem to gravitate to the kitchen; taking-up permanent residence on the kitchen workbench: the workbench then becomes a shelf!
The pantry is designed for storing food and the kitchen for preparing it, but in many houses, kitchens become a dumping ground or final resting place for bills, mail and the flotsam and jetsam of modern living.
By removing non-food items from the pantry and kitchen, you will make these areas function much better.
- Paperwork goes straight to the study or designated area,
- Groceries go straight in the fridge,
- Dirty dishes get immediately placed in the dishwasher,
- Clean dishes are dried and put away,
- and kids’ stuff goes in their rooms.
Having a clean and clutter-free kitchen bench at the start and the end of the day will make a massive difference to your sanity and stress levels.
Emphasising its role as a food and meal preparation zone and not another storage area, will restore and maintain function and flow in your home.
The smaller the kitchen the more important it is to prioritise the functionality of the space. Some of the most efficient kitchens are galley kitchens, some of the most inefficient are ‘dream kitchens’ that become nightmares.
This rule may take habit change in your household, but it is one of the most significant shifts you can make.
As you and your family adjust, try encouraging new behaviours by using humour to get your message across.
“Looks like bills bolognese for dinner tonight”, or “Unless you want me to find a way to incorporate your lego in tomorrow’s lunch, please put it away”.
By using humour, you won’t feel like such a nag, and they won’t feel nagged – it works even if you live alone!
I sincerely hope that this ‘how to declutter your kitchen and pantry guide’ will help you succeed in creating a kitchen and pantry free from clutter.
If you follow this guide, and the S.A.N.E decluttering method you will learn to love this zone again. You’ll also rediscover the pleasure of cooking in an open and organised space.
We’ve slowly been building your decluttering muscles, and you are getting stronger and better!
The next ‘how to’, is that scary and mysterious zone known worldwide as ‘the junk room’.
It may have been a ‘spare room’ once, or double as a guest room or home office, but 90% of Australian homes have a ‘junk room’, soon your home won’t be one of them.
Enjoy your newly organised kitchen and pantry!
Kerry.
