FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen

Subject: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Thu 31 Jan 2008, 6:01 pm

A new month means a new room to start organizing!
This month we've all chosen the 'kitchen'.

We can take it one cupboard at a time.

I plan on setting an empty box in there to put things in from each cupboard I declutter, then offering it on Freecycle when I've finished. I don't feel so bad when I know someone else might be able to use things, rather than me just dumping them. I find I always save/collect more containers than I actually need/use Rolling Eyes

I plan on starting at the top (wall cupboards) and working my way down, finishing with the pantry then the fridge.

First up I'm getting a step ladder, clearing the baskets from the top of my wall cupboards, cleaning them off and laying newspaper down for future ease of cleaning Wink

Please post all your kitchen organizing ideas so we can all share Very Happy

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~ LESS IS MORE ~

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Thu 31 Jan 2008, 9:25 pm

I am starting with the pantry making a list checking it twice ( oh that Christmas ) we are checking the pantry with me and my Dils DD and sister in laws all buying I have a mess so far we found 54 cans of tomatoes .. plus all those we canned this past summer .. and who all these juice boxes
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2011

LOL Gayla...

well, I think I will start with the baking cupboard...all the cookie sheets and my 9*13's are thrown in there! It sounds like a car crash whenever I pull something out of there!!

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Fri 01 Feb 2008, 9:10 am

I already started with the storage closet 2 weeks ago in my kitchen. DH and me took everything out and went through everything to see what we wanted to save. I got rid of baking pans that I haven't used in almost 10 years. There was a lot of expired canned soups that got tossed. We had old rags that we haven't used in years that we tossed. I have no idea why I was saving so many glass jars - they went in for recycling. We bought one of those carts on wheels that have three trays. We put a lot of our bulk items like storage bags and our rice steamer on it. Now, we have more room on the floor. I put my spice rack in that closet because it was really inconvenient. I threw out old spices that we've had for years.

Last night, I went through our top cupboard and got rid of a bunch of mugs that we don't use. Those will go to charity. I have a big box started. And straws - I don't know what I was thinking. I had three bags of unopened straws. They're going to charity.

I cleaned out the frig on Thursday morning and got rid of stuff in the freezer that's been around too long.

I love cleaning Cheerleader

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2011

WOW sissy...you did alot of work so far!

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Fri 01 Feb 2008, 1:26 pm

A lot of the things we still have belonged to my grandparents. I have a two tiered tray that my grandmother used when she gave parties. I remember her putting Christmas cookies on them. She's been dead almost 13 years, and I've never used it. I'm going to get rid of it, even though it's hard to let go. I have to believe someone out there will give it a good home.

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Fri 01 Feb 2008, 3:49 pm

I can say that I am up on this one..since we totally remodeled the kitchen in December my kitchen has been organized!!! And believe me,,it is so nice to know where everything is and also to know what all you have!

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Fri 01 Feb 2008, 5:11 pm

My gadget drawer need help. I have all my utensils, measuring sppons, cups, etc.. everything in 1 drawer. Suggestions? Also I have no counter space - My toaster, coffe pot and canisters take it up
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Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

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Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Fri 01 Feb 2008, 5:41 pm

Vicki, do you use all of the utensils in that drawer regularly?

I had a similar problem a while back. I read a tip and tried it out, it was great.
Basically it said to only keep utensils in that drawer that you use pretty regularly and move the others elsewhere!
I had a pretty large plastic container (with lid) into which I put extra slotted spoons, salad tongs etc. that we normally only used for BBQ's but they were taking up space in the drawer and making space very tight. I put this on the top shelf in the pantry with place settings and extra cutlery, basically anything that only gets used for entertaining. Also, I put measuring cups in an old large biscuit tin along with baking items, food flavourings, food colourings and baking cases, etc and tucked the tin into a corner of the pantry. If I need anything I can just take the tin out and easily access whatever I need.

Hope some of that's useful Smile

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~ LESS IS MORE ~

Moderator Age : 28 Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 2011

Great tips Skin...organizing is really your thing! Smile

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Sat 02 Feb 2008, 11:43 am

The main pantry been done they are start the kitchen cabients my baking center and my applicance rack I am tossing away as we go
wish me luck the junk drawer next .
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Wed 06 Feb 2008, 9:04 am

I put my cookie decorations in Tupperware containers. I threw out our toaster because the cord was over heating. We decided not to buy a new one because the toaster oven works just as well and is more versatile. So, we have one less appliance to store. I went through the silverware/gadget draw. I don't know what I was thinking saving some of the things that were in that drawer. I got rid of some old thermos bottles and a blender that belonged to my grandparents. They've never been used.

Now, I have all my mixing bowls, hand mixer and measuring cups all together in one place.

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Wed 06 Feb 2008, 3:46 pm

I cleaned out the gadget drawer some what! LOL. I got rid of a few things and put all the medicine cups, spoons and droppers in with the medicines. I didn't take the items out that are used infrequently as I have no where to put them. Everything else is cleaned out and organized also!
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Vicki

[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/weight-loss/wH4660m/]

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Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Wed 06 Feb 2008, 6:07 pm

You're going well ladies!

I'm slowly gathering bits & bobs that I NEVER use to offer on Freecycle. Teaches you a valuable lesson, huh?
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~ LESS IS MORE ~

Subject: Re: FEBRUARY ORGANIZING - The Kitchen Wed 06 Feb 2008, 7:46 pm

I don't have much counter space either, Vicki, but I have found it useful to keep the things I use the most in colorful mugs or tins or boxes near the areas where I use them....spatulas and big spoons near the stove-top, measuring cups and spoons near my baking area, tea bags and spoons near my coffee maker, etc. They don't take up much room and you can clean them out when needed....
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