I love being a working mom, but in the end, there aren’t enough hours in the day some days. Make that most days. By the time my girls finally go to sleep, the last thing I want to do is pick up the house. Those last couple hours are supposed to be me time.
So I’ve made it a point to simplify my to do list as much as possible and to find quick ways to keep the house, and especially the kitchen, in order.
A few simple adjustments are enough to keep your kitchen clean and clutter-free. Here are a few pointers to get you started.
Take Inventory
Keep a magnetic dry-erase board on the side of the fridge for freezer inventory. When you put an item in, write it on the board. When you take an item out, wipe it off the board. Though your freezer may be jam packed, you’ll always know what’s in it and what needs to be added to the grocery list.
Think Magnetic
Put your spices and herbs in small, round containers and glue a magnet strip on the back of each one. This will allow you to arrange spices on your fridge neatly. Having your spices hanging on your refrigerator also makes them easily accessible and frees up a drawer or shelf for the wine or scotch.
Kitchen knives are another item that are hard to keep organized. Knives in drawers can also be dangerous if the drawer is unorganized. A great idea is to install a magnetic strip along your kitchen’s back splash. The knives can then hang neatly there and out of the way of hands.
Move Unused Appliances
How often do you really use your mixer, blender and food processor? If the answer isn’t at least weekly, store it. You’ll be surprised at how open and airy the room feels, and how easy it is to retrieve appliances out of storage when you do need them.
Choose Wisely
In a tiny and barren-feeling kitchen, size does matter. Avoid using large pieces of furniture — which could be considered standard size in larger kitchens — they’ll just make the room feel even tighter. Instead, try using a pub table with elevated counter-height stools from VisionDecor.com to offer enough seating while still maximizing space.
A Dedicated Garbage Bowl
The process of preparing a meal can turn the kitchen into a tornado of empty cans, used bags and diced vegetable waste. Instead of constantly making a trip to the trash, keep a garbage bowl on the counter next to your working station. Drop egg shells and potato peels in there, then empty when necessary.
Create a Working Triangle
A small rolling cart is perfect in the kitchen if you don’t have a lot of counter space to prep while cooking. It becomes a floating island carrying utensils, cooking equipment and ingredients from the pantry to the stove to the table. A stainless steel finish can be easily cleaned.
Be Selective
Though it’s the heart of the home, don’t let your kitchen turn into a cluttered substitute home office, mail box, homework hub. If you need to, manage a small note-taking area by keeping a can of pens and pencils and stack of sticky notes on the corner. Other than that, if you need more space, make more space.