Welcome back to another week of decluttering inspiration! If you’ve just joined the declutter challenge, be sure to check out the post on digital clutter here so you can catch up on the fun!
The kitchen is the heart of the home. Sounds cheesy, right? Well, it’s true! A lot happens in the kitchen and it’s a rewarding and motivating experience when things are neatly put away and easy to find. Think of the dining room as an extension of the kitchen. For many of us, this is physically true so this week we will be focusing on both rooms if they are considered separate spaces.
Tupperware
It’s a wonderful invention but do we need all of the Tupperware? Pick out the most used pieces and consider getting rid of the rest. A great way to do this is to bake some goods and use the Tupperware as a container for the baked goods and deliver them to a family member or friend. Ta-da! Not only did you free up some kitchen cupboard space, but you also made someone else’s day! Win-win!
Coffee Cups
If you are like my family, you have more coffee cups than you know what to do with. Coffee cups are fun and they allow us to show off our interests and unique personalities. So we continue to buy them and buy them until our cupboard is overflowing with a sea of coffee cups. Use the Marie Kondo method and ask yourself, “does this spark joy?” Keep only the cups that you absolutely love and donate the rest.
Dishes
I know, we just went over Tupperware and coffee cups but dishes are a separate category because… they just are. I feel like Tupperware and coffee cups rank differently on the emotional attachment scale but maybe that’s not true for everyone.
Take a look at what you have. How many different sets of dishes are crowding your cupboards? Are any of the items chipped or ugly? Do you have so many multiples, you could feed a small army without blinking? Let’s relive those cupboards and give the dishes you love some space and gratitude. Making room will make it easier for you to find what you’re looking for. It will also make it easier to put dishes away. If you are like me, you hate doing the dishes. But when my cupboards are organized and spacious, I find it just a little more enjoyable to do that chore.
Under the sink
Take inventory of what you have under your sink. I’m guilty of buying extra items like cleaning supplies and forgetting that I purchased extra so I buy them again and pretty soon, I have four units of toilet bowl cleaner. Lately, I’ve been focusing on buying products I’m able to reuse. For instance, I purchased these reusable pads for my swifter and they truly are a game-changer. I can use them and simply toss them in the wash when I’m done. I’m saving money and protecting the environment.
Disposable silverware
I’m not even going to pretend to tell you to get rid of this. What I am going to tell you to do is to take it to work or store it in your car. Why? Because that is where you will need it most. I can’t tell you how many times I needed a fork or a spoon while on the go only to be left disappointed. I keep the individually wrapped pieces you get from restaurants in a cupboard in my classroom. It doesn’t last long because people tend to forget to pack it when they are preparing their lunch. The chances of using it at home are pretty small in comparison.
Pantry
If you haven’t thoroughly inspected your pantry contents in a few months, I invite you to take a look. Throw out anything expired or mysterious (like you’re not sure what it is anymore). If it’s stale, it goes. Find cute storage containers for baking items like sugar and flour. I like to keep snacks in a bin. It makes it easier to pack lunch when the snacks are together.
Refrigerator and Freezer
Just like the pantry, inspect items for freshness. If it’s old, it goes. Use a grocery list when shopping so you can avoid purchasing unwanted or unnecessary items. Throw out questionable or unknown freezer items. When in doubt, throw it out. Avoid this in the future by labeling and dating items you intend on freezing.
Kitchen/Dining Room Linens
Analyze those towels and dishcloths. Are they thin and holy? Dingy or discolored? Consider replacing them. Now replacing them doesn’t mean buying new towels and KEEPING the old ones, it means getting rid of the old ones when you receive the new ones. I won’t judge you too harshly if you keep them as rags in the garage or under the sink but make sure you separate them from the ones you will be using in the kitchen. While we are discussing linens, check out those tablecloths and other decorative linens. Do you use them? Could you lose them? Storing stuff can be a pain, especially if you never get it out to actually enjoy it. Be realistic about whether you will put it to good use in the next year (I’m thinking holidays here). If the answer is no or I don’t know, consider finding it a new home. Someone else can show it some love.
Counters
I love having spacious and clean counters. It makes me want to be in my kitchen. It makes me want to cook and bake. I don’t keep much of anything on my counters. The only appliance I have on my counter is my coffee maker. I find cupboard space for the other small appliances like my toaster and can opener. I find that clutter attracts clutter and I’m able to keep my counters clean and clear when I have little to start with. If this isn’t you, feel free to skip this idea.
Conclusion
Another week, another project! Now that you’ve finished your kitchen and dining room decluttering, it’s time to move on to the next area of the home. We’re slowly checking things off the list and hopefully, your house is starting to feel more peaceful. What is one thing that really motivates you to continue decluttering? Let us know in the comments below or shoot us an email. If you need more motivation, check out this post!