Organizing the kitchen space

Whether you are just moving in or renovating the kitchen or just spring cleaning, streamlining your kitchen will make your daily tasks much smoother. For me, a clean and accessible kitchen keeps me calm and happy. First rule of organizing kitchen is emptying the cabinets.

• Discard everything that you know you will not use. Be merciless as we need to keep the things that we use regularly.
• Remove all duplicate & broken items or things you did not remember having. Throw away containers whose lids have been compromised or misplaced.
• Use clear container to store items. This will make it easier for you to select the pulses or spices as per your choice without much ado.

• Group together things like packets mixes, sample envelopes, seasoning packets etc and put them into small plastic containers to avoid them being lost or scattered all over the cabinet. 

• Use big storage containers to put all your tupperwear & plastic containers. Do not include crockery in this storage.

• Cooking and baking pieces should be stored close to where you do food preparation.
• A coffee or tea station that includes sugar, mugs and strainers, could be placed near the water source, if possible.
• Use dividers, especially in your junk drawer and if you have a cutlery drawer as well. Sorting through things is much easier this way.

• Hang aprons, washcloth, and dish towels on pegs and mount them at least two feet away from the stove. You can also use hooks to hang serving spoons, measuring cups and other small gadgets.

• Make use of the vertical space. If possible set up a cabinet that you can use for crockery and other glassware.

• Repair or replace things that are defective or broken.
• Keep cookies, biscuits and other knickknacks together and in an easy to reach location.
• Clean out the refrigerator, once a week if possible; if not then once a month.
• Ensure that your refrigerator has current items only and not cluttered with old unused food. For preserved food, check for the expiry dates, if crossed then toss it.
• You can use storage containers for the raw vegetables to maintain order in your refrigerator.