How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets

How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets. Are you scared to open your kitchen cabinets? Do you worry that when guests open them an avalanche of dishes and plastic lids will tumble out? If so, it is time to organize the kitchen cabinets once and for all! Organizing your kitchen cabinets may sound like a scary and messy job, but the truth is once you give it a go you will wish you did it sooner. Take a look below at these helpful tips on how to organize kitchen cabinets, and see how easy and even FUN it can be to get those cabinets clean and functional.

How to Organize Kitchen Cabinets

You don’t need a lot of money or supplies to get kitchen cabinets organized. You just need some motivation and a clear game plan. Here is how to organize kitchen cabinets quickly, easily, and inexpensively. Let’s get started.

Supplies needed to organize kitchen cabinets:

• Cleaning cloths
• Basic kitchen cleaner/cleaning spray
• Small boxes, baskets, or bins (check your local dollar store or thrift store for some frugal finds)
• Shelf liner (sold at Dollar Tree in many colors/patterns)

Step 1: Remove Everything

This task is the hardest task in the whole process and will quickly feel overwhelming but trust me, it is necessary and will get things smooth sailing later! Remove everything from your cabinets. EVERYTHING!

Remove all of the dishes, lids, silverware, serving pieces, etc. Having an empty kitchen table ready is a great way to store all of these items while you continue the cleaning process. Take all of the items out, place them on the table, and don’t look at them again until you have completed step 2.

Step 2: Give cabinets a thorough cleaning

You will be amazed at how much kitchen grease, grime, and dust finds its way to your kitchen cabinets. Use a degreasing cleaner to thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the cabinets. Wipe them clean and leave the doors open for them to air out. Running a fan can help circulate the air if you have used a good amount of cleaner to get the job done.

Step 3: Keep, Donate, Toss!

While the cabinets air out, start sorting through everything you removed from the cabinets. Create three piles: KEEP, DONATE, TOSS. Carefully evaluate the items you removed and decide what can stay and what can go. If you have not used the item in 6 months, chances are you can donate it. See if you can’t eliminate a good 25% of cabinet contents with this method.

Remember, it is a waste of time and space to keep items you don’t use. Why struggle for storage if you don’t even use the item? Take this task seriously and see if you can’t eliminate unused items this way. This task alone will help you feel like you have gained cabinet space.

Step 4: Set up your organizational tools

Start by lining the shelves and drawers with a fresh shelf lining. This will help the space feel fresh and clean, and will allow you to clean the cabinets easier next time! Now is also the time to place any bins, baskets, trays, etc. in their place.

To decide which tools to use, look at the items you are keeping. Lids, smaller bowls, and silverware all do well stored in small baskets. Silverware and serving utensils will stay well organized in a tray, while smaller tools like cookie cutters do well in jars.

Step 5: Start refilling the cabinets

Refilling your cabinets can start to feel like Tetris as you try to arrange everything to fit. The idea is to keep like-sized items together. These items can be stacked into neat piles without much issue.

Keeping shelves organized by category can help. Plates should stay on one shelf together, cups and mugs together, and bowls together. Again keeping these like items together will help them all fit nicely. Keep plates and bowls on the same shelves, while mugs and cups should stick together.

Step 6: Tackle the Storage Containers

This seems to be the area for concern in most kitchens. The easiest way to tackle this is to stack all of the bowls and containers up together, then place all the lids in a separate basket stored next to them. This way they are standing upright and you can easily grab and go without them falling all over the place.

Step 7: Be mindful of drawers

Now that cabinets are done, don’t forget the drawers. Divided liners can make a world of a difference in drawers so everything doesn’t fall into a jumbled mess. Small bowls and containers can also keep small pieces from becoming scattered.

Step 8: Make a maintenance plan

Now that your cabinets look great, decide how you will keep them that way. Some ideas include using labels so the family can easily put items back where they belong. It also might mean dedicating a few minutes each week to tidying up cabinets and removing unused items.

Make your kitchen space more functional when you give these tips on how to organize kitchen cabinets a try! As you can see, these ideas are a great way to get those cabinets looking great while also creating a more useful and efficient space!

More Household Organization Tips

• How to Organize Your Home for Success
• Tips to Organize Your Clothes in Dressers
• How to Organize Your Makeup and Create a Makeup Station
• Tips for Organizing Your Spices