The kitchen is the heart of the home, and a well-planned space will streamline food prep, cooking, baking, and cleaningall while maximizing time and efficiency. Before you start pulling everything out of the cabinets and drawers, begin by writing out a plan. Consider how many cabinets and drawers you have. What needs organizing? Which areas are used for which tasks? How many gadgets, small appliances, and dishes can you purge, and how much space will result? Write out your ideas and get a detailed plan on paper. Once youve got your guideline, its time to get started.
DIVIDE INTO ZONES
The kitchen functions at its best when its set up in zones. There are five main zones: cooking, preparation, cleaning, storage, and food. Everything in your kitchen should fit into one of these five categories. If you have an item that doesnt fit, it may not belong in the kitchen.
A. COOKING Your cooking space should include spices, oils and vinegars, cooking utensils, pots and pans, pot holders, trivets, and other tools.
B. CLEANING All things related to cleaning your kitchen should be in this zone, which is typically centered around the dishwasher and kitchen sink. Categories include kitchen cleaners, under the sink items (sponges, paper towels, microfiber cloths, trash bags, dishwasher detergent), recycling bins, and trash cans.
C. PREPARATION Everything needed to prep meals goes in the preparation zone. Items might include mixing bowls, knives, cutting boards, kitchen gadgets, blender, and other appliances. Specific areas will form within this zone, like the baking and school lunch stations ().
D. STORAGE Items in the storage zone include food containers, silverware, dishes, glasses, and small appliances.
E. FOOD The pantry is considered the food zone. If you dont have a pantry, designate a few cupboards or a standing cabinet in which to store food items.
Kitchen islands are excellent multipurpose areas that might serve as storage, preparation, or cooking spaces.
END YOUR DAY WITH A CLEAN KITCHEN
Few things feel better than waking up to a clean space. At the end of each day, when dinner is done and the kids are in bed, take 15 minutes to give everything a quick cleanup and wipe-down. Youll notice that this easy task will really affect your mood for the rest of the eveningand make heading into the next days meal preparations a breeze.
LOAD Load the dishwasher (and empty it the next morningnow youll always know whether its clean or dirty).
CLEAN Clean the sink: Rinse out any remaining food, scrub with baking soda, and use a daily cleaning solution (). You should do a separate deep clean on the sink once per week.
SPRAY Spray and wipe down the countertops, stovetop, table, and any other surfaces.
REPLACE Put a clean washcloth and dish towel out and toss the dirty ones in the laundry.
EMPTY Take the garbage out to avoid old food smells and leaks, and put a new liner in the can.
MAKE A DIY SINK CLEANER
Some studies state a higher concentration of bacteria can be found in the kitchen sink than in the toilet bowl. Heres my recipe for an easy kitchen sink cleanser that you can DIY at home and use on a daily basis to keep the germs away.
YOULL NEED
1 clean spray bottle
1 part white vinegar
1 part water
DIRECTIONS
Mix the vinegar and water, cap your bottle, and shake vigorously. Use a permanent marker to label it Daily Sink Cleanerthis will prevent confusion with other sprays and remind you of its usefulness! Simply spray your sink and faucet, let sit for a few minutes, then wipe down. Youll have a fresher sink in no time.