October 27, 2022

How to Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets and Drawers

Have you ever thought about why your kitchen drawers are where they are? Maybe it seems obvious that the silverware should go beside the dishwasher, but maybe there’s a better way to organize your cabinets and drawers. We’ve got some tips to take your kitchen storage from cluttered chaos to an organized oasis.

Before Organizing Your Kitchen

Before you can start organizing your kitchen, there’s some prep work to do. Start by taking everything out of your cabinets. Emptying your cabinets has two benefits: you’ll be able to properly clean and disinfect the cabinets and you’ll have a better idea of what’s inside.

After everything’s out of the cabinets, you can get to cleaning. Use a damp cloth to pick up any dust and crumbs that have been left behind. If there’s anything stuck onto the surface, some warm water and an all-purpose brush should do the trick. Just make sure to use a dry cloth to dry the surface afterward to prevent any water damage.

Next, look through your items and get rid of anything that’s expired. You’ll free up some room and can ensure your family isn’t at risk of getting sick from out-of-date food. While you’re at it, take the time to declutter any duplicates or other items that you simply don’t need. If you haven’t used that cheese grater in a few years, it’s probably not worth holding onto.

Keep in mind that just because you’re getting rid of something doesn’t necessarily mean you have to throw it away. Of course, expired food will need to go in the trash. But gently used kitchen appliances could go to a neighbor or a local charity shop. If you have canned goods that are still within their “use by” date, consider donating them to a food pantry in your neighborhood.

You might also consider adding liners to your cabinets, particularly if you’re renting. Liners can help protect the cabinets’ surfaces and help you stay more organized overall. Plus, kitchen cabinets tend to collect a lot of dust, especially here in New York. Cabinet liners can keep your surfaces cleaner and easier to maintain in the long run.

Kitchen Organization Tools

When you’re organizing, you might feel the irresistible draw of Target or The Container Store for fancy tools and systems. You don’t have to go overboard, though. Just a few simple tools can help you organize your cabinets and drawers and, more importantly, keep them clean and tidy for good.

First, consider keeping your food or tools together in like categories, each with its own separate drawer. Group categories like baking tools, spices, canned goods, etc. You may find that drawer organizers come in handy here, but you may not need them. There may also be a bit of trial and error here to find the organization method that works best for you.

Spices and condiments can often be hard to organize. Putting them in a cabinet traditionally may mean you’re reaching to the very back of the cabinet for the spice you need. Instead, consider a Lazy Susan. You can keep everything organized and find exactly what you need with a simple spin. Plus, this tool doesn’t take up too much space in your cabinet, so it won’t feel cluttered.

Lazy Susan’s can also be great for tackling your cleaning supplies. Many people choose to keep their cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink, which is ideal for keeping these chemicals away from your food. To free up space under the sink and ensure everything is within easy reach, a Lazy Susan is a great solution.

You might opt for see-through boxes to organize your kitchen, or you could choose something more decorative and opaquer. Either way, labels can come in handy. By using labels, you’ll never have to search through boxes to find what you’re looking for. You can see what’s inside any container with just a glance.

Kitchen Organizing Styles

Everybody organizes in their own unique way, but what if you don’t know where to begin? Consider using one of these organizing styles to get started, but feel free to tweak your system to figure out what works for you. (Keep in mind that you might be able to combine some of these systems if you want!)

1) FIFO

One of the most popular organization methods is called FIFO, or “First In, First Out.” If you’ve ever found yourself throwing out food that’s gone bad simply because it got shoved to the back of the pantry, you might be interested in this method. Periodically move the oldest items in your pantry up to the front so that you don’t forget about them. That way, you’ll make sure you use what you have and can more easily monitor when you’re running low.

2) Per Person

If you’re a parent, you probably can’t count how many times a day you have to grab a snack for your little ones. Consider putting their snacks and favorite foods toward the bottom of the cabinet for easy access. You may even want to get a separate basket to put their treats in. Allowing your kids to get their own snacks provides them with a sense of responsibility and independence while also saving you time throughout the day.

3) Location

Many people choose to organize their belongings based on location, but this is especially true in the kitchen. For example, it makes sense for your coffee mugs to go in the cabinet above the coffee machine. Try keeping your pots and pans near the stove for easy access. When it comes to holiday-specific dishware or other items you don’t use that often, these items can go at the top of the cabinet since they don’t need to be easily accessible all the time.

You may also want to consider your upper cabinets versus your lower cabinets. Upper cabinets are ideal for storing things like food (particularly if you don’t have a pantry), glasses and dishes, cookbooks, and storage containers. For lower cabinets, store items like kitchen appliances, mixing bowls, baking sheets, cutting boards, and cleaning supplies.

4) Task

This organizing method is particularly useful when you’re organizing your kitchen appliances and tools. Consider grouping your items by the tasks that they’re used for. For instance, you may want to designate a “baking” cabinet near the oven with items like mixing bowls, measuring cups, and cake pans.

Another example is food prep. Cutting boards, food storage containers, and knives could all go in the same “zone,” preferably near a large counter area where you usually take care of prep tasks. Of course, you may have your knives on the counter and your cutting boards in a cabinet, but you can still make your life easier by putting them in the same general area.

Bonus Tip: Take Advantage of Vertical Space

Especially if you’re living in one of New York’s famously small apartments, using your vertical space can be a godsend. Look for stackable containers to use in your pantry or skinny pull-out organizers to put in the space between your fridge and your cabinets. Not only will your items look neater, but they’ll take up less space, giving you back that valuable square footage.

Transform Your Kitchen with White Glove Cleaner

After you’ve cleaned and organized your kitchen, the next challenge is keeping it clean. White Glove Cleaner can help! We are a team of highly experienced cleaners serving New York City. Whether you need weekly cleaning services or are interested in a one-time deep clean, we’ve got the most dedicated employees and the safest and most effective cleaners to transform your space. Contact White Glove Cleaner today to learn more!