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My Gift to You...
Send me a photo of your clutter. I'll diagnose your particular problem and offer some tips and ideas to help lighten the load!
Regina
818.400.9592
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Give the Gift of
Organizing!
Unique idea for birthdays and anniversaries: A Professional Organizing Gift Certificate for the cluttered and disorganized people in your life!
Special Offer!
- Purchase a 4-hour block of time and get a 10% discount!
- Purchase 3 or more blocks and take off an additional 5% for a total of 15% off!
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The Organized Kitchen
I once had a houseguest who woke before I did and wanted to start a pot of coffee. Unfamiliar with my kitchen and knowing I'm an organized person, she surveyed the countertop and spotted my coffee pot next to the sink, then opened the cupboard door above the pot and found the filters, and located the coffee in the freezer door where she could grab it easily. Thus, the key to an organized kitchen is to group like items, and to create zones of function for ease of use.
Here are your Top Ten Tips to an Organized Kitchen:
Readers are encouraged to email regina@AClearPath.net with requests and suggestions for A Clear Path Top 10! _______________________________________________________
Top Ten Tips for De-cluttering
and Organizing Your Kitchen
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Calendar, assistance, supplies: As with any organizing project, calendar the time to do the work, ask a family member or good friend to help you, and make sure that you have plenty of trash and donation receptacles available to begin your project. In your planning, decide if you will use the time to defrost and clear out the freezer. If this is the case, add an ice chest and old towels to your supplies list.
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Zoning the kitchen: Pre-plan how the kitchen will function upon completion of the project. Professional Organizer Julie Morgenstern suggests dividing the kitchen into zones: food prep, cooking, dish washing, dish storage, food storage, and utility.
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Purge from the refrigerator all condiments, and bottles and jars in the door that you have had a long time but only used once and may not cook with again. Toss all scary looking food, rotting vegetables, leftovers older than a week, anything that has expired. Then take everything else out and clean the shelves, doors and glass.
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If you plan to defrost your freezer at this time, turn off the entire unit, place towels all around the bottom of the unit, and open the freezer door. If the freezer is filled with frost and ice it may take a little while for things to melt before you can begin purging. Toss anything with freezer burn, and look for expiration dates on meats, vegetables, ice cream, etc. Ask yourself how many ice-trays and ice-packs you really need.
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Food storage areas: toss expired cans, boxes of noodles, oatmeal, spices, anything and everything that is out- of-date (you'll be surprised by how much you find!). Gather all food items that are in-date but may have been purchased on impulse, or that you know you won't eat or use. Consider donating these food items to local shelters.
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Cupboards, drawers, and under the sink: Sort, sort, sort. How many can openers, garlic presses, orange juicers, cheese graters, glasses, plates, coffee cups do you need? Make sure all pots and plastic storage containers have their corresponding lids. Pick the best of what you have and donate the rest. Toss rusted or chipped bowls, cups, pots, pans, old sponges, cleansing pads, and unrecognizable rags.
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Return items to refrigerator and freezer: group like items together as space allows (condiments on one shelf, soft drinks in one section, and leftovers in another area). Tip: label the leftovers by date. Also, don't wrap with foil unless you plan to clearly label what is the items is. Date labeling is also important on freezer items as these are not accessed as quickly as the stuff you store in the refrigerator. Attach a little note pad to the refrigerator to write down anything you run out of.
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Return food items to storage areas: Consider spice racks for easy access and sort spices by sweet or savory. Groups like items - canned goods, cereal, pasta, etc. Consider bins and turntables to keep things super organized.
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Return items to cupboards and drawers: place heavier items (blender, food processor) on bottom shelves and lighter items (hand mixer, coffee grinder) to top shelves. Instead of grouping glassware by size (taller in back, shorter in front), group in columns: one row contains tall glasses, another juice glasses, etc. You should store seasonal items out of the way and in the very back of cupboards or drawers. Place items used more frequently near the front of your storage areas. Pan lids are stored together in the areas by the pans, and all plastic lids stored together near the plastic storage containers. Consider the purchase of a bakeware holder for your cooking sheets and muffin tins. Store cleaning supplies in a caddy beneath the sink, or another type of organizer.
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As you have the space, all cooking items should be stored above and below cabinets near the stove, all tableware items near the dishwasher, etc. Also, label each pantry and cupboard shelf so returning items to these areas become no-brainers after a while.
a) A smart way to shop for groceries: Store on your computer a main list of all the items you shop for most frequently and which store these are purchased from. The list can either be in alpha order or in order of which aisle you find the items in the grocery store. Before you shop, print the list and just check off what you intend to purchase on this trip. You will save a lot of time and money.
b) The so-called "junk drawer:" You will not need a junk drawer when you find a 'home' for everything in it. However if you do need a drawer for a lot of little items, purchase a couple of drawer organizers. |
Don't live your life beneath piles of papers!
 Get organized now! |
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De-clutter workshops!
If you have lots of clutter or feel completely disorganized you are not alone. It's a sure bet that you know others who feel the same. To deal with clutter in a fun and spirited way, consider inviting me to your home or workplace for a fun, interactive 90-minute workshop.
I'll offer tips and strategies for clearing clutter, chaos, and too much stuff! Call or email to schedule a de-clutter party soon!
Here's to a clearing the path!
Regina Lark
regina@AClearPath.net
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Regina F. Lark, Ph.D.
PO Box 241941
Los Angeles, CA 90024
818.400.9592
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Proud Member:
The National Association of Professional Organizers
National Association of Women Business Owners
Los Angeles
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