Declutter These Things Now for a Simplified Kitchen

If your kitchen is cluttered, and cooking is a chore, declutter these things today for a simplified kitchen! You may find you actually enjoy being in the kitchen once you do.

The kitchen is the busiest room in our house. From cooking three from scratch meals a day to fermenting and baking, it sees a lot of action. Giving myself the gift of a simplified kitchen was one of the best things I’ve done.

I know decluttering can be a daunting task. It can be intimidating to part with things you’ve held onto for years. Let me go ahead and give you permission to move it out of the kitchen. You will be so thankful you did.

Declutter these today!

Scatter rugs – It’s just something else to have to keep clean!
Countertop Decor – If it’s keeping you from easily cleaning your countertops, it needs to go!
Duplicates – utensils, dishes, pots, pans, baking dishes, food storage containers, and serving dishes.
Unused small appliances – If you aren’t using that instant pot, air fryer, blender, or quesadilla maker, I give you permission to let it go!
Gadgets – We’ve all fallen prey to the “as seen on tv” gadgets that promise ease of use and success. They end up in the back of the drawer unused and forgotten often times. If you haven’t used it in the past year, you probably won’t!
Magnets – Visual clutter drives me crazy. Reduce visual clutter by cleaning off the papers and magnets.
Utensil Caddy – I know this one will get me some kick back but try putting the utensils in a drawer…after you get rid of the duplicates, of course.
Dish towels and cloths – If they’re old and worn out, they’ve served their time! If they’re too fancy, and you’ll never use them, maybe consider passing them along.
Cookbooks – If you’re like me, if you need a recipe, you likely reach for your cell phone, not a cookbook these days. Keep the ones that are special or your favorites, and let the rest go and free up so much space.
Expired food – I know how awful it feels to throw out food, but is it possible that we are tossing out so much expired food because we’re trying to manage too much? When the pantry is so full you can’t easily see the back, it stands to reason that there is old forgotten food that’s expiration date has passed. Resolve to keep a smaller inventory in your pantry (I am all about having emergency food storage elsewhere though) and reduce how much food you have to toss.

Not ready to part with these things permanently?

If the idea of permanently parting with an item causes you anxiety, may I suggest you find a new place for it to stay until you need it? This is especially helpful for small appliances, roasters, stock pots, and canners that don’t get used year-round. If you have a storage space somewhere else, I suggest moving those larger items there to free up the cabinet space they take in the kitchen.

I know when decluttering it’s easy to think, “I spent so much money on that!”. Let me counter that with, “keeping it doesn’t put the money back in your bank account.”. I believe the benefits of letting things go is much greater than the risk of regretting it. A simplified kitchen is worth it, and you can do it!

As always, thanks for spending a tiny part of your day with me.