A kitchen used day in and day out can get cluttered fast resulting in a frustrating place to be each day. Gathering up and purging items you just don't use frees up space in the cabinets and makes room to help you truly see what you have and what you really use. Below are 15 items you can get rid of now to free up space in your kitchen. Have fun purging!
Get rid of these items for a Stress Free Kitchen
- Serving platters you don’t use - These are one of my downfalls. I tend to forget to get rid of the serving platters when I get new ones.
- Unused mugs that came with your plate sets - If you have a collection of mugs, to add to that collection with plain mugs you don't need or want is frustrating. So, donate them or give them to a friend or college student who may want them.
- Extra chipped/cracked dishware - If you have parties and like to use china instead of paper products, you probably have plates that are chipped or stained. Before your next party, pull them out and get rid of the ones that are damaged.
- Small appliances you have put away and never used again - where is that mixer you don't use? Do you have a handheld mixer as well? Do you have a toaster and a toaster oven? The duplicate appliances that you may have received from a family member can go if you don't use them.
- Small gadgets that don't work - Is there a gadget you don't use in your kitchen? How about those unitaskers you may forget about? These items can be pitched too. Ask yourself, "can I do this task in a different way without this tool?" If your answer is yes, you can get rid of it.
- Silverware that isn’t used often - Do you have several sets of silverware? Ask yourself, "how many do I need?" Then, get rid of the rest.
- Wooden spoons - This is my downfall too! I love those wood spoons. But, do I really need a five-pack of them? Probably not. I do like to keep a flat end, a round shape, a long round one, and a smaller one.
- Old sets of serving utensils - Some silverware sets come with utensils. Do you get rid of the previous set serving utensils? Maybe you should.
- Bowls you don’t need - how many bowls do you need during the week? Is 15 too much? If you are a family of 4 or more, 15 is probably OK if you don't wash them every day. If you do wash your dishes every day, you can probably stick with four to eight.
- Bakeware not used at least once a year - Are you a seasonal baker? Ask yourself what do you really use regularly. If you can't use all your cookie sheets in the oven at the same time, you can probably get rid of the others.
- Plastic storage containers that are scratched or stained - How're your plastic containers? How's your glass storage container? Are they cracked? These items need to be replaced. I found this post on plastic and food safety concerns on WebMD.
- Chipped glassware - Glassware can be glasses you drink, pitchers you use, measuring cups, or anything that maybe crack and or broken. Get rid of them next.
- Containers not used - This can be items that are plastic, glass, or wood. Anything that doesn't have a use should be examined and decided upon.
- Appliance Accessories not used - Did your refrigerator come with bins that you just never use? Did your oven come with a broiler pan and you still have your other one? Get rid of these items.
- Items unused and collecting on the counter - Your counter should be clear of clutter while cooking. Going through and clearing out paper and other loose items will give you more space and hopefully helps you feel motivated to cook for your family.
I hope this list gives you ideas on what to get rid of in your kitchen. Start with these different items, and soon enough, you will see a transformation in the heart of your home.
Now, that you cleared the clutter, check out these posts below for more kitchen organizing ideas that will help you and your family.
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Sabrina's Organizing Kitchen Organization Tips
Below are some articles I found from other experts and magazines to help you create a stress free kitchen.
Tips to get your kitchen organized from other experts.
41 Kitchen Organizing Ideas That Will Save Your Sanity
15 Quick Tips for Keeping an Organized Kitchen
Nancy Haworth
I love this list! In my experience those plastic storage containers are the easiest kitchen items to sort and toss. I find so many that are scratched, stained or missing lids when I help my clients declutter kitchens.
Janet Schiesl
This is a great list. All the stuff we find in clients kitchens, taking up space and not being used. We should value empty space more than these items that we don't use.
Seana Turner
Great list, Sabrina! There are so many things that end up cluttering a kitchen. A recently watched a friend's online auction, and she had multiple sets of dishes. They were all lovely, themed for various times of year. But the reality was, she hardly ever used them. We tend to either use our "main" set of dishes, or go with paper for a large party. Another one I might add is sports bottles - those tend to pile up!
Linda Samuels
The kitchen is one of the worst offenders for collecting things we never use or are ready to be released. However, it's also one of the most frequently used rooms of the home. And because of that, it's harder to stop "living" to do the editing. Your list is great because you can focus on one area at a time to systematically declutter and streamline things.
Not that long ago, I did a major "mug" edit. It was time because I had acquired a few new ones and the space I had allotted in my cabinet was too full. So that was my indicator for making some choices. It felt good.
Janet Barclay
What really stood out for me here was appliance accessories that aren't used. It feels like you should keep them so you can include them if you ever sell or give away the appliance, but seriously, if it's an appliance you use regularly, you're more likely to keep it until it's worn out. And would the next owner be any more likely to use those accessories, or to miss them if they weren't there? Thanks for the insight!
Sabrina Quairoli
Great point, Janet. Thanks for commenting.