Pots and pans
• Keep pots and pans as close to the stove as possible. Having lived with and without pot drawers, it's better having them! If you're thinking about a reno, include at least a few pot drawers.
• To streamline your cookware collection, get rid of duplicate sizes and burnt, damaged and rarely used pots and pans.
• Store all pots and pans with their lids when space allows, so that you can grab the right pot and lid in one move. Stacking may be necessary in a tight space, but it's cumbersome to lift the top pots to get to the one you need.
• If you stack pots, store the lids separately in a pot-lid holder, such as a wooden peg model or a stainless-steel or plastic-coated wire type that sits on a cabinet shelf or is mounted on a wall or cabinet door. A separate wire basket that will hold the lids upright could also work.
• Protect the easily damaged surfaces of nonstick pans with a tea towel or paper towel, or purchase specially designed felt liners from an organizing store.
• Hang pots and pans if they add to your decor –- you'll have to keep them really clean, including the bottoms.
Junk drawer
• Take out everything, then trash what doesn't work (like old pens or batteries). Sort what's left into three piles: items you never use, and items that do and don't belong in the kitchen. Give away or recycle things you don't use and relocate items accordingly. What's left is what you need (it's not junk anymore). Sort those items into categories, such as stamps, pens and pencils, Post-it Notes, elastics, paper-clips, scissors and tape.
• Line the drawer with a nonslip liner (check hardware and organizing stores).
• Create a grid of square- and rectangular-shape containers to separate each category. The best system that I've seen is Rubbermaid's Instant Drawer Organizer, which links together to form a big grid, so there's no wasted drawer space. You can also improvise with whatever types of containers you like, or use a kitchen drawer divider tray. One caveat: adjustable kitchen drawer trays are usually designed for storing large items like utensils or cutlery, and aren't ideal for the small items that tend to inhabit junk drawers.
• Devise an efficient system for loose papers like takeout menus and recipes; for instance, a sturdy plastic accordion file that can be tucked into a cabinet.
• Set aside a separate tool drawer or a section of the drawer if it's convenient to keep some frequently used items like a hammer, a few nails, screws, extension cords and a tape measure in the kitchen rather than in the basement or garage.
2 Comments
and for those of you who keep wanting to de-clutter their kitchen counter...I suggest you check out "KNIFAWAY". It is a totally unique solution to replace the ubiquitous knife block we all have (or in my case, had) on our counters. It's functional, safe and clean and stores knives in the most efficient way possible; keeping them easily accessible yet out of sight. I thank the persoon who had the brilliance to put this into our office Xmas exchange. Now I've gotten some for all my friends and family for Xmas and boy, what a hit! (and it's really affordable too...)
For those of you who declare "No more junk drawers" as many times as I have in the 45 years I have been married.....be resigned....you will always have a junk drawer.....the ideas contained in this article will make your life that much easier. Karen Coulson, Courtenay, BC