Want a fresh start in the kitchen? Decluttering unnecessary items like extra mugs, old spices, and mismatched Tupperware can free up space and create a more organized cooking area.
Introduction: Decluttering for the New Year
It’s time to declutter and create a fresh, new look. This is about getting rid of clutter that takes up space. Consider it an opportunity to have a fresh new look.
Kitchen Items to Declutter
Burnt or Unused Pot Holders
Many people have pot holders that are burnt. They might be burnt from some casserole or pie made years ago. These have been hanging around at the bottom of a drawer for years. It might be time to let them go.
Consider getting new ones. You only need one good set that isn’t burnt or ugly. Everything else can be donated, gifted, or thrown away.
Excess Mugs
Mugs are often gift items. People like to bring home novelty mugs from travels. You might need six or eight mugs if you’re one or two people. A family of four might need 12.
You tend to accumulate more mugs than needed. It ends up taking up a lot of space. Some people display their mugs all the time, which can be overkill. If you’re someone who likes one type of mug, that’s a good thing. If you’re an eclectic mug person, that’s fine, but put a lid on it. You don’t need that many.
Extra Takeout Containers
Extra takeout containers from Chinese food places should be recycled after one use. These are not meant for the dishwasher or repeated use. People store leftovers, microwave them, and reuse them. It is a reasonable limit to place on ourselves that these takeout containers are meant for one use. Then they are meant to be rinsed of food debris and recycled.
The next step is to get rid of the Tupperware lids that don’t have a match.
Mismatched Tupperware
Take all Tupperware lids and bases and find the matches. Put aside the matches, and get rid of everything else. It’s like mismatched socks; you don’t need them. If there’s no match, recycle it. Buy all one set to ensure everything is in sync.
Excessive Holiday Cookie Cutters and Decorations
Consider the gingerbread men, Christmas trees, candy canes, and Santas. If you use holiday items every year, that’s fine. Find a place to store it that is not in cupboards accessed daily. Store it with other Christmas decorations, bringing it out once a year.
If you have some old glasses, it’s time to give them away.
Novelty Cups and Shot Glasses
Some people are boring glass people who like Simplicity and consistency. The novelty ones, people hold onto them for a long time. Especially ones from childhood.
If you got it for free at McDonald’s in 1988, it’s probably not a collector’s item. It’s probably time to say goodbye to faded novelty glassware or plastic cups from Disneyland trips. Determine how many glasses are needed based on family size. If you have 40 glasses, it’s time to let some go.
Shot glasses aren’t needed as much as you think. The novelty shot glasses picked up in Barcelona might need to go.
Travel Magnets
Magnets add to the visual clutter of the space. If you’re a magnet person because you would like to put some stuff on your fridge, that’s fine. Limit the number of magnets to the inventory needed for your space. Pick a half dozen favorites and ditch the rest, or go magnet-free.
Excess Condiment Packets
Buy soy sauce and ketchup instead of keeping all the packets. Despite popular belief, this stuff does go bad. Keep a few sets for picnics, but don’t store them front and center in the cutlery drawer. Get rid of the excess packets, especially the ones that have been there forever.
Extra Rubber Bands
Limit yourself to three rubber bands. You don’t need rubber bands as much as you think. If there are 300 rubber bands, it’s time to let them go.
Get rid of empty water bottles sitting on top of the counter.
Too Many Water Bottles
You are allowed one water bottle per person in the household. There isn’t a circumstance where you need more than one. If you have more than that, consider getting rid of them.
Extra Cutting Boards
You probably need two cutting boards. Anything more than that is excessive. One could be a wooden cutting board. Another could be plastic. When plastic cutting boards get warped, it’s time to go.
Old Tea Towels
Don’t keep moldy tea towels. The shelf life on these is shorter than you think. Dog or animal shelters are often looking for old linens. Check with the local animal shelter first. Consider swapping out old, moldy linens for new ones.
Freezer Goods
Freezers are not magic; they slow bacteria growth. Those freezer-burnt pork chops need to go. Keep freezer food for around 6 months. If you have food in excess of 6 months, it’s time to say goodbye.
If you are empty nesters, you probably have too much food in your freezer. Don’t hang onto your food this long in the freezer.
Glass Mason Jars
You probably have too many glass jars. It is fine to wash them. Old pasta jars can be recycled. Keep a couple of mason jars for canning or storage purposes. If you have a shelf of old glass jars, it’s time to recycle.
You don’t need to own a dozen kitchen rugs in your kitchen.
Kitchen Rug
You don’t need a kitchen rug. They often trap bacteria and aren’t doing anything. From a decor perspective, they can break up the flooring. However, they can get in the way when you’re cooking.
Excess Reusable Shopping Bags
You have too many reusable shopping bags. You probably need two to five or six. Keep the cloth or nice ones and ditch the others. Store some in the car for situations where you need them. Ditch the old ones you don’t need.
Excessive Countertop Kitchen Appliances
Be careful with appliances used once in a while. Store the ones used once in a while and not displayed on your countertop. Put the egg bite maker on Facebook Marketplace. If you have five different ways to make ice, you may need to get rid of some countertop ice makers.
Unused Pots and Pans
Think if pots or pans are doing double duty. If there is a favorite used and another that sits collecting dust, consider getting rid of it.
Cookbooks You Don’t Use
Some cookbooks will never be used anymore. If you did keto in 2021, that cookbook is not needed. If you have not looked at that book or cooked from that book in at least 2 years, it’s clutter.
The last step is to throw away any old spices you have in your kitchen.
Old Condiments and Spices
Look at how long the condiments have been in there. Spices lose their flavor over time. Take a look at spices and consider getting new ones. If they have been there for longer than three presidents ago, it’s probably time to switch them out.