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Do you ever stand in your kitchen with your cabinet doors open trying to find something but the mess overwhelms you? Kitchen cabinets are easy to clutter with food, small appliances, spice racks, kitchen utensils, and more! I have felt like that many times.
There have been times that it has looked like a tornado has run through my cabinets there has been no organization to them whatsoever, and finding what I’m looking for is a struggle. When there is no organization in your cabinets, you usually put things back wherever you can find a place.
The best way to organize your out-of-control cabinet space is by having a place for everything!
Nothing makes me happier than organizing my home and having a place for everything, especially the small spaces. Keep reading to learn my best tips on how to organize your out-of-control cabinets.
What Tools Do I Need?
There will be a couple of tools and supplies that you will need to ensure you clean your cabinets and organize them well.
You will need a label maker (here’s my go-to), cleaning supplies, trash bags, and some small cabinet-organizing tools that I will explain more about below.
Related Post: How to Declutter Your Home Before Organizing It
How to Organize Out-Of-Control Cabinets
Organizing your out-of-control kitchen cabinets doesn’t have to be an overwhelming process. Spending time containing the chaos in your cabinets will save you time, stress, and energy at a later time!
Once you tackle the initial mess, you will be able to breathe when you open your cabinets and find the things you are looking for much easier.
1. Clean Out the Cabinets
Clean out your cabinets by going through the food, appliances, and other small items you no longer want or need.
Check the Expiration Dates
The first step is to check expiration dates on the food in your cabinets. I’m sure there are plenty of people who buy food for something special or want to try something new and then never eat it. It happens to most of us, and while we try not to be wasteful, things get lost in the back of the cabinets sometimes.
Throw away any of the food that has gone bad. If the food is no longer good, there is no need for it to be in your cabinets or pantry. Go through and check all the dates on the food and other items in your cabinets.
Donate or Throw Away Food You Won’t Eat or Use
The next step is to make a pile of food you will not eat or use that is still good. You can either donate this food (to a food pantry or a family in need) or throw it away. As you are checking expiration dates, ask yourself if you will ever use the product again.
Maybe you bought something for a special occasion, but it isn’t a product you use daily, so you want to get rid of it. There is no need to hang on to something if you have no intention of ever using it!
Get Rid of Appliances or Small Kitchen Items You Don’t Need
Many people accumulate appliances and small kitchen items they don’t need over the years. We didn’t have much available space in our cabinets with all the appliances, cooking utensils, and everyday dishes.
Go through your cabinet and remove specific items that you no longer need or use. Donate them, sell them, or throw away the ones in bad condition.
Items that you only use a few times a year for special occasions, find a place for these out of the way.
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2. Use a Label Maker and Storage Containers
I live by organizing my home with a label maker. It makes it so much easier to organize your pantry, craft closet, cabinets, and more! You will always know what’s in your containers (whether they are plastic containers in the pantry or plastic bins in the attic).
One of the easiest ways to organize your cabinet is to get storage containers for your dry goods, sugar, and other items that can be taken out of their original packaging. The stackable containers are the best!
Take these items out of the boxes and then put them in clear containers in your cabinet and label what each of them is. This will allow you to know when you are getting low on certain items, making the cabinets look neater. I also like to group similar items together.
3. Use Storage and Organization Tools
Kitchen storage is a must for your cabinet space. It will help you organize and make extra space in your cabinets!
Using storage and organization tools is one of the best things I have done for my cabinets. Below are some of my favorite tools that I use in my kitchen to organize my cabinets.
Storage Racks
If you don’t have much space to work with then these are great! It helps you use up more vertical space in your cabinets.
You can store items below and on top of them to better use the space you have.
Canned Goods Holder
This is a great idea for helping to organize your canned goods. Put canned goods that are the same on a row and as you use them, the next one falls to the front.
It’s helpful to make more space for canned goods and to keep from having to stack them on top of each other. It’s easy to lose track of the items you have in your cabinets or pantry.
Command Hooks
The back of the cabinet door is a good place to hang flat objects like cutting boards! It can get flat items out of small drawers, off the kitchen counters, or take up awkward space in the cabinets.
Water Bottle Organizer
I love water bottles. There’s something about having a lot of options that make me happy! I love cute designs, different sizes, and different lid styles.
An organizer like this one is perfect to help organize your water bottles and create more space in your cabinets for other items… or more water bottles.
Bakeware Rack
An adjustable bakeware rack is perfect for organizing and storing your sheet pans or trays. Instead of stacking them on top of each other and not being able to find what you are looking for, an adjustable rack keeps everything organized and easy to find.
Lid Organizer
How often do you lose the lids to your storage containers? They are so annoying floating around your cabinets, falling and sliding whenever you move items around.
A lid organizer is a lifesaver! It keeps all your lids in one place, you can group similar sizes together, and it makes it easy to find the lid that goes with your container.
Adjustable Pot Lid Organizer
These fit perfectly on the back of your cabinet door. It’s a great space to use to organize and clear out your cabinets. These are adjustable to fit any size lid and attach perfectly to the back of the cabinet door.
Related Post:
Related Post: Why a Label Maker is Essential for Organization
Clear Storage Bins
I love using clear storage bins like these to organize my cabinets and get smaller items out of the box. Boxes clutter up your cabinets and create less space.
Using clear storage bins allows you to see what you have and makes your cabinet space look neat and tidy.
Clear Storage Containers
Clear storage containers are a must-have in any kitchen or pantry! I love to put rice, beans, sugar, noodles, and more in my containers!
The clear ones are best because you can see how much you have left of an item. The different sizes can stack and create an organized look in your cabinets.
Spice Rack
Tiered racks work well for organizing your spice cabinet because they raise up your spices so you can see what you have! It makes it much easier to find the spices you are looking for.
Pot Rack
A pot rack is great for organizing your pots and pans! It will clear up the clutter in your cabinets from pots and pans. Instead of throwing them in a cabinet or drawer and running out of space, use a pot rack to keep them organized.
It will keep them in better condition and give you more cabinet space to work with.
Cabinet Door Basket
I love my cabinet door baskets! They are great for using the space right behind the cabinet door. I use mine to store cutting boards and small sheet pans.
Under the sink, I use it to store dish soap, washing supplies, and sponges. It’s a great way to free up some space in your cabinets and use an area that doesn’t otherwise get used.
Under Sink Organizer
The kitchen sink cabinets are usually full of a plethora of items from trash bags to cleaning supplies. If yours are thrown under the cabinet with no organization then you need an under-the-sink organizer!
It’s perfect for smaller items to keep them together and organized. It has a pull-out shelf that makes it very easy and convenient to use!
Lazy Susan
Do you have corner cabinets? It can be hard to get to everything in corner cabinets! Using a lazy Susan to store pots and pans can give you easy access to them.
It puts everything within easy reach since you can turn the lazy Susan to reach what’s on it.
Related Post: 11 Easy Things to Declutter You’ve Never Thought of Before
Are you motivated to create goals for your home and life? Do you have goals for organizing and decluttering your home?
Grab this free printable goals sheet to get started! Write your goals down and place them where you can be reminded of them every day. You’ll be reaching your goals in no time!
I hope these kitchen organization ideas for your cabinets help you tackle the clutter and mess! Start small with one cabinet, once you have gotten it organized and clutter-free, move on to the next. You will have tackled your kitchen cabinet organization before you realize it.
Do you have a favorite organization tip? I would love for you to share it!
Until next time,
Catherine
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