The Junk Drawer(s)
Organizing the junk drawer is fast. First, take all the contents out, and then throw away anything that you don’t need. Of the objects left, pick out the ones that aren’t kitchen-related and return them to their proper places throughout the house. Everything that remains either has a more likely place within your kitchen—if so, put it there now—or deserves to stay in the drawer. Arrange the true junk drawer items so they’re not a jumbled mess.
The Undersink Cabinet
Toss anything that’s leaking, empty, or otherwise not worth saving, and quickly neaten everything else up. You don’t have to go overboard—just line up your bottles of cleaners, boxes of tin foil, and other supplies in rows so you can see and access what you have.
Cupboards and Pantry
First, check if any of the food is expired. Next, look for food items that have been open for a while and may be stale. Throw all of those items away. Arrange what’s left in categories (e.g. baking, canned food, tea) and make sure it’s all upright and visible.
Fridge and Freezer
If these are in a really bad state and haven’t been cleaned in forever, you may want to leave them for another time. If they’re mostly fine, however, quickly go through them and check for food that looks disgusting or is ancient. There’s no need to remove everything from the fridge or freezer (unless, again, they are very dirty); simply check for anything that needs to be thrown away while you arrange your food so you can get to it.
Dishes, Utensils, and Cookware
You don’t have to make any huge decisions here, but look out for anything out of place or that you don’t want anymore. If you spot a broken dish, either dispose of it or take it out of the cupboard so you’ll remember to fix it later.
Peruse the Kitchen
Is there anything there that belongs somewhere else, like a coat draped over a chair that belongs in the hall closet? Is there anything that’s in the wrong spot, such as a pot you left out on the counter that you can put back on the shelf? These superficial little touches can make the difference between a room that looks sloppy and one that looks polished.
Spot-Clean the Room
Do any dirty dishes left in the sink, put away the clean dishes in the drying rack, and wipe down counters and other surfaces with a cleaning spray or a disinfectant cloth. A kitchen that’s freshly organized and smells good will make you feel inordinately accomplished.
