You don’t have to wait until spring to declutter and maximize your kitchen space.
The kitchen is the heart of every home.
Or, we know that we have themwe just can’t find them among the clutter.
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While spring cleaning is often equated to decluttering and reorganizing, you don’t have to wait until spring.
Toss for Sanitary and Health Reasons
1.
Instead, they recommend replacing your kitchen sponge frequently.
And if they develop any off-putting smell, it’s definitely time to toss them.
Ones made with laminated wood should be hand-washed as the dishwasher will make them crack and split.
“This can be a choking hazard, not to mention unpleasant!”
Toss to Organize and Declutter
4.
And while some can be excellenttimesavers or solutionsin certain situations, you may not need every single last one.
Take an (honest) inventory and consider selling or donating any that you don’t use.
When disposing of or donating a kitchen appliance, include the instruction booklet with it.
“Even though they’re flat, they still take up precious space in your kitchen.”
The condiment packets may also lose their flavor and color over time if left unused.
Murray suggests purging them regularly to keep your collection manageable.
Check their expiration dates and toss out those that have expired.
Consider rotating your favorite magnets and tossing the rest.
Ditto on the refrigerator artwork.
You’ll be amazed at how much “space” it creates in your kitchen!
Toss for Freshness
7.
Even so, spices can lose much of their flavor and aroma and become stale over time.
To avoid food waste, buy spices in small quantities.
Labeling your spices with the purchase date also helps keep track of their shelf life.
Toreduce food waste, you could also recycle your stale coffee or used coffee grounds.
Cooking Oil
Cooking oilsdo not last as long as you think.
They become stale, rancid and sour-tasting, and lose their aromatic qualities over time.
While some cooking oils can last up to a year after opening, not all types do.
If you’re unsure how long a bottle of oil has been opened, toss it.
Freezer-Burned Food
Let’s not forget about your freezerthere may befrozen meatsor meals back there in the darker recesses.
To start your kitchen organization project, Saltman suggests grouping or sorting items together.
