Wanna learn all kinds of great tips about organizing your kitchen? Go check out Rocks in my Dryer where all kinds of smart people are posting today on their favorite kitchen management tips.
You know I love talking about kitchen management. Having a functional kitchen (aka Funky Kitchen) is the only way I can survive. Which is why I wrote an entire ebook about the subject, “Do the Funky Kitchen“.
Out of all the fun ways I work to have a Funky Kitchen…here’s my FAVORITE way to keep my kitchen organized:
I try to keep my countertops as cleaned off as possible.
If I have stuff all over my countertops it makes cooking SO much harder. But if I have hardly anything on my countertops…the kitchen looks clean and welcoming and organized and cheerful and refreshing. And I can put meals together so much more easily.
I’m talking about appliances too…toasters, coffeemakers, blenders…anything that takes up space. Put it somewhere else if you possibly have a somewhere else to put it. Clear the clutter people.
Then, wipe off your countertops and enjoy looking at all of the nothing that is all over them. I promise you’ll be glad you did!
Get thou into the kitchen and organize it! Let’s all do the Funky Kitchen!!
Whitney @ Baby Tunnel Exodus says:
I would give a lot to have room to put it all away because you’re absolutely right; staring at all the clutter gets me irritated before I even Start to cook. Great tip! Blessings, Whitney
September 30th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Blue Castle says:
You are right on! I try to do the same thing. I can’t stand cluttered countertops.
September 30th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Jen says:
I have heard this tip before but our kitchen is so small that I have always figured I couldn’t manage moving the appliances. I’m going to take your advice, though, and move ‘em anyway. Then I’m going to sip on the coffee I made with my disappearing coffee pot and enjoy, as you say, all of the nothing on my counter tops. Thanks for the tip!
September 30th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Steph @ Problem Solvin Mom says:
This is a tip I try to follow, but definitely struggle with - thanks for the reminder/encouragement!
October 1st, 2008 at 3:56 am
Happy Mommy says:
I love a clean counter! I need to put more away, good idea!
October 1st, 2008 at 6:12 am
Sonshine says:
Thanks for the encouragement! I just was thinking about that stack of papers on my kitchen counter that needs to be dealt with today!
October 1st, 2008 at 7:53 am
heidi says:
I, too, try to kee them cleaned off. My family always has other ideas, though. *eyeroll* Rude.
October 1st, 2008 at 8:00 am
The Things We Do says:
Me too, me too! I’m always trying to clean off the counters as I cook too!
October 1st, 2008 at 8:33 am
jubilee says:
I’d love to be able to do this. Unfortunately, husband and kids have to be on board with not cluttering up the counters when they come in!
October 1st, 2008 at 9:34 am
Queen of the Click says:
I love an empty counter top too!
October 1st, 2008 at 10:29 am
Barb J. says:
My kitchen just feels cleaner when the counters are clean. The only appliances I keep on my counters is the coffee pot, because it is used twice a day, and the Kitchen Aid mixer, because it is so darn heavy!
October 1st, 2008 at 11:12 am
Sherry says:
Great idea! I only keep the ones up on top that I use day in and day out.
Have a great WFMW!!
Sherry
October 1st, 2008 at 2:43 pm
Stacy says:
I also love to have a clean counter top. It just makes me happy!
Does your Funky Kitchen book talk about organizing small kitchens? I really want to have an organized kitchen…and it is better than it was….just could use a little more help
Especially now I have a grain mill and a bosch mixer - they are huge!
Stacy
P.S. I always enjoy visiting your blog. It is such a happy and helpful place.
October 1st, 2008 at 2:52 pm
kittyhox says:
I totally agree with you about the clutter-free counters. It makes it so much easier to wipe them clean, for one thing. I would like to have even less on mine (I leave out the toaster oven and coffee maker for my husband’s daily use) and crock full of utensils.
When I go to my in-laws house I am overwhelmed by the cluttered kitchen counters. They have every appliance out ALL THE TIME! The vegetable steamer, crock pot, blender, stand mixer, food processor, two kinds of toasters, electric kettle, and more!
October 1st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Deanna says:
It feels so good to walk into my kitchen when it is all clean to start cooking. When I walk in and the countertops are cluttered then I already feel defeated.
October 1st, 2008 at 3:58 pm
Debbie says:
Oh, that is so true! The number one reason I ever have the desire to eat out? Not wanting to cook on a clutter counter! I do keep my Kitchen Aid Mixer on the counter simply because it is way to heavy to move all the time and I used it at least 5 out of 7 days of the week.
October 1st, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Tiffany says:
I also prefer counters cleared of pretty much everything. So many women like to use their counters as a decorating space,and they look so cute while mine look so, well, BARE, so I hadn’t thought of mine as “refreshing”, except to myself.I hope people feel loved and welcomed each time they enter our home, especially the kitchen!
October 1st, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Kate says:
I am ridiculously compulsive about keeping my kitchen counters cleared off and wiped down. Although I’m not as bad as mom. She can’t stand to have anything out of place on her counter, to the point where if I’m drinking something and set my cup down and forget to say “I’m drinking that” she’ll dump the contents, wash the cup and wipe off the spot on the counter where the cup was sitting. This whole process is lightning fast, and a little frustrating! Fortunately I’m a little less compulsive than she is.
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Catherine says:
I struggle daily with trying to keep my countertops cleared. I bet everyone has noticed that cleared spaces attract clutter!
My husband is the worst culprit. It seems that as soon as I clear a space he finds something that ‘needs’ to be set down there.
I struggle on …. daily!
October 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 am