Cupboards
Cleaning up your Cupboards
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Cupboards are frequently used storage cabinets that often are under estimated. Homeowners commonly assume they have maximized their space and keep it well organized because of the daily use they typically receive. Pantries (unlike cupboards) get crowded, messy, and cluttered, but that’s because they’re bigger and less used, right? Wrong! Check out our article on organizing your pantry if that is a problem area for you too. As for cabinets, they can actually be just as much of a problem area. Check out these tips for making the most of those cupboards.
With organizing it is all about surface area. Shelves within shelves – what a concept, but it works! In your kitchen buy a small wire shelf unit that is wide enough to go around your dishes. This way you can stack your plates, and then put serving dishes on the shelf without them being in the way. This works in a variety of areas, so analyze your cupboards of where you have empty vertical space.
The next step of kitchen organizing is nesting. Anything that can be grouped together should be, ranging from silverware to Tupperware. If you’re sick of losing the lids to your Tupperware so you just put them on the containers and stick them in the cupboard, you need a better system. By nesting the plastic units together and then rubber-banding the lids you can keep track of everything without the wasted space. A new trend on the market is collapsible bowls – worth the investment if your kitchen is really strapped for space.
For a kitchen to be completely organized it must be efficient. That means you shouldn’t have to spend ten minutes looking for the Worcestershire sauce. Lazy Susans are devices which spin around, helping you see your goods more quickly. For canned goods which get mixed up, think about those 12-pack soda boxes, where you grab one can and another one falls down. There are storage units that work like that, allowing you to organize your soups and mixed vegetables. Of course the spice rack is critical as well. Alphabetize! That is the only way to get those spices in order. Spice racks can easily be decorated to fit your kitchen décor as well.
Don’t waste your cupboard potential. Work on maximizing their storage and organizing their contents. It will help you navigate your kitchen easier and make for a cleaner appearance.
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Simplifying your Spice Rack
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Spices can be infuriating. They’re pretty expensive, especially if you only need the spice for one recipe, come in varying sized bottles that are hard to organize, and can create huge messes if not properly closed. Your kitchen cupboards can quickly become overrun with miscellaneous canisters, jars, and bottles from disorganization. Getting your spices organized is a quick way to clean up your kitchen cupboard pantry.
Depending on how much you want to spend on this project there are varying cupboard storage organizers. You can just simply place all your spices in a plastic drawer for a very basic solution. However if you want to make your spices easily identifiable and look professional you should purchase a spice rack for your kitchen cupboards. You can find these at craft stores to decorate yourself, or purchase them online. Tiered shelve will help you see all the different spices you have, so look for something with varying shelf heights. Then arrange your spices in a method that you find most efficient. Alphabetically may work best, or you might want to group your most commonly used spices up front. Another annoying aspect of spices is the varying sizes of the spice jars. To create uniformity in your spice rack purchase individual bottles with holed caps. You can find these at most home stores. You can create your own label or use the ones that come with. This will give a very professional appearance. Most are glass, which adds the aesthetic appeal of being able to see the color and texture of your different spices.
While you work on developing your own spice rack go through your spices one by one. You might have duplicates which can be combined to free up space. Some might not be good anymore, so check for any expiration dates as well. This process will leave your kitchen cupboards looking professional and well organized. It will help you immensely as you cook and even save you money from buying duplicate spices!
