DESIDERATA

I have a love-hate relationship with my kitchen drawers. I love that I have so much storage space, but I hate how it’s arranged. I never can seem to find the right combinations of things that make my drawers clean, tidy, and able to stay that way. The premade organizers don’t fit, the customizable ones are a pain, so everything just ends up getting tossed one. Once upon a time I even labelled the drawers (like « spatulas go here! » ) and know where the spatulas ended up? Everywhere except that spot. It boggles the mind.

So I might not have the solve-it-all organizing solution, but we can at least make it clean and somewhat put together. The process here looks virtually identical to the kitchen cabinets so we should all be pros by now and knock it out quickly. (Ha!)

The non-negotiables:

• Take it all out. This is the “it gets worse before it gets better” part. As you take items out, try to group them by zone. Do the happy dance for the return of the prodigal spatulas.
• Wipe down surfaces inside and out. Really get into the seams and corners with a toothbrush or small tool. All-purpose cleaner and a long cotton swab usually does the trick for me but for serious things, I use the orange grime-fighting cleaner and an old toothbrush to really freshen it up.
• Wash and scrub dirty items. Sometimes it’s just dust build-up from my seldom used items, sometimes it takes some elbow grease. Or just run it all through the dishwasher.
• Plan your space. Like your cabinets, think about the function of your kitchen – does it work for your kitchen for the flatware to be next to the plates? Or does it make more sense elsewhere?
• Edit. But do it according to YOU. The theme with all the stuff is I f it’s a heritage item or one with an emotional connection, think about if it brings you joy (à la Marie Kondo). If yes but it’s not an item you use, set it aside and when your functional items are put away, find a place to honor it as part of your decor. That collection of antique wooden spoons? Display it!
• Put it away. Carefully put all of your items back, zone by zone, adjusting as you go.

The maybe negotiables:

• Level up your organizing. Call me weird but I like to buy dividers and bins after my items are in their homes. Then I really get a feel for the space and can measure and plan my organizers properly. I can’t tell you how many fancy organizer things I’ve bought and then gotten rid of because it just doesn’t fit my utensils or my drawers. Maybe I just have weird-sized drawers or spoons. I don’t know. Live with your items in their new homes for a bit to make sure it’s the right space for them, and then buy/source your organizers. Like, do you wish your pans slid out from the cabinet? Then measure your cabinets and pans and buy one of those. Maybe you prefer them hanging, or stacked. But try it for a bit with nothing and see what your instincts tell you about the way you wish they were arranged and then tackle it little by little.
• Style it. Think outside the box. I hate having measuring cups in drawers. I don’t know why, I just do. So I hang mine on the inside of a cupboard cabinet with some command strip hooks. And the ones that don’t hang are displayed on a shelf.
• Honor your heritage pieces. I had a collection of antique ice cream scoops that lived in a stoneware basin on the counter. And I loved it. Eventually, they’ve all gone by the wayside from being too loved by toddlers. But it was a fun thing to have for years.

Smarter, not harder (smart home integration):

• Install smart outlets. These are game-changers for me. If you don’t already have smart appliances, consider putting in smart plugs so you can manage your kitchen while you’re busy with something else. Like starting and stopping the crock pot, or putting it on a timer. It also comes in handy at Christmas time when I want lights above my cabinets that will go on and off remotely (without me having to have 4 remotes to do it).
• Smart home speaker. I love having music on while I’m working so investing in an Alexa device with a good speaker is a priority in my kitchen. Plus, it helps me manage things like my grocery list. When someone is using the last of the milk, they can just say “Alexa, add milk to the grocery list” without missing a beat or searching for a pen and it makes our shopping so much more efficient.

Maintenance:

• Clean up spills as you go. When you notice a drip down the front of the counter, address it right then.
• Every day, do your routine. When the dishes are done, put them away in their homes. Teach your family where their homes are so they can help too.
• Wooden utensil + flatware care every week. Once a week (today + recurring), oil your wooden utensils, if you have them. Same as the cutting boards, we want those suckers to LAST! Polish your silverware and sharpen your knives. These are often overlooked chores in my house and then as soon as I do it, I think, « why didn’t I do that sooner?! »
• Deep clean once every two months. Set a reminder on your calendar for two months from today (and then recurring!) that it’s deep clean the cabinets day and do the entire process to get it all clean and sparkly.

Your turn:

What are the heritage items in your kitchen and how do you honor them?

Any genius drawer organization solutions you can help me with?

Now let’s get to it!