For many homes, the kitchen is where memories are made, so decluttering your own will allow for a more comfortable space for friends and family to gather. This can be a big project, but if you commit to a system it can actually be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Before you begin, make sure you have a few empty boxes on hand, one to discard and one to donate.

• Refrigerator – If you haven’t examined the contents of your refrigerator lately, this could be a scary task. Check expiration dates on everything and if there is anything questionable, you should go. After you’ve gone through everything, wipe down all the shelves and you may want to put paper towels in the bins to make them easier to clean in the future.
• Cabinets – Well-organized cabinets allow the flow of your kitchen to be much smoother. Sort everything in your cabinets so all the glasses, cups, plates, pans, and storage containers are grouped together. While you’re at it, you need to go ahead and get rid of any containers that are damaged or have parts missing! You may also want to see how many coffee cups you have in there and consider throwing a few in your donation box. Chances are, if you’re like most people, you probably use one or two of your favorites most of the time, anyway.
• Pantry – Once again, you need to check expiration dates and organize everything so that canned goods, cereals, crackers, pasta, and snacks are all grouped together. When you’re aware of what’s in your pantry, you have more control in avoiding expired food because you know which items need to be used first. You should also get in the habit of rotating all the foods in your pantry when you go shopping by placing new items behind the older ones.
• Drawers – Yes, it is acceptable to have a trash drawer however, it is not okay for each drawer to be total chaos. Batteries and pet brushes should not be thrown away with kitchen utensils. You can use those lidless containers to organize some of the drawers.
• Table – Your table is the most important element of your kitchen. This is where everyone seems to gather. You want visitors to your home to feel comfortable finding a seat at your table and not afraid of intruding on your mess. Kitchen tables are for eating, not for bills, dog leashes, mitts, etc. to accumulate.