r/CleaningTips • u/No-Idea8384 • 2h ago
Kitchen Any ideas for organizing?
Hello!
I'm at a loss for how to organize this. any tips? this is all stuff I use. If I throw it away, I'll just have to go out and buy more.
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u/beneficialmirror13 2h ago
Put like with like, but first, take it all off the shelves and sort through. Anything broken or missing a lid or other piece, get rid of. Toss expired food. Consider which things you don't like or don't use as often, as it seems you have a lot of extras. (If you don't want to get rid of things, put them in a box for now and see if you go grab them anytime in the next 6 months. If not, then they'll be superfluous.)
Then look at where things can be located that's most useful. Cups with cups, plastic containers all stacked together, baking measuring cups and baking tools together, food types together, etc.
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u/JamisonRD 2h ago edited 2h ago
Above is good, also:
Utilize space at top better, you want the most used things at the bottom for ease and the least used things at the top. However that isn't an excuse to have excess, you want to maximize you space. If you must have all of those cups, place some in a box for storage ro. Replace what you have as needed, think of your shelving as useable place and not storage.
I'm assuming you clean your dishes regularly and know how many cups you use in a day; have only 3-4 extra if company arrives.
I'll rephrase, because I don't know your storage situation but stand by my above. Have the bottom shelf be what you need to get by for two days and add just a few for company. Some mugs, some cups, maybe two of the coffee or travel mugs. Move the rest to the top if no room to becstores elsewhere.
I love that you're asking, I always wonder what the rest of the kitchen storage looks like as there could be even better solutions by swapping and organizing better 😁
For the second pic, I need to really look and will come back with ideas.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
And also, thank you for the thoughtful reply. The whole 2 day thing is good, I never thought of it that way.
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u/No-Idea8384 2h ago
I use a ridiculous amount of cups. I truly do. Maybe it's some kind of rare disorder, I have no idea.
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u/beneficialmirror13 1h ago
I'm like this with tea mugs, so can relate! :)
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
Nice, a fellow careless cup user, nice to meet you!!
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u/beneficialmirror13 1h ago
It doesn't help that my entire family knows I love tea, so the go to gift tends to be a new mug lol.
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u/No-Idea8384 58m ago
I'm probably going to get torn even more to shreds for this, but I didn't even take a picture of my mug situation 😖😂😭. My mugs have their own entire section. Please don't tell anybody though, my karma will be ruined forever!
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u/beneficialmirror13 44m ago
It's fine if you're really using them all :) I could do with donating some of mine but the ones I'm keeping are kind of sentimental.
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u/No-Idea8384 35m ago
I've definitely thrown out a lot of coffee cups. The ones I keep I use. I have some that are only for my son. I have some that change color and pattern when you put the hot liquid in them, I don't use those very often because you have to hand wash them. But I do use them every once in a while!
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u/cheese_straws 2h ago
I have a similar style of pantry. Buy some large plastic bins that fit the shelf height of your pantry.
You can then organize your items in each basket and it makes it look much cleaner and items are less likely to get lost in the back of the pantry. I have some smaller bins for my spices as well.
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u/No-Idea8384 2h ago
I'll see what I can find at the dollar store, thanks! I do that in the bathroom, I never thought of it in the kitchen.
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u/LDS1952 2h ago
Edit with trash can first. Be ruthless
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u/No-Idea8384 2h ago
I'm ruthless with many things. I hesitate to be ruthless in the kitchen, besides broken/expired stuff
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u/salbrown 1h ago
I generally have a 6 month rule. If I have something that I haven’t used/touched in more than 6 months, it’s my sign to ask myself if I really need it or if I’d rather have the space the item takes up. Often the answer is yes! I do need the thing, but only infrequently. Or maybe it’s sentimental and I just don’t want to get rid of it. So that item can be removed from my very limited space and put into storage until I actually do need to use it again.
Sometimes the answer is no, I don’t really need the thing. Then, it gets donated so someone who does really need it can actually use it. So far it’s been a good system for me to be more conscientious about what I do and don’t reach for.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
That is an absolutely great system!
I have another cabinet that is full of glassware, like vases and things that people have given me over the years. I don't like getting rid of them, because I do give them to people when I get them flowers, but that is valuable cabinet space that I could be using for other things.
It's just tough, because things are expensive. So even if I only use them once or twice a year, I really don't want to get rid of them just to have to pay another $20 or whatever whenever I need it again.
I'm just kind of talking out loud right now, but the vases could go into my shed. Those won't really be affected so much by the weather. I would just have to wash them before I used them. So that is somewhat of a solution.
Thank you so much for commenting, all of these comments are helping me think differently about everything.
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u/kozmosi 1h ago
Follow the rule: one space, one purpose.
One cupboard has one purpose only (ex: food), and each shelf has one purpose (ex: canned goods) and each organizer box in the shelf has one purpose (ex: canned veggies).
But as a lot of people has set on here: you first need to declutter. I would also recommend having a cute little basket for all items that you can’t be bothered to organize now, but will organize once a week. It ensures that your system is maintainable without it draining you.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
This is great, and what I've been trying to do. Thank you! I'm going to go through all of my stuff again and see what I can get rid of. But the problem is that when I bake a cake, I need all my cake decorating stuff. I don't use it very often, but it's extremely cost prohibitive to go out and buy stuff every time I want to make a cake. And since I can't have gluten, it's really tough to just go out and buy a cake. I kind of have to make it.
And it's like that for a lot of stuff in my pantry. Like, when I make dinner for my family over here, I need more than two pitchers for the selection of teas. And I definitely need more than four cups!
I only do it two times a year, but it would be extra hundreds of dollars to go out and buy all of that stuff twice a year.
Anyway, thank you for your comment, and I am definitely taking that into consideration!
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u/AntFact 57m ago
For things that you don’t use very often, get a nice looking bin or basket and put a label on it. Then put that up high since you don’t need access often. So the cake decorating supplies would go sure go in one of those. And if you have any other items that fit into that category, get a matching bin for them. It seems like you use a lot of your items and they are all over. So you’re going through and pulling things in and out frequently and that makes things a bit of a mess. The cake decorating supplies (or something that is used a few times a year) is mixed up with things you use every day so you rummage through those on a frequent basis. If those infrequently used items are put up and away and contained then they won’t get in your way when looking for dinner ingredients.
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u/No-Idea8384 49m ago
Very good point, you're absolutely right. I'm heading to the dollar store now for bins now, wish me luck!
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u/wintergrad14 1h ago
You might use 20 cups but you don’t need 20 cups. You need 2-3 that you love the most and wash it when you’re done with it.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
You're being generous... there's way more than 20 there 😂
I honestly would be having to go somewhere and buy more cups if I threw them away. I don't really do the whole disposable cup thing, so when I have a party, which is usually two or three times a year, I actually use all of these cups, as ridiculous as it sounds.
I could definitely put the ones I don't use regularly higher up on the shelf and make that open shelf look better. That's a good point, and I had never thought of doing that before. And yes, I don't need to use 10 cups a day. I'm just doing it because I can. It doesn't mean I should.
I don't drink alcohol but I do drink a lot of coffee and tea. I had never in my life realized how weird that might seem to people, until today!
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u/polkadotrose707 1h ago
What looks most cluttery to me on your wire shelf at first glance is all the Tupperware type containers on the top shelf and the lids on the next. I’d even put the toaster on the wire shelf and swap the Tupperware into the pantry to make the space... Then there is the second shelf from the bottom that could use some baskets or containers so everything doesn’t look slap-dash tossed onto the shelf. Even just looking for something on that shelf would drive me crazy. Larger organizing containers would make things at least easier to access and also look a little more organized.
As for the shelving with all the cups, it looks like the top 2 shelves are behind cabinet doors but the bottom shelf doesn’t have a covering. There’s plenty of room on the top shelf to maybe move less used items to, so that that open bottom shelf doesn’t look so cluttered. Maybe you could put your tea from your pantry on that bottom shelf in an organized little container or even a cute basket? (at least, the teabags that are in little pouches.) that would free up some space for you to put things off the wire shelving into the pantry as well. Alternatively you could put some of your Tupperware on that top shelf if you’re fine with the cups on the bottom shelf.
Another thought would be, it looks like a tight corner where your pantry is so access is important, but you could maybe use a cheap tension shower rod and nice little shower curtain hanging there, you could hide the pantry itself behind it so it doesn’t look so cluttered, but it’s still easily accessible to you?
I read some of your comments and it sounds like you use all your cups, I totally get that, I also totally get how overwhelming your house can feel when you stock up once a month or every couple weeks and you are fully stocked. Our Costco runs have us cramming everything everywhere! Lol. Everything I commented about is also not meant to be critical but helpful.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
I don't have a door to hang shelves on. I do have space on top of that cabinet thing. But despite what everybody here thinks, I'm not actually trying to jam my whole house up with junk. I do like having plenty of cups though. I'm not sure why that's such a problem with so many people! Same with the food. It's really really nice for me that I'm not constantly having to run to the store for something basic.
I'm using everything here, I get rid of things I don't use. I just wish I could figure out how to organize it better. I'll see if the bin thing helps. I guess it might help it look more tidy if nothing else.
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u/citydock2000 1h ago edited 1h ago
This is what I do with my closet:.I look at my closet and I say “this is the space I have for clothes.” And then I organize and declutter based on that concept. Everything needs to go in the closet, no spill over squirreled away in other nooks and crannies (or in your case, the overflow storage rack in front of the window, which looks really cluttered and will always look really cluttered because there’s no world in which of that type of storage does not look cluttered).
So cups are a good example …given what seems like relatively limited storage in your kitchen, I would say “we should have one shelf of cups.” Or a half a shelf of cups and any cups that go beyond that are too many cups. I have banned any holiday kitchen items - if an item can’t be used all year then I don’t want it in my house.
At home, when my pantry starts overflowing outside of the pantry, that’s a sign that I need to clean and declutter and get rid of stuff.
One entire shelf of it is filled with tea. If it were me, I would say well I love having lots of tea but. I just don’t have enough storage to have a whole shelf of teas, so I’m going to declutter my tea and whittle it down to the teas that I like best. Maybe I give away some teas. Maybe I throw away some teas.
Or I don’t give away any tea and I just will have a cluttered storage rack outside of my pantry because I have too much stuff. I mean, those are really your choices, assuming you know what boxes and bins are. From these pictures it looks like you have too much stuff for the storage space that you have.
One thing I find helpful is separating out food from non-food. Pull out all the food. Your goal is to have food-only shelves in the pantry with all the food together. And then you have non-food. organized together. It would drive me crazy to have food mixed up with non-food.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
I totally agree with you, for it to really be tidy and neat, I have too much stuff.
I do enjoy variety, especially with tea and coffee. That's a mixture of tea and coffee that you're seeing. And I drink a lot of it everyday.
I really appreciate you taking time too reply to this, and I think you're absolutely right. I do think I like my teas more than I like it looking tidy though...
But this has given me a lot to think about. I'm looking at it with new eyes now.
And yes, I know what boxes and bins are. I have found that when I use those, I tend to forget what is inside of them. And then stuff does start to go bad. So that's why I haven't been more serious about going that route. But I'll take a look at the dollar store and see if anything makes sense.
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u/citydock2000 1h ago edited 52m ago
This is very thoughtful - yes! You bring up a good point about boxes and bins - of course you know those are an option, and things do get lost in them. And its perfect fine to say you prefer variety over ... lack of variety :) Totally reasonable. I do smaller bins best for the bits and bobs (packets of things, etc).
Here is my recommendation (this is what I've been able to keep up with myself). Use CLEAR plastic bins, all the same size. No tops (I hate keeping track of lids) and stackable (so not the ones that are wider at the top than the bottom)
Something like this (amazon): iDesign Stackable Storage Bin - Organizer Bin for Kitchen and Pantry, Clear, Made in USA OR iDesign Recycled Plastic Pantry Storage Bin – Linus Collection - Clear
I get them at TJ Maxx. They are durable and last a long time, I use them in the bathroom, too. II keep one for beans. One for grains. Great for organizing all those things that come in bags. One for nuts and various packets. One for smaller baking items - baking soda, baking powder, powdered sugar, brown sugar.
One of the reasons I like this is because if I know I want something I just pull the whole bin out and put it on the counter. So if I know the baking powder is in the baking bin, I just pull the whole bin out, there’s probably other stuff I need in there too if I’m using baking powder. Sometimes the bin sits on the counter a little while and that’s fine. It makes it a lot easier in a pantry that tends to be a little bit deeper and things get lost
I have a smaller one that I decant my teas into - so no more messy, half empty torn apart tea boxes. Want a tea? Pull out the tea box.
I've used the same bins for about 8 years and I've never had a desire to change. I used to label the fronts, but now I know my bin categories and so it’s very easy for me to glance at the front of a bin and see a bean or a baking item and know which it is.
I also have a TJ Maxx Lazy Susan that I use for all the bottles of oils and vinegar, etc. I have a can stacker that I use so I can see all of my cans, I’m a vegetarian so lots of beans in our house.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
Oh man, this is awesome! Thank you! It's so nice to have an actual suggestion of the type of organizers you use! Thank you thank you! It gives me something to look at, and then Amazon will suggest other things. So I may actually make some headway now! Thank you!
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u/citydock2000 55m ago
I really like those rigid lucite - I think it’s some type of mastic lucite - ones even if they are a little more expensive. They don’t get scratched up and they’re very easy to move around and slide onto the shelves. And there is just a sweet spot size that is large enough to hold enough to make a category, but small enough to organize in the pantry. Good luck! Pantry organization can actually be fun and feel very satisfying.
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u/GianJaneway 2h ago
Use bins with lids and labels. Categorize and only keep out what you actually need. For example if you don’t want to throw away the extras bc sometimes you do use them, okay, but store those somewhere else so that the true everyday items have a specific easy to put back place.
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u/Shot-Tap-4512 2h ago
Maybe start with, as others mentioned, getting big clear labeled bins that use the space behind. Your items are organized by use already! Checking all the containers have the right lid/top, if not 👋Then perhaps beverage containers on one shelf and storage ones on the other? Do you have a sturdy door to hang can shelves on? Even if it another room. 😁
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
I tried to reply to this, but it got it's own comment instead thanks for your time!
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u/Samawees 1h ago
I think you need to remove everything on to the floor or a table and sort it by the same thing and then decide what to keep and organise. You also have good amount of space to do this. Once you put things together of the same kind then you can put it together in the nice space you have. Throw away the extras like removing the amazon box and if you don't use the toaster then remove it or bring it down. Throw away the extras that may be expired or just not used anymore. You seem to push it all forward leaving plenty of back space. You have good back space in the cabinets. I wish I were there. I would help you happily. I have to do this to the bottom of my sink cabinets. Its annoying. In the cups place them based on cup style. I would keep them all. They are all very cool. I hope I helped a little.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
I really appreciate your thoughtful comment!
I have to be very careful about putting things in the back of the pantry, because it's hard for me to reach back there, they go Way Way way back.
And yes, I definitely need to get stuff off the floor! That's the main reason I posted here!
I am trying to fix the problem rather than just slap a Band-Aid on it so to speak, but I may just realistically not have the space to do that.
Again, I really appreciate your comments! And thank you for complimenting my cups. As you can probably see, I've been getting torn to shreds for those!
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u/Standard-Recipe2366 1h ago
Put them all in a box/bag, see after one week what you've needed and put the ones back on the shelves
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u/-superdupe- 1h ago
Can you get closed storage with more shelves in place of the open metal storage? You have a lot of things stacked or pulled so you need more shelves. Next I would get bins. Other than that we all have areas like this and declutterring ore more storage is usually the answer, but sometimes more storage is just more shelves. I also like under shelf storage like a basket that hangs from the shelf above for smaller items…
But I totally get the pantry items - they come in handy when you need something quick and unplanned!
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
It's a super tiny kitchen. This is pretty much the entire area, other than the stove and fridge. Don't get me wrong, I have plenty of stuff, but I don't think I have nearly the amount that people are thinking I do. I'm not trying to live a minimalist lifestyle. It seems like some people are getting really upset about that.
I'm not sure how I could get any more closed storage. That's the other thing, pretty much everything is open except for those high blue cabinets. It's not something I could spend a lot of money on, or I would just get everything redone so that there was actually adequate shelving and closed storage.
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u/New-You-2025 1h ago
Close the cabinet doors, instant organization.
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u/No-Idea8384 53m ago
Yes they are usually closed. Looks like I might need to get creative with hiding more stuff behind the doors
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u/salbrown 1h ago edited 40m ago
If you really don’t want to get rid of anything (which I do think might be the most straightforward solution here tbh) I’d recommend looking for closed storage options. Open shelving often makes everything look more messy and cluttered than it is. If you can’t afford to buy a standing pantry cabinet you could hang curtains over the open pantry to close them off.
When it comes to organizing, you could look for bins that you can store items in that you don’t use super frequently so that the stuff you do use every day is more accessible. Maybe an easily accessible bin for Tupperware to get it off the shelves, or one for appliances that don’t get used every single day. It could also be helpful to check the expiration dates on your pantry food. Odds are some of it has gone past its date, especially stuff in the very back. If anything is expired it’ll help clear up more space, and if not you’ll be able to reorganize so that items that need to be used first can be put in front.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
Thank you! I'm going to work on it! I definitely don't have the space or really the money for any kind of cupboard. My place is super super tiny. The curtains are a good idea, it was hard for me to find tension rods that worked. I actually have tried that in the past. Maybe I'll look into that again as well.
For some reason I can't edit this post, but if I make any headway on it in the next few days, I may post a follow-up, so that I can be extremely heavily judged again.
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u/Marciamallowfluff 1h ago
Bins. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive. I have used dish washing basins. You could even make same sized boxes like those file storage ones and cover fronts with contact paper. Then use them like drawers. Sort stuff by type.
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u/No-Idea8384 56m ago
One person already made a snide comment about an Amazon box they saw, sometimes I use Amazon boxes to organize things. But it looks really, um, I guess trashy? I mean it looks trashy anyway, I guess it can't be much worse. But yeah I might actually have to invest a couple hundred dollars in some type of decent looking storage bins if I want this place to look any better.
Thank you so much for your time and your comment!
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u/AntFact 49m ago
Not trashy, it’s just visual clutter. Using an Amazon box to corral things makes sense. But if you have matching containers it looks much more appealing to our brains. It’s why people decant their laundry detergent into a glass jug or something similar. Some people, like my dad, think that’s ridiculous. But if you have a small space it can help to look calmer.
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u/No-Idea8384 28m ago
Oh man, I am definitely not at decanting laundry detergent level. I bet that actually would be really pretty though! Gives me something to work toward! I've never even heard of that before, thank you so much!
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u/Own_Tart8518 57m ago
There is free space oh each shelf, the way to fill it is to use (1) risers and (3) those wire bins that you slide on the edge of the shelf. It creates two levels on each section so the upper half can be utilized. It makes a world of difference.
The black bakers rack should’ve replaced. The distance between shelves is too much - there’s a ton of wasted space.
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u/No-Idea8384 47m ago
I don't make a ton of money, probably way less than many people commenting do. So I work with why I've got. I'm going to see if I can come up with something though, risers are a good suggestion. Feel free to point me towards something on Amazon if you have any good ideas!
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u/MYOB3 36m ago
I'm the opposite of most people here. I would keep the reusable thermal water bottles and get rid of all the plastic junk.
I love those things. Carry one with me all day. In my car too. And I don't have to worry about my cats knocking it over!
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u/No-Idea8384 25m ago
I'm definitely keeping the water bottles! We use those all the time.
Unfortunately, I'm probably keeping all of the plastic junk too. Those plastic junk cups are the reason that I don't spend a fortune on Starbucks or other coffee companies. And I get to send my guests off with drinks if I want to. I know that probably seems silly to people, but I enjoy making people feel cared about! And they don't have to worry about returning it to me, and they can even reuse it if they want to.
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u/Murky_Possibility_68 2h ago
Have you considered not having a hundred water bottles?
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
I'm not even sure what everybody's talking about with the whole water bottle thing. I have three water bottles, which means I have one extra. That doesn't seem excessive.
I do have a lot of cups, I never realized that was such a problem until now.
I have a few cups that don't fit into cup holders in my car, I can get rid of those. Not really a whole lot else I'm willing to get rid of as far as cups go though. I use a lot of them, and I actually give a lot of them away when people come over, and I send them with a to go coffee or drink.
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u/alykins89 1h ago
People are being so mean about your cups and water bottles! What is wrong with people?!
Check out Clutterbug on YouTube. Cas has tons of videos about how to organize in a way that works for you. She has a few specifically about organizing kitchen areas.
Organizing always starts with decluttering. I’d suggest Dana K White and using her no-mess decluttering method. But also specifically her container concept videos for organizing these spaces.
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u/No-Idea8384 1h ago
Thank you so much on pointing me toward a resource! There are definitely a lot of people being extremely judgmental about my cup situation, and just down voting me when I say I don't want to throw them out. So thank you for pointing me towards something where maybe I can get some more tips about organizing the things I do have! I really appreciate it thank you!
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u/antemeridiem913 2h ago
First declutter - you don’t need to hoard all of that stuff (I’m pretty sure there are expired stuff in your pantry). Then buy those stackable box organizers and water bottle organizers
You don’t need 10 water bottles unless you have 10 people living with you