image by Sirkullay via Flickr
KITCHEN SURFACES
Working and preparing food in a kitchen that is functional, clean and streamlined is always more pleasurable than in one where nothing can be found or where there isn’t enough room to butter a piece of bread. Many kitchens do not come equipped with adequate bench space so by the time the paraphernalia that ends up in the kitchen arrives there really is none to speak of at all. As with many things to do with home life, keeping objects on the kitchen counter tops is just a habit. If that habit is not working for you or is causing you hassle then it is time to change it – especially with the coming festive season approaching fast and all the extra cooking that it often entails.
ANY OF THESE SEEM FAMILIAR?
The toaster on the bench all day & night for toast made only a few mornings a week?
The juicer to remind you to drink the freshly squeezed fruit and veggies – last used 5 months ago
Six months of mail, old magazines you will read with a cuppa, supermarket specials from last Easter, recipes and folded paper bags all in a stack in the corner
A ceramic jar which was bought to put biscuits/sweets in but now has become a receptacle for old dockets, buttons which need to be sewn back on, elastic bands etc
Water bottles, things to go in the recycling/compost bin and a fruit bowl which hasn’t looked appetising for the last two days
THE TASK
- Look at your work surfaces in the kitchen. If your surfaces are really cluttered then it may be best to work on one section at a time.
- Set timer for 30 minutes (anymore and you will get distracted, so best to work in increments)
- Remove everything from the section
- Clean the bench (or table top or cabinet top)
- Ask yourself
- ~ What do I use that area for?
- ~ What really needs to be there?
- ~ What does not need to be there?
- Put back only what is worth moving every time you want to wipe the surface.
- Put the rest of the objects where they belong, recycle them, put them in the bin or give them away.
If you cannot find 30 minutes or you cant bring yourself to bother with doing it for that time, then each time you are in the kitchen boiling the kettle take one object and put it where it belongs or throw it out. It’s amazing how after a few cuppas things start to look a bit different!
If an object on your bench does not serve a useful and current purpose then it has no value being there & taking up space.
Enjoy
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Other postings:
Top 3 habits to simplify your life
It really does make a difference to keep your kitchen clutter free. You spend SO much time in there as a family. Our kitchen is really small, so it’s even MORE important to salvage and keep clear what ever counter space we DO have!
(it seems our kitchens have gotten smaller instead of bigger everytime we move!)
Delighted to hear from you Heidi. Of all the places in the home the kitchen is the one where clutter can distract more than any other – especially when space is at a premium. It’s amazing how a few things laying around can change the efficiency of how a kitchen works.
Thanks very much for dropping by