It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home, but unfortunately for many moms, the kitchen is often the central point for something unwanted – piles of clutter. So, I am always searching for new kitchen organizing tips!
My kitchen tends to accumulate a lot of clutter, too. My kids like to do their homework on the kitchen table (even though there’s a desk for them upstairs), so we often have to take the time before dinner to clear off homework, pencils, books, etc.
The kitchen table is also where I tend to leave the mail for my spouse to see when he comes home, so junk mail and newspapers tend to pile up there, too.
Fridge Clutter
My home’s refrigerator before my Mead organizers.
Before kids, my husband and I never used to post things on the fridge, as we were told when we bought the appliance that magnets could mar the appliance’s finish. But now, since kids, the fridge is usually where we post school menus, permission slips that need to be signed and stellar spelling and math test results.
Needless to say, my kitchen often looks like a mess!
Clearing the Clutter
I haven’t been able to get my kids to study upstairs (I think they prefer to be near me, as I am often getting dinner ready while they study), but I have cleared off a shelf in our home’s upstairs hallway on which to put recent newspapers, catalogs and other mail.
My fridge with it’s now neater appearance.
I’ve also found two nifty refrigerator organizers from Mead at Target. One is a dry-erase calendar, on which I can keep track of my family’s activities, and the other is a magnetic plastic sleeve organizer in which I can put school menus, forms about upcoming school events, etc. Since I’ve been using those fridge organizers, the outside of my fridge looks a lot neater (but the inside of my fridge is still another story).
I was thinking of adding more organizers to the fridge, like perhaps bins in which to put incoming mail, so I can leave the mail there (and not on the kitchen table) for my spouse.
I like this idea I found on Pinterest, which combines a place to put kids’ school papers with an area to store homework supplies. I also like the addition of frames to give a better appearance to the photos and artwork that often land on the fridge:
Kitchen command center by Landee See, Landee Do
Meanwhile, Small Fry & Co. shows how to covert a cereal box into a organizing bins for mail and bills — this is something I plan to try myself:
Have any tips on how to keep clutter to a minimum in the kitchen? Please share them in the comments.
I want to try the cereal box thing, too. And you are so right, my kitchen is so cluttered. What do you do with your kids artwork? Mine is in big folders behind the piano ( right next to the kitchen) where you can see it and it looks awful, but I want it upstairs since our basement is so humid in the summer.
Hi, Lela! I have boxes in our “office” upstairs for the kids’ artwork, but they are overflowing. I am hoping to create big file boxes (with folders for each year) to store their artwork in. I’ll have to keep you updated! Let me know what you decide to do with your kid’s artwork! I was also thinking of scanning the artwork, uploading the photos and creating photo books of their artwork.
For smaller toys that get lost easily, you can use very small lingerie bags to store the pieces (ie. Little People, Playmobil, ect) so the parts don’t get lost. They also don’t rip like plastic ziplock bags do.
Thanks for the tips!
I am constantly cleaning…never neglect the fridge for months…I do a thorough cleaning about every two weeks…but wipe it down daily sometimes…I use vinegar and water…with some baking soda…shiny…clean and fresh…if I pass to one month which sometimes happens with everything going on…I use spray bleach because of meats and stuff…only thing that makes me feel completely sanitized…but my grandfather…OMG…we never knew what to find in his fridge…but keeping up with the fridge is hard work…especially with a house full of ppl who are always in it….I tend to neglect the laundry room…cleaning the dust off pipes and stuff…now that I did it once…I know how it can get…and won’t let it happen again…only makes more work….so I would say…use vinegar, lemon juice, water and some baking soda for stuck on messes….great post…
Hi, Putri! Thanks for the cleaning tips! I will definitely try them — would love to switch to all natural (and cheaper) cleaners!
I know what you mean I have 5 daughters. I found with that reminding them after awhile it does pay off and they learn to put their toys away. That is why this mother limits the amount of toys allowed to be played with at a time.