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Ready . . .set . . .let’s get organized ! Easy for me to say, right ? Let me help you with a step by step process to make your life easier and help you save money at the same time.

People who know me well say that one of my strong points is organization. When things around me are in disarray, it can drive me crazy. I can mess up a room as well as the next person, but eventually, I HAVE TO get it organized to de-stress my life a little.

Until I organized a couple of kitchens for others, I didn’t realize what a money saver an organized kitchen / pantry can be. When you put things in the same place every time, it’s easy to see what you’re out of. But if you put things where ever there’s a “hole”, you may end up buying more of items you already have because they get lost in the shuffle.

If organizing the entire kitchen or pantry is overwhelming to you, start with a couple of drawers or cupboards. Once you get started, it gets easier, but the key is to GET STARTED.

If you have children, you can have them help you put “like things” together and make it more fun. (Make sure they aren’t handling sharp objects like knives, etc.) I like to put some fun music on to make the time go faster.

Did you know that you can save money by being organized ? Here’s an example of what I mean : I organized a kitchen for someone and discovered four bottles of pure vanilla in varying sizes. We weren’t able to combine the vanilla into fewer bottles because they were all close to being full, and there wasn’t enough room to put them all back into the cupboard. My client made a decision to give the extra vanilla to her sister who bakes a lot, and she realized that by not putting the vanilla in a certain spot every time was costing her a lot of money.

Step #1. Drawers: You will save yourself some headaches by doing some planning first. Write down what your biggest problem areas are, then measure those spaces. For example : if you want to organize some kitchen drawers, measure the length, width and depth of each drawer, then if drawer dividers are needed, you will know what will fit your needs. Empty the drawers, clean the inside of each drawer thoroughly, then place the dividers into each drawer. Before putting items into the dividers, make sure you put items closest to where they will be used in the kitchen. Example: Items used for cooking, like measuring spoons, spatulas, large spoons, etc., should be in a drawer closest to the stove. Now put the items into the dividers until all items that belong in that drawer are put away.

(Note: If there are too many items to fit into the dividers, check to see if you have duplicate items that you don’t really need, or items that you never use. If so, start a box to take to the thrift store.)The next time you use those drawers, you will take pleasure in the fact that everything is where it is supposed to be and easy to find at a glance.

Step # 2. Upper Cabinets: To organize the cabinet that houses your everyday dishes, you need to measure its’ length, width and height, then purchase the plate holders that best suit your space. To conserve space it’s best to buy plate racks that allow saucers, bread plates and dessert plates to stand upright, (on their rims), and grouped together. For cups/mugs, use cup hooks which are inserted into the top board of your cupboard. Make sure you get hooks that fit the cup/mug handles before you insert them. Allow enough space between hooks so that the cups/mugs don’t touch each other. There should be plenty of room below the cups for the placement of dinner plates or cereal bowls. Prior to placing the plate racks, thoroughly clean the cupboard and cut shelf liner paper to fit the bottom of the cupboard. It gives your cupboard a fresh new look and feel.

Step # 3. Lower cabinets: The lower cabinets vary a lot in size. Some have one or two shelves and others are just an open space. You will again measure the length, width and height of the space you are organizing. If you have a shelf or two, you probably won’t need any other racks, except a lid rack which is a wonderfully easy way to store various sizes of lids for your pots and pans, or use a hanging lid and pot rack if you need the space for other items in the lower cabinets.

After you have emptied everything out of the lower cabinet, clean it thoroughly and line each shelf with shelf paper. If your cupboard has no shelves, purchase a free-standing, vinyl coated shelf to better utilize the space. Place the least used items in the back of the cupboard, and most frequently used items in the front, stacking them for best use of the space. Example : Start with largest cooking pot , set next largest pot inside and continue to the smallest pan until you reach the height of the cupboard. I always place a lightweight cloth or paper towel between pots, pans, bowls, etc. to keep them from scratching each other or sticking together.

Even better, I would suggest having sliding shelves installed in the lower cabinets. That really helps to better reach the items that are clear in the back; a lazy susan works great as well. It is very important to get into the habit of putting things back the way they were when first organized. If you stick things in the cupboard helter-skelter because you’re in a hurry, you’ll be back where you were before you organized the space. In the long run, it will cost you MORE time because you’ll constantly be looking for where you put things.

Step #4. Recycling is a great way to go these days, so having an area with bins for that purpose makes it so much easier as well as keeping it fresh on our minds.

Step # 5. Plastic storage containers: The most time-saving way is to put the lid on each and every container, then stack them from largest to smallest. This way you won’t waste precious time trying to find the right lid for the right container. If you run out of space and have a lot of containers left over, it’s decision time. Do you really need all those extra containers? If not, either throw them away, or add them to the box of items to go to the thrift store. If you really need to keep all of the containers, set a small space aside in the back and stack them without lids so they take up less space. Place all the loose lids inside one larger container or a large zip lock bag and keep it with the containers in the back.

Step # 6. Herbs and Spices: To save time and money, it is best to organize your herbs and spices alphabetically, because when you’re looking for an item, you can find it a lot faster. Start with “A” on the top rack and continue until the top rack is full. Put the rest on the bottom rack, continuing alphabet-
ically. There are many different types of spice racks available. I had one custom built by my brother, the carpenter, and it hangs on the wall of my pantry.