15 Things to Declutter From Your Kitchen For A Tidy & Organized Space
Your kitchen is one of the busiest areas of your home…
From preparing meals and packing lunches to grabbing a quick snack, it’s easy for clutter to build up without you even noticing.
You don’t need a complete kitchen makeover to create a cleaner, more organized space.
Sometimes, all it takes is getting rid of the things you no longer use, need, or love.
Here are 15 Things to declutter for a tidier, more functional kitchen!
Tips To Declutter Your Kitchen
For more guidance on decluttering your kitchen, check out this helpful video:
15 Things to Declutter From Your Kitchen For A Tidy & Organized Space
1. Expired Pantry Foods
When was the last time you checked the back of your pantry?
Forgotten cans, stale crackers, and expired baking ingredients can take up valuable shelf space.
Start by pulling out your pantry items and checking their dates and condition…
Toss anything expired or spoiled, and group the remaining foods by category, such as snacks, baking supplies, and canned goods.
2. Duplicate Kitchen Utensils
You probably don’t need five spatulas, three potato mashers, and a drawer full of wooden spoons.
While having a few backups can be helpful, too many utensils can make drawers difficult to open and organize.
Keep the tools you use regularly and consider donating clean, usable extras that are in good condition.
3. Mismatched Food Storage Containers
Food storage containers have a way of multiplying, especially when their lids disappear.
If your cabinet is filled with containers you can’t match or stack properly, it’s time to sort through them.
Pair every container with its lid, recycle or discard damaged pieces where accepted, and donate usable extras if appropriate.
4. Unused Mugs and Glasses
Collecting cute mugs can be fun, but too many can quickly crowd your cabinets.
If you’re constantly rearranging cups to make room for everyday favorites, consider downsizing your collection…
Keep the mugs and glasses you regularly use, along with a reasonable number for guests.
Try donating clean, usable extras that are still in good condition to family or friends first.
Then consider trashing your extras if you have no takers.
5. Worn-Out Dish Towels and Cleaning Cloths
Old dish towels, stained cleaning cloths, and frayed kitchen linens can take up more drawer space than you realize…
Sort through your collection and keep the ones that are clean, absorbent, and useful.
Repurpose suitable old towels for messier cleaning tasks, or dispose of items that are no longer usable.
6. Small Appliances You Never Use
That bread maker, waffle iron, or smoothie machine might have seemed like a great purchase at the time…
But if it’s been sitting untouched for months, it may be taking up space you could use for something more practical.
Consider how often you realistically use each appliance.
Keep the ones that fit your lifestyle, and sell or donate working appliances you no longer need.
7. The Junk Drawer
Almost every kitchen has one: a drawer filled with random batteries, rubber bands, old receipts, loose screws, and mystery keys.
Instead of letting the clutter continue to grow, empty the drawer and sort everything into categories.
Throw away trash, relocate items that belong elsewhere, and use small organizers for the essentials.
8. Excess Plastic Bags
Reusable grocery bags are convenient, but keeping every plastic shopping bag can quickly create a bulky mess under the sink or in a cabinet.
Keep a reasonable supply for small household tasks and recycle plastic bags at an appropriate collection point when available.
9. Expired Refrigerator Items
Condiment bottles, forgotten leftovers, and produce past its prime can easily get pushed to the back of the refrigerator.
Take a few minutes to check shelves, drawers, and door compartments. Discard spoiled or unsafe food, wipe up spills, and group similar items together.
10. Takeout Menus and Paper Clutter
Old restaurant menus, grocery receipts, coupons, and miscellaneous papers often end up scattered across kitchen counters.
Recycle outdated menus and unnecessary paper clutter. Save important documents in a designated folder, and keep useful recipes or meal plans in one organized location.
11. Baking Supplies You Don’t Use
Specialty cake pans, cookie cutters, decorating tools, and baking gadgets can occupy entire cabinets, even if you only bake once or twice a year.
Take inventory of your baking supplies and keep the tools that match your actual habits.
Pass along clean, usable items that you no longer need to family or friends.
12. Excess Water Bottles and Travel Cups
Reusable water bottles are useful, but they can take over your cabinets when everyone in the household has several.
Choose a few favorites for each family member and let go of bottles that leak, have damaged components, or are rarely used.
13. Broken Kitchen Gadgets
A can opener that barely works, a cracked measuring cup, or a kitchen timer with a broken button can create excess that takes up extra space in your kitchen…
Go through your drawers and identify items that are damaged or no longer safe to use.
14. Cluttered Kitchen Countertops
Countertops can quickly become landing zones for appliances, mail, groceries, decorative pieces, and random household items.
Clear everything off your counters and return each item to its proper home…
Put away appliances you don’t use every day, and keep only the essentials within easy reach.
15. Items That Belong Somewhere Else
Keys, children’s toys, paperwork, handbags, and miscellaneous belongings often find their way into the kitchen…
While it may seem harmless to leave them there temporarily, these items can quickly create visual clutter.
Walk through your kitchen and collect anything that belongs in another room.
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