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Dishes and Cookware and Chaos, Oh My!

By Brenda Spagnola-Wilson


Kitchen organization
Dishes in the cabinet, food in the pantry, pot and pans under the stove. Okay, now where do you put everything else in your kitchen? Small appliances, flatware, cooking utensils and all of those little gadgets need a home too! Question is, where do you put them all in order to make the most of the space you have.

The first thing you want to do is go thru EVERYTHING! (Yeah, I know. You thought this was about organization. Bear with me here!) Start with your flatware. Do you really need 6 sets of steak knives? And since your youngest is now five years old, I don’t think they are using those baby spoons anymore. This is also a good time to see if you actually need more silverware. In my house the small spoon seems to disappear, so I picked up a few extra at a local dollar store. Next, on to the utensils. Who actually uses 3 hand can openers? Get rid of duplicates, broken and unused items. If it is something you one need once a year (like a turkey baster) then box it up and clearly label it for future use. But get it out of the kitchen. Move to the pantry next. Have a box ready for items you can donate to a local food bank or give to someone who will actually use them. It’s amazing what can hide in the back. Check the expiration dates and pitch anything past its’ prime. Cans that are bulging need to be tossed, as does anything you can’t identify. Get rid of open packages, stale crackers, whatever. If you haven’t used it by now, chances are you aren’t going to. Now, the job you have been waiting for – the plastics cabinet! Butter bowls – out they go! No lids – toss’em! Cracked, dented, melted – Out, out, out!

Time to move down. Yes, we need to clean out under the sink! (Thought I forgot that, didn’t you?) Since this is where most people keep their cleaning supplies, it is especially important to keep this area clear of clutter. Items that you haven’t used in 6 months can be thrown out, since you obviously aren’t using them. And if it is more than 1 year old it needs to go. The chemicals in cleaning solutions can change over time. Not only will they not work as well, but they can break down – completely changing their chemical composition, which can be dangerous.

After you have finished cleaning out ALL of the cabinet in the kitchen, look at what is left. You will probably be surprised at the amount of room you now have. But, like most, I am sure it still needs to be organized.

First, let’s look at the area nearest the stove. Since this is where you do most of you cooking, the items you use the most here should be close for easy access. And unless you have an abundance of cabinets and drawers, it can be a little tricky to make this space workable. Start by making sure your utensils are within easy reach. Do this by placing them in a drawer next to or close to the stove. They also make racks for hanging utensils. Hanging spice racks are also an option. I have one that hangs directly over the stove. If you have room, you can also find racks for hanging your cookware. Not only do all of these racks make it easy to cook, they also free up valuable drawer, cabinet and counter space. And if you have a small kitchen, these are all probably at a premium. Decorative crocks are also handy for placing regularly used items. These can be placed right next to the work area and still look nice.

Unless you plan out either eating out for the rest of you life (sounds nice, but not very practical) or eating off of paper plates, your dishes need a home. There is not a lot you can do here except stack them. But remember not to stack so many that it is difficult to get what you need out of the cabinet. I actually have 2 stacks of everything on 2 separate shelves – the most frequently used items being on the bottom for easy access. Cooking and mixing bowls should be in a separate cabinet, if you have the room.

Small appliances. Where to put them? Many small appliances can now be mounted under your cabinets. This frees up counter space, yet leaves them handy to get to. If you can spare the counter space, put them out. But if you are like most people, you need the space and hate the cluttered look. Find a place to put them when not in use. I rarely use my electric can opened, preferring my hand opener. So the electric went into a box to be stored. You can also hang paper towels and paper plates from cabinets, saving space and keeping these items close by. And don’t forget about that extra space we cleaned out under the sink. This can be used to store infrequently used items, like roasting pans or serving platters.

There is not much you can do with the pantry, but I have a few ideas to make it easier to find thing. Simply cleaning it out will help a lot. Make sure like items are together. Boxed items on one shelf, cans on another. Consider purchasing stackable containers for regularly used foods like cereal, flour and sugar. While the initial investment can be a bit costly, in the long run these items will pay for themselves by making it easier to find thing. Plus, they seems to last forever. I have a set of Tupperware canisters that are over 20 years old and going strong! Ugly, but functional, they stay in the pantry. Another option is an over the door hanger to place smaller items. I bought one at local discount store for $15. It has been a lifesaver. I use it for spices we don’t use a lot, baking supplies and odds and ends. I liked it so much I bought another one for my laundry room (but that’s another article!).

Now look to see if you have any usable space left. I lived in my current home for almost a year before I realized I could use the hidden corners by my sink. By purchasing 2 L-bracket plant hangers and some hanging baskets, I now have a great place to store kitchen towels. They are close to the sink for easy access, decorative, free up much needed drawer space and, most importantly, are out of the way.

Organizing your kitchen can be challenging, but it is necessary to make things flow more smoothly. Don’t be afraid to put things in unusual places (like my kitchen towels). Besides, if you don’t like it, you can always move it back. Most of all, make your kitchen a place you like to be. Well, at least make it place you don’t hate!

About the Author

Brenda Spagnola-Wilson is a SAHM who lives in Texas with her husband and two children. A published freelance writer, her topics most often focus on home improvement & decorating, living a frugal lifestyle, being a SAHM, general home care and day-to-day life. Currently she is a moderator and community leader at www.BabyUniversity.com and the Co-Editor of the At Home with Baby University Newsletter. Feel free to contact her at bspagnola@ev1.net with any comments, questions or suggestions.

10 Traits of an Organized Home

By Barbara Myers


10 Traits of an Organized Home
by Barbara Myers (http://www.ineedmoretime.com)

1. Lack of clutter because everything has a place. The band-aids are in the kitchen cabinet left of the sink. All videos are in the cabinet near the VCR.
Today's mail is sorted into individual family member's baskets or folders.

2. Refrigerator, freezer and pantry are stocked and organized. There's a planned menu for this week. A grocery list in progress is posted near the fridge.

3. Clean laundry is put away. Dirty laundry is in hampers or is being laundered.

4. Family calendar is updated daily and color-coded by person.

5. Chore list is clearly posted. Everyone does his or her share as a member of the family.

6. There is a key rack, shoe rack and pegs for jackets and backpacks near the door.

7. Toys are separated into containers by category and can be put away quickly.

8. There is a portable file box into which bills and paperwork are organized.

9. Home appears adequately clean. Family has a daily system to pick up clutter and a weekly system for cleaning
the house.

10. Family members have time for one another because their home is organized.

Barbara Myers is a professional organizer, author and speaker. Think this sounds impossible? It's not! Read The Complete Guide to Organized Parenting. Visit http://www.ineedmoretime.com for a free tips booklet.

The Candlewood Company sets sites on Richmond’s upscale housing market

By Anonymous


Richmond, VA- May 27, 2002- The Candlewood Company is betting that the Greater Richmond area’s growing affection for higher priced homes will translate into big business for this innovative retail store. The company opened its doors for business six months ago and has been going full steam ever since. The company caters to homeowners wanting upscale products for their kitchens and homes. The company specializes in European and gourmet kitchen accessories for high-end homes.

In a market place dominated by Home Depot and Lowe’s, why does this company think it can make it. “That’s simple” says Heather Martin the company’s owner, “first because we offer products that you only see in magazines like Architectural Digest. Second is our service. We only offer, one on one service. We may not be able to help as many customers as other retailers do in a single day but at least we know our customers receive truly personal attention. We even make house calls for customers that are to busy to get out to the store” The company also has a web site for customers that want to look at their products or shop on line. “ Our site has been averaging about 10,000 visits a month” adds Martin.

The company’s offerings include kitchen accessories, cabinet organizers, cabinet hardware and five decorative hardware lines that run the gamut of styles and designs. The company’s has it’s own name branded line of gourmet cabinet accessories and organizers. The company also offers custom kitchen cabinets and custom furniture made from solid surface materials like Corian. “We just had did a design for one customer that included a solid surface bookcase and matching coffee table” said Heather Martin. The company has over 5000 different products available to its customers. The Candlewood Company acts as a manufacture distributor for most of the product lines that it carries, making them a competitive alternative to large home centers in the area. “We feel that many consumers are just plain fed up with long lines and the poor customer service, that seems to be commonplace with large retailers today. We offer a refreshing and very personal atmosphere that is truly customer oriented. We will come to the customers’ home if that is what is convenient for them.”


Contact:
Walt Lake at
804-279-0500
Walt@candlewood.biz
1601 Ware Bottom Spring Rd. Chester Virginia 23836.
The showroom is available by appointment only.