Organize Your Kitchen Drawers

by

The Dreaded Kitchen Drawer Clean Out? Not so fast . . . it has several silver linings.

 Don’t dread, think opportunity! Most every kitchen drawer that you organize, including my own, usually has multiples of the same thing. Honestly, kitchen things multiply like mice! If you are setting up a vacation home or short or mid-term rental, or your kids are setting up their first kitchen this could even be your opportunity to save money!

Assess your kitchen drawers

Do they need to be relined? Or just cleaned?

Do you need some type of container(s)?

Check out my picks for lining kitchen drawers, and my favorite containers and organizers.

 Take everything out of the drawers, Emphasis on Everything!

  1. Choose where to start-Usually, it is best to reorganize one drawer at a time. If you are switching items from one drawer to another drawer you may have two drawers being organized at one time. If all the drawers are a jumbled mish mash, then you will need to remove everything from all the drawers.
  2. Choose a work surface- You can put everything onto the kitchen island, dining room table, or a folding table if you need more space. Cooking utensils can easily scratch surfaces.
  3. Cover the surface with a table cloth, plastic sheet, or craft paper to protect it.
  4. Take everything out of the drawer or drawers you are organizing.
  5. Clean out the drawers- I personally think the easiest way to clean a drawer is to vacuum (easier for crumbs and dust bunnies), and then wipe with a damp cloth.

Pro-tip: If you are trying to remove old contact paper liner, heating with a blow dryer on low often helps to soften the adhesive so it comes out more easily.

  1. Group like kind things, such as all serving spoons together, forks together, chopsticks together. You get the idea. Pull out anything that you no longer want, need, or use. Set aside duplicates for a second kitchen, to donate, or to recycle.

 Line drawers and install containers

  1. Properly measure drawers (length, width and height) Some drawers that are Melamine don’t need to be lined because the surfaces clean easily. Wood surfaces are beautiful but I think it’s best to line them to protect from scratches and cooking grease. My go to kitchen drawer liner is Plast-O-Mat Ribbed shelf liner. I like the fact that it comes in 12” and 24”widths, is easy to measure and cut, easy to clean, and stiff enough not to move around. The 24” is wide enough to fit under most kitchen sinks. Works great in the fridge too. Yup, it is on the “Kitchen Drawer Liners and Organizers” shopping board!
  2. Here’s why measuring drawers is so important. Most drawers are not standard. Most drawer organizers aren’t standard either. They are made to fit good enough into the average size drawers. Define average Ha Ha Ha! Additionally, think about how long your cooking utensils are. It is just annoying when the utensil is longer than the drawer organizer allows. Sometimes it even causes the drawer not to close. The good news is there is a lot to choose from. There are different types of drawer organizers; wood, clear plastic, and white are the most popular. See 3 unique “Kitchen Drawer Liners and Organizers” shopping boards. Put the drawer organizers into the drawers.

Put items back in drawer

  1. Put items back in the drawer that makes sense. i.e. proximity to where it is used, or with like kind things. Little tiny things such as corn cob holders, birthday candles, or crab pics need to be stored together in a small container, tray, or baggie.

Pro-tip: To remember where things go, I place a label just inside of the drawer front. Another trick to train yourself to put things back in the right spot put a temporary sticky note on the front of the drawer.

  1. If you are outfitting a kitchen or you have something you need, check out my “Kitchen Essentials” shopping board.

Pro-tip: If you are using your excess to set up a second kitchen Make a shopping list of things that you put back in the drawer that didn’t have a duplicate. This will give you what you still need to purchase for that second kitchen.

  1. Donate and recycle the extras

For the things on your list checkout my “Kitchen Essentials” shopping board

Click DOWNLOAD to get your free EBook copy

Join my Facebook group Your Awesome Organized Home

Follow me on Social Media Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin

Let’s get you enjoying a Beautiful Organized home!

–Grace

Find out how I can help you organize and beautify your home!

Grace Bermudes
Your Awesome Organized Home

408-202-4272
grace@gracebermudes.com