Spring Clean Kitchen Challenge • Everyday Cheapskate

On the one hand, these days, it can feel as though our lives have been turned upside-down. And right in the middle of so much uncertainty, I promise that spring will arrive precisely on time to remind us of things we can count on that never change.

Image: tidbits-cami.com

And just like that, I have spring cleaning and kitchen reorganization on my mind—something that happens to me every year just about this time.

Cynthia Ewer, author of Cut the Clutter, says the first thing I need to do is harden my heart. An efficient, convenient kitchen, she says, must be pared to the bone. To create a clean and organized kitchen, I must dare to dump anything and everything that is not absolutely necessary and useful—not simply move things around in an effort to fool myself into thinking that somehow I can organize chaos.

Clear the Decks

Cynthia instructs me to prepare four boxes with these labels:

Put Away Kitchen
Put Away Elsewhere
Give Away or Sell
Storage

Next, I am to tackle one shelf, drawer, and cupboard at a time putting each item into its proper box.

Kitchen Keepers

Once everything has found its box, send three of the boxes out of the kitchen. And now comes decision time.

Cynthia is ruthless in suggesting I need to just get rid of the electric french-fry fryer, that gelatin mold in the shape of Mount Rushmore and the odd collection of sports bottles each boasting a different walk-a-thon. Ditto for pans I don’t use, dishes I don’t like, and specialty cooking tools that are more trouble to clean than to use so I never use them anyway.

Smart Ways to Organize

1. Towel racks

Niki from My Scandinavian Home used ordinary towel racks with S-hooks to organize and display utensils to keep them handy. See more of this space at The Calm, Natural Kitchen at My Scandinavian Home.

S-hooks and towel bars re available in a number of sizes, finishes. Below are options I find to be beautiful and all-purpose.

Leyden Antique Brass Towel Bar, Adjustable Towel Holder Rod Brass Towel Rack Bathroom Accessories Wall Mount

YANGQIHOME 6 Pieces, Brass S Shaped Hooks, Gold Coat Clothes Towel Hangers, Kitchen Pots Pans Coffee Cups Rack Hooks

2. Pegboard

I’ve always thought of a pegboard lining the wall of a garage. But then I saw this picture of Julia Child’s kitchen pegboard. Granted it’s huge, but how convenient, right? Imagine a small pegboard above a stovetop or next to the refrigerator. The possibilities are endless!

Save $9.00

Wall Control Kitchen Pegboard Organizer Pots and Pans Pegboard Pack Storage and Organization Kit with Metallic Silver Pegboard and Black Accessories

Wall Control KT-200-DLX B Slotted Storage Panel Deluxe Metal Hook Assortment, Black

3. Command Hooks

Believe it or not, there was a time before Command hooks. Introduced in 1996, the idea was awesome but the look left a bit to be desired. But now—so many years later? Wow. It’s hard to remember what we did without them. Command hooks have been perfected. And they come in so many options—some able to hold up to 5 lbs.!

These removable adhesive hooks are lovely to look at and have so many uses around the house—especially the kitchen for organizing and storage. Command hooks have been perfected. And they come in so many options—some able to hold 5 lbs! I love the new “brushed stainless” hooks. I have these in my guest bathrooms—beautiful and super useful!

Command hooks organize this dream baking center: Tidbits

Save $1.06

Command Variety Pack, Picture Hanging Strips, Wire Hooks and Utility Hooks, Damage Free Hanging Variety Pack for Up to 19 Items, 1 Kit

Save $17.14

Vtopmart Airtight Food Storage Containers with Lids, 24 pcs Plastic Kitchen and Pantry Organization Canisters for Cereal, Dry Food, Flour and Sugar, BPA Free, Includes 24 Labels

No more stalling

It’s time to begin. And I’m going to follow Cynthia’s kitchen decluttering plan starting at the top—the top shelves which Cynthia says resemble an unknown landscape at the back of the moon. (I keep wondering when she’s been sneaking into my kitchen because she seems to know this place quite well.)

Here’s Ewer’s Rule: If you’ve used it in the last month, it’s a candidate to stay. If you used it yesterday, that will be the backbone of your newly organized kitchen.

I am committed, I am determined. I will box and banish. I will show no mercy in my attempts to pawn off on my kids, friends, and neighbors and otherwise get rid of all the stuff too good to throw away but not worthy of a spot in my kitchen.

Yes, I will. And I will not stop until every shelf, every cupboard, every nook and cranny of my kitchen is cleared, cleaned and organized.

Then I’m going to invite Cynthia Ewer over for coffee. I won’t say a word. I’ll just wait for her to write about the lovely time she had at my home, drinking coffee in my sparkling clean, highly organized, minimalistic showcase-of-a-kitchen.

Are you in?

Because I have a feeling I may not be alone in this need for kitchen organization, I’m inviting all who dare to join me in this marathon event! I could use the company.

Somehow knowing others are participating in the same task will keep me on track and moving forward.

Originally published 3-22-20; Updated 1-29-24

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Darlene says:

January 31, 2024 at 2:33 pm

I’m in! Started with kitchen drawers.

Sharon Mullins says:

January 30, 2024 at 6:37 am

I would go nuts with all of those items hanging around in my kitchen. Better a stuffed cupboard than eyesores!

Barb says:

January 30, 2024 at 4:05 am

I have a good sized kitchen but not a lot of storage and a daughter whose main joy in life is cooking and baking. She uses all her stuff and there’s a lot of it. We have no choice but to hang things on the walls, including a bar that hangs in an alcove with pots and pans hanging from it. The pegboard would work so much better than the random nails and command hooks I have on the wall. That may be in my future.

Dayle says:

March 24, 2020 at 4:54 am

I am 103% in ‍♀️ Why do we have the very top shelves in our cupboards? I’m sure I am not the only one who puts the “items that I use very rarely” up there and then never use them ‍♀️ This is the perfect time to seriously declutter and the kitchen is a great place to start. Thank you so much for sharing all of your great tips and tricks and wisdom over the years. I use your website everydaycheapskate.com often as I know I can find a solution for pretty much any challenge I am facing around the house or any recipe I might need for making my own cleaning products or baking a delicious creation. Thank you from the bottom of my heart❤️

Karla Bergen says:

March 22, 2020 at 10:58 pm

Oh wow. Some of you ladies are really into the perfectly organized house.I haven’t done spring cleaning in 30 years! We get Ling just fine and I’ve used my time to read 17 books since January 1. My cupboards may be overflowing, but so is my mind, overflowing with new knowledge, insight into humanity, history, travel, and much more. What a narrow, boring life to focus on the perfectly kept house.

My Annual Spring Clean Kitchen Challenge

Clear the Decks

Kitchen Keepers