How Do You Organize Your Kitchen?
lisazone6_ma
14 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (102)
hawk307
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
How do you organize your 'green' containers?
Comments (8)Hi Gayle - thanks for your thoughts. :-) I'm a "less steps" person, so I really need solutions that don't require taking trash or anything from one room to the other...ie, bathroom stuff stays in the bathroom until it goes outside, kitchen stuff stays in the kitchen until it's disposed of, etc. I do need those visual reminders out and "in my face", or I forget. Too much other stuff going on, I guess. I want my compost crock on the counter so the stuff in there *can* start to rot/mold before it goes out...it will be better food for the worms that way. So I did buy a crock with a filter in the lid that will look nice on my counter, because I want the compost materials sitting out (I would have had to buy something anyways...we don't drink coffee here, and don't buy anything that comes in a plastic container large enough to make a good compost collection bucket). If I don't see it, I won't use it, with the exception of the metal and plastic collection cans under the sink (because they'll be right by the garbage can, so if I go to instinctually throw something away, those bins will be right there. I put all food scraps down the disposal now, so the crock will remind me not to do that anymore. :-) Stuff that can't be composted in the bathroom includes toilet paper wrappings (the plastic outter wrap), bandaids, gum, q-tips (plastic "stick" - we'll buy differently next time), cotton ball bags, used razor blades, nail polish bottles (no glass recycling here), and items used to remove nail polish (sponges rife with nail polish remover...don't want that in my compost). And yes, I really am too lazy to carry that stuff all the way to the kitchen garbage - less steps equals less time spent shuttling "stuff" through the house. I'm all about making things as easy on myself and efficient as possible. :-) My magazines and "leftover" paper will be recycled, but a lot will be shredded for the compost pile. I have that pretty much figured out though - a box in a kitchen cabinet right under where we go through the mail. I will be emptying it regularly though...I have a different box for papers "to be filed" or that I might need. I'm a catalog junkie - and we do get a lot of junk mail, plus the paper daily. I'll probably need to do two paper boxes...one for the compost, and one for the recycling, so I can add the paperboard to the compost box (our recyclers don't take paperboard). All paperboard boxes (like the ones we get holding cases of cans from Costco) will be broken down and composted, so that's no big deal. I don't buy much processed foods either - but the costco canned fruits/veg all come in paperboard. I think I'll just get a smaller trash can for the bathroom to label "compostables" for the bathroom counter (there's a good spot for it right under the medicine cabinet), and then two more bins for under the kitchen sink for collecting cans and plastics, respectively. That should take care of it, I think...won't know until I try it for awhile. It's a lot to get used to - not throwing out a lot of stuff that we normally would, but infrastructure makes all the difference for me with new habits, so I just want to make sure I have a good basis to work from. :-) Does anyone out there have those triangular bins that fit four in a square, and pull out from a kitchen cabinet? I've been thinking that might be a good way to organize my collection bins under the sink......See MoreHow do you organize your recycling? (Pics?)
Comments (34)We live in the country, too. There is a weekly trash pick up service in our area, but we don't use it. It takes us a month or two to fill a single 30 gallon trash bag. When one is full, I take it to the trash & recycling drop off and pay a by-the-bag fee that is probably one tenth the cost of the pickup service. I have made a concerted effort to stay off mailing lists, and we still get plenty of junk mail, which we shred. We have poor soil, so the shreds get sprinkled wherever we need the organic matter the most. I'd rather compost than burn. Yeah, I admit, sometimes it looks like confetti on our lawn, but the lawn is getting thicker! We compost vegetable scraps from the kitchen, autumn leaves, etc. As for cans and bottles, we recycle everything possible. Only non-recyclable plastic and meat bones find their way into our trash can, even with all the decluttering I'm doing with the help of FlyLady. Household items that are useful to someone else go to the Re-Use It Center, or I Freecycle them on the front porch. At first, I used a couple of cardboard boxes for the recyclable materials. But leaking liquids made them messy. So I replaced them with clear plastic bins that could be washed. I measured the shelf in the garage where we keep the recycle bins. I went to two or three stores that had a good selection of plastic storage containers. I used my measuring tape to be sure that whatever I got would fit into my space. I only need two boxes. One is for styrofoam, which shares space with a bundle of #2 & #4 plastic bags. (The bags are easy to pull out at the recycle place.) The other box holds cans, recyclable plastic & glass, which is how my local recycle place wants everything sorted. I also got a smaller box with a snap-tight lid. The mice chew aluminum foil and make a mess, but with the lid, I can keep foil out in the garage with the rest of the recycle stuff. When I have trash and/or recycling, I drive it over to the place which is also conveniently near some of the stores I need to visit anyway. I can combine my errands and save gas. It works out well for me. MaryLiz...See MoreHow Do You Organize Your STUFF?
Comments (8)I don't keep much cleaning stuff. I use vinegar, nature' s miracle (for pets), bleach occassionally and baking soda. I don't have too many rags etc. Everything fits into one caddy under my kitchen sink. I just carry it to the bathroom. Our bathroom was renovated with no perminent cabinetry, so I bought an old 50's kitchen larder with three shelves on top, one drawer and three shelves below. We make everything fit in here or we get rid of it. Daily use items sit on a small set of shelves beside the sink. My hubby has more stuff to clean his car with than I have to clean a house (or two) with!!! How do we keep organized, I just get rid of "stuff". Now, we are stuff people! Collectors...but we built in shelves and display areas and what I don't have room for I make decisions and edit. I grew up with parents who had closed in built in shelving in the basement and you could hide a lot of usless stuff in there. I decided I wasn't going to do that. One of my best girlfriends is a professional organizer. She is very helpful with my hubby and gives him hints to try and get into the mindset of editing out uselsess stuff in life. I still haven't gotten him to edit paper clutter (he will hide piles, and doesn't even know he's doing it)...although now the "offical" paper clutter must be kept in a portable file or two working photo storage boxes and nowhere else. They get full, he must take the time to edit. Fear of random tossing of piles gets action :) GGG...See MoreHow do you organize your baking supplies?
Comments (13)I have Snap-Lock containers, kind of similar to the Lock&Lock. I get them at Walmart and they are perfect. Not a thing gets past them, really airtight. I always find Tupperware a bit difficult to open. With the snap-lock, you just flip the latches up, and when done, lid goes on, and in one motion, snap all latches down (using two hands, you can do all four in one motion). We have some things (like brown sugar) which we use every day, so I really appreciate the ease of these. I have all my baking products in them. Buy just one and I bet you'll be a believer! I checked Walmart.com and they are not there, but there are plenty in the store....See Moremustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agopartst
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoloves2cook4six
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agocloudy_christine
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agolowspark
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosheshebop
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agolowspark
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agopartst
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodixiedog_2007
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosheshebop
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodoucanoe
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoBumblebeez SC Zone 7
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agobeanthere_dunthat
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agopkramer60
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agocloudy_christine
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodixiedog_2007
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosheshebop
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodoucanoe
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agocloudy_christine
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosheshebop
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosheshebop
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosheshebop
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agolisazone6_ma
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoannie1992
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodoucanoe
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agodedtired
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agomustangs81
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agoclaire_de_luna
14 years agolast modified: 9 years agosonepi
13 years agolast modified: 9 years agomurphy_zone7
13 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGN12 Great Ideas for Organization In the Kitchen
Spring cleaning? Here's how to whip your kitchen into shape
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNGuest Picks: Get That Kitchen Organized!
20 products to make your kitchen work harder for you
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNGet Organized for Holiday Baking
Before you crack that first egg, establish a game plan for stress-free success
Full StoryORGANIZINGGet It Done: Organize Your Kitchen Cabinets
You deserve better than precarious piles of pots and toppling towers of lids. Give cabinet chaos the boot with these organizing strategies
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNGuest Picks: Organizing Your Kitchen for the New Year
Resolve to find a place for plastic bags, compost and piles of dishes to declutter your kitchen
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNGet It Done: Organize Your Kitchen Drawers
Clear 'em out and give the contents a neat-as-a-pin new home with these organizing and storage tips
Full StorySHOP HOUZZShop Houzz: 4 Ways to Stay Organized in the Kitchen
Organize your kitchen with space-saving pot racks, spice racks, canisters and shelves
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNGet Organized: Rethink the Silverware Drawer
Keep your knives and forks clean and organized with two easy storage ideas
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNGet Organized: Mail Cubbies for the Kitchen
Looking to squeeze some extra storage space out of your kitchen? Try sneaking a few mail slots into your island
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNOrganizing Tips That Really Work: Pantry in a Drawer
Deep kitchen drawer keeps pantry items tidy and at hand
Full Story
beachlily z9a