How to organize your kitchen

Check the expiry date. Throw out any items that have expired. Put anything soon to expire in a special place reserved for items to be consumed sooner than later.

Don't forget the food bank. The holiday food drive may be over but your local food bank is always in need of donations. Don't let excess non-perishables gather dust, instead pass them along to someone who would really appreciate them.

Store like things together. Group canned goods together and sort according to variety -soup, vegetable, fruit etc. Do the same for other things like cereals, snacks etc.

Maximize space by consolidating. Who needs three open bags of spaghetti when you can easily combine them together in one bag or plastic container?

How many dishes do you really need? Do you use all your glasses, mugs and dishes or do most of them just take up valuable storage space? Get rid of any excess by storing elsewhere in your home for when you have extra company or box up and give away to a charitable organization.

Clear out mismatched plastic containers. If you have an overflowing cupboard of misc. Tupperware-like containers its time to be ruthless - purge any tops and bottoms that don't match. (Plastic containers without lids are ideal for storing office and craft supplies and cosmetic items like cotton balls and Q-tips.)

* Keep a list on your fridge of leftovers inside. Family members are more likely to eat them if there is a visual reminder.

* Organize your refrigerator and freezer by grouping like items together. Place all the beverages on the same shelf and put all leftovers together.

* Keep knives, peeler, vegetable brushes and cutting boards together in an island or a drawer near the sink.

* Expand kitchen space. Install another shelf under the sink. Add racks to the inside of cabinet doors to hold plastic wrap and cleaners. Use hooks to hold utensils.

Get Your Act Together With Kitchen Drawer Organizers
By Carlo Morelli

Kitchen drawer organizers save more than time - they can also save your sanity! Have you ever had one of those moments when you know you just bought a great kitchen gadget the other day, but can't find it now to save your life? Well, that's the great thing about kitchen drawer organizers. If you'd had one or two (or more for those of us chronically compelled to misplace things!) and had put whatever it was you just bought into it, you'd have said item right at your fingertips! So, we've done the legwork - or rather, surf work - for you and found some cool places to order kitchen drawer organizers online without even venturing away from your home.

Kitchen drawer organizers can be found in the multitudes at Stacks and Stacks (www.StacksandStacks.com). This site sells everything from silver- and flatware organizers to cutlery inserts, knife trays, expandable in-drawer spice racks, and more. For just about anything you can put in a drawer to be organized, Stacks and Stacks makes an organizer - in wood, bamboo, plastic, or chrome! Not only does this online retailer sell kitchen drawer organizers, but all other different types of space-saving, organizing goodies for those with an agenda for order.

Another place to snag a deal on kitchen drawer organizers can be found at Always Organized (www.AlwaysOrganized.com). One favorite is their Perfect Fit drawer organizers that come in three sizes and can be trimmed to fit any drawer - perfect for those odd-sized drawers!

And kitchen drawer organizers from the queen of the kitchen herself, Betty Crocker (www.BettyCrocker.com), include something not often seen. This site features an all-wood adjustable tray for utensils with a special section for large knives that keeps them separated and in their own protective slots. Other kitchen drawer organizers include one made from heavy-gauge, rust-resistant steel - sure to last a lifetime!

Kitchen drawer organizers can be found at many sites throughout the World Wide Web, but if you can't find what you want at one of these online retailers - well, we'd be surprised. So quit procrastinating and get organized! Find yourself some kitchen drawer organizers and save time, hassle, and yes, maybe even a little bit of your sanity!

Carlo Morelli writes fro OnlineTips.Org, where you can read tips on
hammock chairs,
power pressure washers and other home/garden topics.

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By Nancy Dean

Kitchens can become cluttered quite quickly. They hold the most appliances, have the most use, and nowadays, attract the most people. If your kitchen is serving as a family center, the need to organize it becomes even more important. You will want to keep a kitchen that organized your pantry goods, your tableware, your cooking utensils, and appliances. A good kitchen design is well worth the investment.

Pantries

To organize your foodstuff, you will want at least one good-sized pantry. If this is not enough, you may end up getting some additional cupboard space by buying a stand-alone pantry. Instead of just piling the cans in, you need to organize the pantry to find things when you need them and to understand when you are low on something.

A good way to divvy up the space is thus: canned vegetables, canned fruits, pastas, rice, and grains, sweeteners (sugar, honey, molasses, artificial sweeteners), jams, canned meats and tuna, dried foods, legumes, condiments, snacks. Imagine that your pantry is a miniature grocery store. The same way they categorize their foods is the same way you should categorize your pantry. Put the newest additions in the back and push older foodstuff forward. If you can't see everything, there are rectangular steps you can add to store at different heights.

Tableware

Hopefully, you have enough cabinet space to store your day-to-day dishes. If you have special festive plates or china, think about storing those outside your kitchen or hanging them on a wall for display. They shouldn't be crowding your kitchen cabinets. Store like with like. All glasses should be in one cupboard. All cups should be on another shelf in the same area. Silverware should always be stored in a wide drawer with a silverware caddy. It should be easy to reach from the counter or stove.

Cooking Utensils

Many people make the mistake of putting these in junk drawers. Kitchen utensils, like pots, can make a very decorative statement while being functional. Store them next to the stove in decorative cups or vases. If your cookware is very pretty or prestigious, think about hanging it from hooks along a wire mesh wall. Another way to display that cookware is on a hanging pot and pan rack.

Appliances

The key to storing appliances is not to have to many useless appliances in the first place. Not that many people are gourmet cooks who need a fondue pot or an espresso maker. Store the rest under your kitchen cabinets, in the spots that are hard to reach. That way you can make use of these places without having to reach into them everyday. Organizing your kitchen can be as traditional or as quirky as you want it to be. You can get magnetic borders and store your silverware in plain view, if that appeals to your sense of taste. You can install lazy Susans for ease of access. You can hide it all away, or you can bring it all out and make it a decorative feature. There are no rules for organizing your kitchen as long as it works for you and your family.

To find unique kitchen organizers and food storage containers, visit Get Organized.

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Organize Your Kitchen Easily and Inexpensively
By Kathryn Weber

Today's new kitchen designs have all kinds of organizational helpers. From built-in cutlery drawers to plate racks, kitchens now offer any number of organizing features. Unfortunately, not everyone has the budget or the inclination to rip out cabinetry and spend thousands of dollars just to have a little organization in the kitchen. The good news is that it isn't necessary, either. There are literally hundreds of little helpers that will restore order in your kitchen very inexpensively and in a matter of minutes.

Save money and sanity

These days there are all kinds of baskets, organizers, and trays that can instantly add some clutter control in the kitchen. Best of all, these little organizers can range anywhere from fifty cents to a few dollars. So, with a total investment of $25 to $50, you can have an array of organizers that can pull your pantry together, help you undo the nightmare under your kitchen sink, and give some order to your drawers.

Where to find these organizers?

They can be found anywhere from dollar-type stores to large home centers to grocery stores, so you don't have to go to expensive organizing or container stores to get a little sanity in the kitchen. One of my favorite online resources is Stacks and Stacks Homewares. They have a variety of organizing items in a range of prices (http://tinyurl.com/kcbzv.)

Organizer basics

The best organizers are square-shaped. Square organizers fit together on a shelf better and round ones take up too much room. Shallow organizers are also better than deeper ones because you can see things more easily and items won't get lost in them. Clear colors are best, too, so you can see whatever is in the organizer. Although design and home magazines today show baskets as organizers, try to avoid them. Even though they're pretty, it's hard to see what's in there - and that's more important than how they look in the cabinet. Lastly, put like items with like items, such as metal utensils with metal and plastic with plastic.

What to buy

This quick list covers some of the organizers you'll want in your kitchen.

*Small, stacking baskets for ramen noodles or packaged items

*Square, shallow baskets for sauce packets, gelatins, and drink mixes

*Stair-stepper shelves for canned goods and spice cabinets

*Plastic tubs for baking needs (flour, sugar, shortening, chocolate) and to contain bagged items such as chips or cookies.

*Lazy-Susans for bottled items

*Wire baskets for bags and boxes of pasta

*Door-mounted wire baskets for plastic lids, plastic wrap, or cleaning items

*Rubber shelf liner for cutlery and utensil drawers to keep the items from sliding

*Lid racks and bake ware racks

*Cup hooks for towels, utensils, and cups

Why organize?

In short, time and money are the two main reasons. Organizing your kitchen means you'll be able to find what you're looking for when you need it and you won't end up with four bags of marshmallows in the pantry because you couldn't find them. Also, when you're preparing a meal, you can find what you're looking for, making the experience more efficient and less frustrating. Then, when you're preparing your shopping list, you can see exactly what items you need to put on your list.

Organize everything

Every spot in the kitchen could stand a little organizing. This even includes the refrigerator. Use organizers there to store items you use frequently. If you think this is overboard, then just think about every time you have to go into the refrigerator waist-deep just to find things that you use often. How would your life change if you could open the refrigerator or the pantry and go directly to and instantly put your hand on the one thing you needed? Get your kitchen organized this weekend and see for yourself the difference it can make.

Kathryn Weber is a decorating and lifestyle columnist and the publisher of RealHOME E-zine, the e-zine with ideas and tips for today's real families. To subscribe, log on to http://www.realhomeezine.com and get this free special report, The 10 Habits that Help You Keep a Cleaner House.

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