How to Declutter Your Kitchen Counters in 10 Minutes

The kitchen counter is the centre of the house for many of us. It is a spot to prepare meals, entertain visitors, and store household items. However, more often than not, it’s also the most crowded area in your home.

Random gadgets and piles of mail quickly turn the countertop into a dumping ground and take away the neat vibe we want.

Fear not, though. With a few strategic 10-minute hacks, regain control of your counters and get organised again.

Identify Problem Areas

Start by pinpointing the spaces that tend to accumulate the most mess when decluttering your kitchen counters. This helps you target your effort and create a much more organised space.

There are some messes that we create on purpose. We think we have to keep all of our cooking equipment and supplies on the counter. In this manner, we find a chaos of coffee makers and blenders next to a sea of cooking condiments.

On the other hand, there are many items we unconsciously throw here and there, including our mail and various bills. This is common, but they don’t really belong in the kitchen.

Noticing where the problem lies will make it easier for you to solve it. Look at your counters and try to notice what piles up the most.

Categorise Items

Sorting out the overcrowded areas comes next. You need to decide which items are absolutely necessary to have, and which should be placed somewhere else.

This is often subjective and varies from one person to another, although there are some standards to avoid confusion. You can divide everything into the following 3 categories.

1. Regularly used. These are appliances and ingredients that are used weekly or daily, including the coffee maker, spices, and basic cooking tools. Leave them on the kitchen counter for easy access.

2. Occasionally used. Used less often, these are tools that you use a couple of times a month. It could be a stand mixer, food processor, or even specialised bakeware. They belong in cabinets or the pantry.

3. Rarely used. This includes anything you haven’t touched within the past six months to a year, such as seasonal items. Consider storing them outside the kitchen to free up the counters.

Clear the Surfaces

It’s easy for our counters to become a catch-all for miscellaneous things, making the area messy and disorganised.

Start by removing everything that doesn’t directly relate to cooking. You should clear off bills and paperwork that’s scattered around, keys and wallets, or ornaments.

However, you need to find them a new home elsewhere to make sure they don’t clutter your kitchen again. Designate places for them in other rooms in your home.

The goal is to clear off your kitchen surfaces for what you regularly use.

Clean the Counters

You must first completely clean your kitchen countertops before organising them again.

Begin by temporarily removing your remaining items, such as appliances or utensils. This provides total access to clean the whole surface area.

Wash down the countertops with a multi-purpose cleaner and a sponge to get rid of crumbs, spills, and grime. Pay extra attention to corners and edges.

Make use of a disinfecting spray or wipes to wash the countertops for added cleanliness. This eliminates any lingering bacteria.

With stubborn spills or stains, use a baking soda paste. Carefully scrub it over the affected area with a soft-bristled brush, and then wipe it clean.

Additionally, clean down the ceramic tiles in your kitchen backsplash to eliminate any possible grease. Right after finishing, wipe the surfaces with a microfiber cloth to ensure total drying.

Now that you have the counters sparkling clean, begin arranging your kitchen to match your lifestyle.

Invest in Functional Organisers

Now that you’ve successfully decluttered your countertops, what next? There are tools that save up space and give a neater look to your kitchen.

Check them out below:

• Drawer organisers. Keep utensils and appliances organised and more accessible by partitioning your drawers with trays, dividers, or inserts.

• Pull-out drawers. Install them inside deep-base cabinets for extra functionality. Contents become more noticeable and accessible that way.

• Under-cabinet shelves. Add racks beneath your upper cabinets to offer additional storage. It is perfect for keeping everyday-use items.

• Lazy Susans. Revolving turntables or “lazy susans” maximise corner cabinet space and allow you to quickly reach things at the back.

• Spice racks. Whether wall-mounted, tiered, or within a cabinet, they keep your seasonings all in one place.

• Vertical rack systems. Install rails on the wall to hang cooking utensils and knives.

Purchasing organisational tools helps eliminate clutter and enhances usability. They transform the way you arrange and use your cooking area.

Choose ones that complement the design and space requirements of your kitchen. In addition, make sure to measure your available space to choose proper solutions to your unique problems.

Tips on Keeping Your Kitchen Counters Decluttered

You’ve finally organised your countertop, congratulations!

However, how do you make sure it doesn’t clutter again within a few weeks?

Make a routine of clearing your counters at the end of every day. Wipe down surfaces, throw away stray items, and leave your countertops clear for the following day’s meal prep. This makes your periodic cleaning a lot easier and keeps a tidy kitchen.

Moreover, make sure you only keep the appliances you use several times every day. This includes your coffee maker or toaster. On the other hand, blenders or stand mixers belong in cabinets.

The key to maintaining this is to always employ a “one-in, one-out” policy. Before adding a new item to your counter, commit to removing an underused one to make space. Maintaining a tidy kitchen is all about prioritising.

For the smaller items you regularly use, such as cooking oils or spices, organise them in trays or baskets. Similarly, keep sponges, dish soaps, or cleaning supplies in canisters, containers, or jars.

You should also sort your countertop essentials into “zones” based on their applications. For instance, identify prep, baking, and coffee or tea areas. This not only enhances the tidiness of your kitchen, but it also improves the overall convenience and functionality.

If you’ve already exhausted all your space, invest in the vertical room you have. Install wall-mounted racks, magnetic strips, or pegboards to elevate items off the counter and keep them neatly placed on the walls.

Finally, set aside some time every few months to reevaluate your kitchen items. Eliminate anything expired, broken, or rarely used to stop clutter from creeping back.

The Importance of Professional Cleaning

Maintaining a clean and well-organised living space is an important job.

Although regularly cleaning yourself is essential, bringing in a professional is sometimes what your home needs. Experts have specialised equipment that provides a deeper cleaning.

This is especially important in high-traffic areas, like your kitchen. Cleaners can fight the tough grease and grime that you struggle with.

Conclusion

We spend long hours in our kitchens. From meal prep to coffee breaks, their neatness is everything. A cluttered cooking area makes your day-to-day tasks frustrating.

You deserve a tidy place, and we have the solution. The goal is to make quick work of decluttering so it’s easy to maintain. Follow this comprehensive guide to get it done in just 10 minutes.