Here’s a peek into my kitchen and all its problems. I hope you’ve got some good solutions to my kitchen dilemmas.
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Growing up I thought that the only spotless kitchens were those you saw on television. Ours was a small kitchen with little storage space. Stuff crept out on the counters because there was no other option. While it may have been “clean” in a germ sense, it was cluttered. I didn’t realize until I was in junior high or high school that other people had clutter-free kitchens. I’m not sure that all those families did much cooking in their kitchens, but their kitchens were showrooms, nonetheless.
My kitchen is “lived in”, as was my childhood home’s kitchen. There’s a lot of cooking done in my kitchen. Whether it’s me or one of my family members or many of us at one time, there’s almost always some food prep going on in our kitchen. Also some messes. I’d like to change the latter. I’d like one of those pristine kitchens: a well-used, but also tidy, space.
After cooking in some pretty tiny kitchens in France this fall, I came home with a new appreciation for the ginormous space I have for cooking. But, I also realized that it needs some improvements.
I tend to stay away from kitchen stores and magazines because I want to be content with what I have. Looking at “bigger and better” doesn’t help me do that. Improving how I care for what I do have does.
However, sometimes a girl needs a little help. Since I can’t have you all over for coffee, though that would be quite fun, I thought we could chat about some of my problem areas. Maybe you struggle in the same way? Or maybe you’ll have a great solution.
This is real life in my kitchen.
(Excuse the iPhone pictures, but I get up at 4 am each morning. This is the best I could do.)
This is what our kitchen looks like in the morning when I get up. It’s not a disaster, but it’s not the Donna Reed kitchen of my dreams, either. There are clean dishes on the counter, overflow from the dish drainer last night. Cabinets are continually left open. That lower cabinet is where we keep the kids’ drinking glasses. It’s perpetually left open.
Perpetually. Insert angry eyebrows emoticon here.
Here are some of my problem areas.
Maybe you can help?
Piles of produce – We get a lot of fresh produce. Some goes in the fridge; some in the pantry. The items that I don’t want to forget about, get left on the counter. I need a better solution.
Kid clutter – Self-explanatory.
Stained grout – This has been one of my most embarrassing parts of my kitchen. This white grout is impossible to keep clean. I can talk about it now because we have a plan to remedy it. Stay with me.
Too much stuff – I know some people have nothing on their counters. I’d like to get to that spot, but I’m not there. I moved the utensils out of a drawer because the drawer was just too congested. I cook a lot and actually use all these utensils on a regular basis. Not sure if it’s different storage or decluttering or both that needs to happen.
Flour bag – See the opened flour bag? I have two bins of flour, but no bins for other varieties. I need to buy a few more. Any favorite in your cupboard?
New grout! – Last weekend my husband removed the old grout from this section of counter and replaced it with shiny, new white grout. He’s got an internal debate with himself (he’s a general contractor) about which kind of grout he wants to use throughout the kitchen. There are different kinds with different benefits. I’m letting him work that one out on his own. I’m just thrilled to have a countertop with no shame!
Cleaning supplies – broom and vinegar spray. They seem to travel quite a bit. They need a home.
So there we have it: this week’s edition of Real Life in My Kitchen. If you’ve got solutions to my problems, I’d love to hear them. Feel free to share your own kitchen challenges as well.
Kitchen Tips I’ve Learned
What do you think?
Let’s chat in the comments!
Amanda
I love the OXO Good Grips Pop containers for sugar and flour. They sell them at TJ Maxx as well as Amazon.
Could you use one of the magnetic strips for the knives to go against the back of the wall and free up some space on your countertop? At least get it down to one block instead of two?
I have the same issues with the produce, though. Having to keep it out so I don’t forget about it! 🙁
Jessica Fisher
Do you have a magnetic strip for knives? I’m reading reviews and not finding one that doesn’t potentially damage the knife.
Amanda
Sorry, no. I have like 4 knives total that sit in the drawer with all the other utensils. Not a big cook over here. I’ve just seen them in magazines and always thought they looked cool. Sorry I’m not more help!
Demi
I have many of the same problems as you. We have a fairly large kitchen like yours but it is also my office and where we eat (hubby prefers the bar to a table, so we have no dining room). Also I have twins who are one, and they pull everything out of the cabinets constantly. Hubby won’t put on child locks because he doesn’t want to ruin the expensive wood cabinets. My first line of defense is to declutter. I am enjoying reading others’ solutions.
Cate
I agree with Sally. Toys left out go either in the Goodwill box or in the trash! Kids’ rooms are for toys – not the kitchen. I don’t understand why plates and cups and things are on the counters. What is in the cupboards if dishes are on the counters? Do you have a dishwasher? I would get stacking units for my pantry that pull out easily to contain the overflow. The same could be purchased for under the sink to hold cleaning supplies. I learned a long time ago through trial and error that we actually cook with the same pots over and over on a daily basis. Those that we do not use that often go onto the pantry floor so as to make room in the kitchen for things we use all the time. I have a total of just under six feet of counter space in my kitchen. I can food and use every little inch of that six feet when need be. I cannot imagine the luxury of having all that counter space you have in your kitchen….AND an island! I would check into the stacking units. They can be used in the cupboards to get dishes off the counters, too. As far as the open drawers/doors…..I would not let any child go to bed until that door is closed. OR, if they are already in bed, get them up to close it. It would only take a time or two and there would be no open drawers/doors again.
Jessica Fisher
We are kind of in transition on the dishes, trying to figure out how we like “open storage”. It makes it easier for the littles to put dishes away and much easier to serve buffet style. I have quite a lot of mixing bowls, baking dishes, and small appliances that I use quite a bit in recipe development, so that’s what’s in the cupboards. I forgot that I didn’t post my kitchen contents on this site. It’s all over here: http://lifeasmom.com/2014/03/zone-defense-check-in-the-kitchen.html
Rachel
You have some fantastic ideas already given to you above.
We have a very small kitchen and live in the country where mice are prevalent. I can not leave any food out on my counters (with the exception of fresh fruits/veggies) and all other food must be in plastic tubs. I would first try to eliminate the “clutter” on the counters. Can you clean out some cabinets and make room for more items to go there instead of on the counter?
I would definitely have a tub or box on the floor by the counter where all “kid stuff” goes into. Then, they can put it where it belongs are lose it.
I also make an effort to put away all clean dishes before I go to bed. This way, I wake up to a kitchen ready for another mess. I think you could definitely enlist your older kids to help w/ this, if you make it part of the routine. I make my littles clean up their toys before bed, so why not make the big kids clean up the kitchen, too?
Thanks for sharing real life w/ all of us!
Abby
Speaking from a visual standpoint regarding having “too much stuff” on the counters, the fact that everything is mismatched adds to visual overload. If all the untensil holders were the same size and color and then everything else on counter matched in color and material, the visual clutter would be reduced.
So how to incorporate that look into your real life kitchen with out buying new?
Do a major purge of all cabinets- everything out! Then be ruthless – if not used, donate/throw out. This will create (hopefully) some more storage space. But before you put everything back, select some pieces that look good together to be storage items. Get creative, two old pitchers could be untensil holders.
In terms of produce storage, think up. Perhaps your husband could fashion a basket tower from baskets you already own.
Cathrynj
My kitchen looks just like this! I second the suggestion for trays. I have one for regularly used spices ans oils next to my stove and it really helped the area to be more intentional looking. The spices are not always neatly arranged but it is a corral for them. I can see a tray for the coffee area and perhaps another for all the produce. As for the utensils, I would love to see you get a couple of pretty colorful crocks and celebrate the fact that you use these items all the time- i am thinking of a kitchen of a chef where the container of utensils become decoration in the room. Having a focal point that is useful as well as pretty on my counter has made me more likely to keep it clean (but not always sadly).
Good luck!
Jessica Fisher
A second crock to match the first one is on my list. Thanks for the nudge.
Jen
Maybe one of those magnetic stripes to put all your knives on? I hate knife blocks. Also it seems like you’ve chosen to reuse a lot of things rather than purchase something that was made for the explicit purpose. Like the galvanized pail for your utensils, Ikea has a stainless one that’s inexpensive, then your utensils would stand up straight & fit better. And the produce basket. You need a much larger fruit bowl.
Jessica Fisher
Do you have a knife strip you recommend? I’ve been reading reviews this morning and it looks like a lot of them can damage the knives.
Jen
I don’t have one. I have pared down to only a couple of nice knives. I only have 1 extra large chef’s knife, 1 medium chef’s knife/santoku blade, and a bread knife. I put them in sleeves similar to these and put them and put them in a drawer: http://www.amazon.com/Mundial-Safe-Edge-Knife-Guards/dp/B004918IXM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1416775427&sr=8-3&keywords=knife+sleeves
Then I just have a small knife block with my steak knives, paring knife, a serrated tomato knife & a couple others.
My inspiration “clean” kitchen is this one: http://www.katheats.com/the-finishing-touches She has one of these magnetic things and she and her husband are both cooks. I bet you could figure out what kind it is.
Danielle
Hi Jessica,
I have this one and I love it!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0014WNVHC/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Super strong magnet!
TSandy
What would really help most is fixing the storage issues in your pantry so that you don’t have the items sitting on your counter in the first place. Drawer organizers and dish organizers would also help get those items into drawers and cabinets and off the counters. It’s really an organization issue not a clutter issue.
As for the flour container I do have some practical suggestions. It will depend if you plan to store the items in the pantry and bring them into the kitchen to use each time or find them a permanent home in the kitchen. I love the Buddeez Bag in Sugar Plastic Dispensers. They have a handle for easy carrying plus multiple lid openings so you only have to open the lid to get out flour, sugar etc. I have three of these in my pantry for flour and it’s an item that I would replace immediately if it died. The cool part is a bag of flour (or sugar) drops inside the container. Open it and all the mess is contained inside. You can dip and measure inside and the spills are contained. (Amazon and Walmart both carry this item. Don’t buy a fake/clone brand it’s worth the money to buy the name brand. Mine are five plus years old and still seal like brand new.) I love the Cambro round containers that stack. Cambro makes 1 qt to 22 qt containers and they are industrial plastic so they provide years of use for your money. Amazon also carries this line but you will find it cheaper locally if you have a restaurant supply store. Here’s a link to my favorite Cambro containers. I keep eight different flours that I use less often in these containers. These are stacked on my pantry shelf.
http://smile.amazon.com/Cambro-RFS6PPSW2190-6-Quart-Food-Storage-Container/dp/B002PMV77G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416762974&sr=8-1&keywords=Cambro+RFS6PPSW2190+6-Quart+Round+Food-Storage+Container+with+Lid%2C+Set+of+2
Jessica Fisher
Ha! I have the 4-quart containers in my Amazon cart right now! I was trying to figure out if they were BPA-free. I’ve purchased them from Smart and Final before.
annie
Kids cups..can you take off the cabinent door for a few years and use a pretty basket instead if a plastic bin?
Utensils…iiwiys, I would have my utensils in a matching set of crocks or pottery. Sunflowers are a personal favorite so I have one crick and some framed sunflower art right next to it on the wall.
Kids stuff..I would put a basket in the floor next to a cabinet and just pile things in there.
🙂
Flours..store in pantry. I don’t have a pantry but i do have 2 spare shelves in a hall closet, but that’s what I would do.
Cleaning items…like the other comments. I’ll have to search vinegar spray on your blog.
Lamps..I love a small pretty lamp on my counter. Mine is next to my little Mr. Coffee maker. I think the incandescent light is charming.
Produce..could you put them in a flat pretty dish and set in the center of your island ( if you have one).
Leslie
• I made a “no toys in the kitchen” rule a long time ago.
• I have a nice utensil container on the counter that holds items with large “heads” like ladles, potato masher, spatulas, whisks, pasta forks, etc. In the drawer next to the stove are the wooden spoons, rubber scrapers, measuring cups and spoons, can opener, ice cream scoops, etc that we use a lot.Keeping the “big head” items out of the main drawer helps a lot with being able to fit and find things easily. In another deep drawer further away are the seldom used items that I still want to keep (microplane zester, skewers, lemon juicer, onion chopper, extra measuring cups, apple slicer, etc)
• Maybe you should just take off that cabinet door that always gets left open, until your kids are older.
• Get a big rectangular basket (or use a big roasting pan or bowls you already own) to hold the produce. That basket with a handle is too small and you don’t need the handle taking up space and making it look more cluttered. I’ve found great things like this at TJ Maxx.
Would love to see more pics and hear an update when you get it all figured out. But know that we feel for you…I don’t know anyone with a magazine-shoot-ready kitchen.
Jessica Fisher
I’m thinking that since it’s only the younger kids that use those cups, each one is going to pick a cup and I’m going to ditch the rest. We go through too many water cups in a day. Then the cupboard can stay shut.
Cameron
One more thought: my husband is one of 9, and when he and his sibs were little his mom put color coded and labeled plastic mugs on a peg rack above the sink so each child could get a drink and then hang it right back up. Minimized the million cups in use at once issue. May work for you!
Sherrie Roderick
Excellent idea! As a mother of seven, we will use this one!!
Tiffany R
I saw an idea on the internet the other day where a mom put magnetic tape on her kids plastic cups and then they got 1 cup a day. When the cup was empty, they stuck it on the fridge. Might be an idea for your kids!
Jillbert
Thank you for showing reality! My kitchen is pretty much in the same state as yours. It’s smaller but also gets heavy use. I have the produce issue, too. One thing that helps is a double layer wire basket thing that sits on the counter — holds more than a single bowl or a basket. I also have way too many cooking tools on my counter but I use my kitchen stuff frequently so, well, dunno. I’ll be watching the comments as I need tips, too. I don’t have tile counters but they are white laminate — which means they are constantly stained with grungy caulk around the sink. I keep it clean but it ain’t pretty. Sigh.
Jessica Fisher
Well, I’m glad I’m not alone! 😉
Grace
I don’t know if this would work with your kitchen setup but I have a hanging fruit basket that I love. I keep my onions, garlic, bananas, apples, etc. in it. Really clears up counter space.
Jessica Fisher
I’ve got that on my list. Thanks for the suggestion!
Jenn
For the produce on the counter, I bought a l serving tray to put it all on. It didn’t necessarily save room, but it looks neater. I have probably half as much counter space than you do. You’re lucky! 🙂
Jessica Fisher
Good tip! I’ve got a couple that I could use. Thanks!
Kelly
I was going to suggest the same thing. I recently saw something on Pinterest that had like-items on a tray or in a rectangular basket (think 13×9 pan, but a basket). It contains things & looks like one item, not several.
Janel Piersma
I’ve got a tiered tray that holds four different salad-size plates. I use that to hold fruit that we needs to ripen and various produce that I want left out. It has a smaller footprint on the countertop.
Cameron
I also have a tiered server which holds three dinner size plates, and I used it on the counter when we were getting gobs of tomatoes and squash from our garden this summer. It looked attractive and I kept the oldest produce on the top tier as a reminder to use it up first! Right now we have a lot of clementines, and I keep some in a bowl on the counter, and some in another bowl as a centerpiece on our table with additional fall decor- it’s pretty and ensures they get eaten up!
Jessica Fisher
Great idea!
melody
one other thing–cleaning supplies don’t belong out unless they are in use! sprays under the sink; broom in storage cabinet/laundry room/garage (wherever you normally would store it). 😉
melody
i have a rule that no clean or dirty dishes stay on the counter. ever. (unless we are cleaning from or getting ready for a meal). put them away–you have plenty of help! and that help needs to be trained to close the drawer. (evil laugh). as for the bag of flour, put in a freezer bag and put in freezer if no room in pantry. why buy another bin?
just my preliminary thoughts.
Jessica Fisher
We are definitely working on it. The kids all have kitchen chores that rotate each month so that everyone gets practice at each job. Some come more easily to some kids than others.
As for the flour, the deep freeze is currently empty and unplugged. I’m not ready to pay the energy to run it, so the small freezer is pretty tightly packed.
Kristen
My husband is a tile guy and any grout that prizm makes is definitely worth it. It works and lasts sooo much better than other brands. Also I use a command hook under my sink to hang the cleaning spray and my broom and mop hang on others in my laundry room. I too struggle with too much stuff on the counters and it makes me crazy. I am looking forward to reading all the ideas people have.
Jessica Fisher
Part of the struggle that I didn’t communicate well in my post is that there are eight of us using the kitchen. If I were the only one cleaning, the spray and broom would probably get put back in their places. But, we have so many cooks in the kitchen! Ha!
Sally
I try really hard to clean the kitchen before going to bed so I can awake to a clean kitchen. It’s not always possible, and I rarely enjoy doing it, but it’s so worth it the next morning to start the day with a sense of order and cleanliness. As far as the kid clutter, I’m ruthless – – I tell my son if he doesn’t put his stuff away before bedtime I’m putting it in the Goodwill box. That has worked miracles!
Jessica Fisher
“Clean kitchen before bed” is our goal, but doesn’t always happen, particularly when the kids all have kitchen chores.
Ellen
I went and looked, and they’re lock and lock brand. http://shop.locknlock-usa.com/34-ll-standard-pp
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the link. That’s very helpful.
Ellen
I use snap lock containers that I got at target for my flour and sugar. I’ve had them for years, and the seal is still really tight. Dropped them off the pantry shelf multiple times, no breakage, not a bit of flour anywhere.
Patricia
I agree with Ellen. I have several snap lock containers that I keep flour in. I keep my whole wheat and white wheat flour in them in the freezer, because I don’t use it as often and it gets rancid if left in the pantry. I keep the AP flour in the pantry. There is a size that exactly fits the 5 lb bag of flour. That is what I have. They are fabulous.
Kirstin
I would have little bugs in the flour if I left it on the counter like that. I put the flour bag in a Ziploc-type bag and keep it in the refrigerator.
Jessica Fisher
Knock on wood. We don’t have that issue. But, I also don’t want that issue. Eek!
Sandy
A bay leaf or two helps ward off the bugs.
Also, my grandmother always said things contained look much neater than things just piled on the surface. That is my mantra.