This Is the Best Method for Decluttering Your Kitchen (I Swear By It!)

The kitchen is one of the busiest spots in your home, so it can be difficult to keep it clutter-free at all times. From counters full of items to cabinets stuffed to the brim, a lot happens here!

That’s why we’re going to make strides to make your kitchen as tidy as possible, so you can continue using this hardworking room more easily.

Today, we’ll declutter one spot in the kitchen — whether that’s the cabinets (one or all of them), the drawers, the entire fridge, or a part of the pantry. Pick something that can be done in one session. (Or you can go above and beyond and tackle as many projects as you like.) 

You’ll need a timer and a temporary bin or basket (not your outbox!) to collect things that need to be tossed, recycled, or reexamined (to be donated or relocated) as you go. Set aside 15 minutes, 30 minutes, or an hour — whichever timeframe works best for you. 

Once the basket is full, you’ll sort through it and see if it needs to go in one of your outboxes or if it needs to be tossed or recycled. If you’re having trouble figuring out what to do with an item, put it to the test with this five-question assessment. Set aside any sentimental items you are reconsidering for an assignment we’ll get to another day.

• Cabinets
• Drawers
• Counters
• Fridge
• Freestanding furniture, like a hutch or island
• Bar area/cart
• Pantry or cooking/serving supply storage area

• Anything that belongs in another room
• Broken items
• Multiples that you don’t need
• Anything you haven’t used or use so infrequently, such as kitchen tools or small appliances
• Baking sheets, pans, pots, and cutting boards that sit untouched
• Holiday-themed serving pieces that didn’t get used the last time you hosted
• Novelty accessories
• Mystery items you don’t remember what they’re used for
• More than two bottle/wine openers
• Excess water bottles you own (and don’t use)
• Old, gross cleaning supplies
• Old, stained, or extra plastic containers
• Takeout condiments, plasticware, and stray menus
• Out-of-date invitations or event announcements
• Expired coupons and medication
• Excessive collections of paper or plastic bags
• Bottles of liquor that don’t ever seem to get drunk
• Cookbooks that haven’t been cracked open in more than a year
• In the fridge and freezer: Anything that’s gone bad, mystery leftovers, things you tried but didn’t like and won’t use, anything freezer-burned
• In the pantry: Anything that’s gone bad, really expired items, unneeded canned goods, anything you tried but didn’t like and won’t use

Use your best judgment to determine if you need to toss, relocate, recycle, or donate anything taken out. Many food items can be donated, so consider doing so. For the mystery, non-food items, stick them in the “maybe” outbox and set a specific amount of time to think about what they’re used for before throwing them away. 

PRO TIP: Invest in the best kitchen and pantry organizational tools from our 2024 Organization Awards so that decluttering these areas the next time is easier. 

What project — or two — did you complete in your kitchen? Tell us about it in the community forum!

• Sign up for email updates.
• Visit the 2024 Decluttering Cure page and catch up on assignments.
• Download the Decluttering Cure calendar.
• Join the conversation by checking out the Decluttering Cure board in our community forum.
• Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall Decluttering Cure progress here!
• See all the winners from our 2024 Organization Awards to get your home organized. 

The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.