The Clutter Fairy Weekly Survey #241 Results
Clutter in the Kitchen and Pantry
Below are the results of our survey released in preparation for episode #241 of The Clutter Fairy Weekly. If you haven’t already done so, please take the survey.
The Extent of the Problem
We asked our audience, “How often are you troubled by clutter in the kitchen and/or pantry?”
Note: Hover over any pie slice in the chart to see the text of the answer and the number of respondents who selected that answer. (Mobile users: Click on the slices for details.)
Responses
To view the complete, detailed survey response from any respondent, click on their name (or “Anonymous user”) in the table below. You may also find it easier to read long responses in the detailed view.
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | How often are you troubled by clutter in the kitchen and/or pantry? | What sources of clutter or specific issues do you experience in the kitchen or pantry? | What organizing solutions or strategies have you tried or used in the kitchen, and how have they worked for you? | What “one-trick pony” resides in your kitchen or pantry? Why do you keep it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carol | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | Too many dishes, pots and pans, too many cooking utensils, silverware, cups. Not enough cabinet space. My pantry is perfect—it’s a little closet and I put a wire hangover shelf over the door for quick access to dog food and daily items. Or, I need a bigger kitchen. | I straighten the pantry about every 3 months. I threw away appliances that lived on the countertop, such as a bread maker and small ice machine because of the need for more space. Throwing away the bread maker was a mistake. It was hard to find one that had any quality, but really, it was just hard to find another one at all. But I did, and it’s a step down. I bought a pretty little ‘coffee station’ that gathered a lot of clutter from the counter, like the microwave, coffeemaker, tea stuff and pressure cooker. I’m so happy with that decision. It’s just a decorative black wired shelf on wheels that takes up about 3 or 4 feet of floor space off the end of the cabinets on one end. | I bought some ceramic or porcelain serving dishes from an estate sale (I’ve been to two estate sales in my life). They were old and look hand painted and are hidden under the counter in a cabinet I never |
| Lisa | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | My pantry overflowith. We live in an old home that doesn't have any closet space and doesn't have a pantry. (We are currently using a 6' bookshelf as a pantry. I can't stand seeing the piles of food on display so I hung a curtain to hide it.) My husband and I were just talking about eating from the pantry to get it under control. We went from a household of 4 to 3 and still tend to overbuy pantry items based on how much we used to consume. This week we created a menu based specifically around what we have on hand. We clean out the pantry completely once or twice a year to get rid of expired items, items we don't like, and to wipe everything down. It's not the upkeep thats the issue for us, it's the quantity. There are several items we bulk buy at warehouse stores (ie Sam's Club) because the cost savings is substantial, however sometimes I think the lack of space isn't worth the cost savings. As for the kitchen itself it's probably the number one dumping ground for homeless items. There are things out that we use daily, such as the coffee pot and dish drainer, but there are tons of things that got set down and left. About half the depth of our countertops are covered with items we have shoved out of the way to make enough room to prep/cook. It's such a source of embarrassment for me. | I have tried doom piles, bins (clear to see what is in a bin AND opaque to hide what is in a bin). I have tried boxing up every single item on the counters and putting the boxes out of sight to see what we really need (if an item is needed we will take it out of the box and return it to the kitchen). After a couple months I toss or donate everything we didn't need. It seems that no matter what I try my family goes behind me to undo all of my work. For example, I hung a mail holder next to the door closest to the mailbox. Instead of using that my husband has decided all mail needs to be set on the kitchen counter and moved around as space is needed. Since he handles all of the bills for the household ideally I would put a container of some sort on the counter where he has been putting the mail, however there is so much other stuff everywhere there is no room for a container. | My one-trick pony would be my crab leg crackers. We rarely have crab legs at home, maybe once a year, but need the crackers for those times we do have crab. Oh, my toaster, although it lives in a cabinet, is a one trick pony. Standard two slice toaster, but I hate toast. I only have it for when my older daughter comes home to visit (she's 23). She loves toast and eats it every morning. No one else in my family likes toast. |
| Suzanne | My kitchen is often out of control. | Putting all kinds of things on the counters, especially over-piling in the corners. Being short and not pulling out the stepping stool to put away items on the second shelf and above. (Not an issue for you Ed😁). Plus putting away plastic containers and lids as well as glass containers and lids. | The thing that has mostly helped has been to declutter items from almost every kitchen category. The other thing that helps is to do the dishes daily, works best. | I don’t know that I really have any - off the top of my head. |
| Anita | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | I don’t like throwing away a jar or bottle that has some product still in it. Overall though my kitchen is the easiest to maintain as I am not emotionally attached to much in there…so clutter isn’t an issue. I don’t like cooking so everything is quite basic. | I have a plastic set of draws in the cupboard space to put veg and pasta. As I lost a big area of pantry space when they put our new boiler in. Our kitchen is a very small galley shaped area. | On a shelf we have my husbands Tassimo tea/ coffee machine and his veg spiralissa. Last used several years ago but they are his so they’re there to stay😕. |
| Ginger | It’s an occasional problem. | 🔳 The pantry needs a good declutter. Step-in pantry w/shelves on 3 walls. 14 total. Organized w/like items together. ▪️Food. Our diets have changed. Our household shrunk to just the 2 of us retirees. We’ve been eating down the overstock and gifted some food to neighbors. I keep a food inventory. ▪️Cleaning Products. The products used regularly are few & under the sink. I have a small collection of products for MAX level cleaning & restoration. Good intentions that never came to fruition. ▪️Cookbooks. I’ve decluttered these before but have collected a few more low carb books. | ✔️1. Under sink has stayed neatly organized since 2014. It stays tidy & it’s easy to clean. ▪️ I have 2 baskets. (There is nothing stored behind those baskets.) ▪️The left side holds frequently (daily) used products. ▪️ The right side product holds less frequently (weekly) used. ▪️My tool case slides in on the right side. ▪️I added hooks to the doors & walls to hold a brush, scraper, Swiffer frame, mop cover. And, hook/loop tape to my box of Swiffer refills and mounted it higher up on the right side wall. It’s out of the way - I can reach in the box & pull one out. ▪️Our food wraps are stored in racks mounted on the doors. Foil, wax paper, cling wrap, plastic baggies. ✔️2. Spice Corner Carousel Upper Cabinet. ▪️I created sections w/labels & cardboard dividers. Baking, Savory, Salts, Peppers, Sauces, Oils, Vinegars. ▪️Spices are organized loosely alphabetically within their category. ✔️3. Baking Corner Carousel Lower Cabinet. Works well. ▪️We keep measuring cups in the canisters. ▪️Spin to the canister and dip it out. Frequently used items get the top shelf. ✔️4. Pantry. Top shelf used to be a big messy mix. It stays organized now. ▪️I modified/painted/decorated cardboard flat boxes to hold: Filters (smaller) Light Bulbs, Canning Supplies, Paper Goods (plates, bowls, plastic cutlery). It’s easy to pull the box down. Find what we need. Return the box to the shelf. ✔️5. Fridge & Freezer. Every shelf & door shelf has a designated storage job. ▪️Husband’s Canned Drinks & Leftovers ▪️Milk, tea and juices ▪️Eggs, cooked bacon, my drinks ▪️Dairy drawer ▪️Produce drawer ▪️Meat drawer Door shelves ▪️Butter ▪️Sandwich condiments ▪️Sweet Condiments & biscuits ▪️Salad Condiments and add-ins ▪️Larger jars: Pickles, etc. 🔳 Freezer ▪️Breakfast Items ▪️Fruit & Pot Pies ▪️Meats (stored standing on end) ▪️Vegetables in a basket ▪️Drawer for seafood, French fries, onion rings. ▪️Door shelves hold nuts, nut flours, hot dog wieners, baggie of frozen cubed sauce. | ▪️Apple peeler, slicer, corer. Husband bought. I used it once. Seemed more difficult than simply peeling with a paring knife. It’s on the goodbye tour in my mind. ▪️But… HEY! Last year - I successfully donated the 20 year old - never used not even once - juicer. So… there’s a realistic expectation the Apple thing will leave in the next round. ▪️Last time I counted - We had 102 cooking utensils & tools. (Doesn’t include flatware or knives.) I’ll be doing another declutter and inventory update. I like to count. |
| Anonymous user | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | It is too small. Hard to keep counters clear. | I brought in a shelving unit. | Vitamix. it's great when I need it. |
| Anonymous user | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Paper, a few food containers, a project item, several dog treats | I used to have my baking items on the counter (flour, sugar). I put them in a pull out drawer, which works great! I have flours sugars, baking soda & powder in one place. I got rid of some glasses (or hubby didn’t like them). | Blender - we’ve had it in the cupboard for years, unused. I’m not really sure why we still have it. I think it was from my MIL. |
| Kathy | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | I always end up with piles of paper on the table or a recipe book I want to read. I know I won't remember these things if they are not in plain sight. These are typically papers I consult all week (my zone cleaning plan, my weekly menu plan) and other papers I haven't made a decision about acting on yet. I have several places for pantry items; the one that gets most out of control is the large corner lazy-susan. The two tiers pull out, making it pretty accessible, but I think I have too many empty glass jars (used for storage containers) and oversized items like oatmeal containers that don't fit well. It also holds bags of beans/grains that are "floppy" and hard to corral. | I have a bookcase with a special covered basket for holding papers right behind my place at the table, yet I still leave the papers I'm consulting all week on the table instead of on the basket. Other papers tend to accumulate on the basket, so I keep certain papers on the table that I want to easily find and consult daily. I would also like to keep the counters relatively clear but can't seem to find a home for things that I use regularly that is just as convenient as keeping them out. | A rack with two jars used for sprouting seeds--I tend to only use it in the summer, yet it's still on the counter. |
| Lise | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Lack of storage and counter space. | Changed a hall cabinet to accommodate counter top appliances with pull out trays - it has cleared a side counter and part of a cabinet. Love the new appliance apartment! | The mixer, oven roaster, and Instant pot. They are needed but it would be ideal to use them more often then 1-2 times a year. |
| Anonymous user | My kitchen is often out of control. | Can’t reach top and bottom cabinets due to disability | Keeping frequently used items readily accessible and always at same places | Larger 10 cups coffee maker as a spare |
| Saskatchewan Jane | Infrequently or never. | Abundance of tea. | Wooden Lefse spatula (used a few times z year) and Norwegian wedding cake rings. | |
| Peggy | It’s an occasional problem. | I let my herbal tea collection get out of control (too much buying and not enough using haha). I recently organized the tea collection to put the oldest in front so they will get used up first. I also "decanted" them from the tea boxes so they would take less room. We have already made good progress in using them up but we still have too much. | I have been working on getting rid of anything expired and also any foods that I realize we never use. This frees up room for the stuff we actually use. | This type of item (looking at you Cherry Pitter) is offloaded to a small box in the garage for the rare instance we might need any of it. |
| Anja | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Usually too many paper bags and some everyday stuff like charging cords, a little paper, a little too much stuff I think I might need someday or in a different season. | During the last 7 years I've gotten rid of a lot of stuff, e.g. a food processor that I didn't use nearly as often as I had planned to, old dish towels and small gadgets. | A glass kind of grater only for apple mush I need when I get sick. |
| Kate | Infrequently or never. | Lots of cupboard space but the available space is hard to reach as the cupboards go a long way back so only good for stuff that is not used often. I now find that space unusable really and move stuff to the front so it is easy to reach. A kitchen reno would fix this of course but why pay out extra money. | I am finding using space easy to reach works and rotate stock. I do not have a store cupboard with too much reserve stock. I find a free standing pantry cupboard ideal nowdays. | Hand held kitchen mixer. Used maybe a couple of times a year but able to keep it because it can be easily reached and there is space for it. |
| Carrie | Infrequently or never. | Dirty dishes accumulating to be washed —- I keep putting it off! | Donated most things that I wasn’t using — including kitchen stuff that I didn’t know the name of or know how to use. | A HUGE stainless steel bowl. I keep it because it came in a set with smaller bowls, but I can’t bear to break up the set! |
| Layne | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | Just random stuff that belongs in the kitchen and pantry | Failed. Have too much stuff in general but kitchen pantry are loaded | Ice maker |
| Susan | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Dishes on the counter or shelf stable food on counter | Keep putting things in cabinets, but still seems to be too much left out. Keep donating stuff to make more room | Nespresso coffee maker. |
| Jean | It’s an occasional problem. | It seems to gather in the lower cabinets, awkward to get to. | I have a bag of peels and smelly stuff I keep (labeled ) in the freezer. Otherwise it is in the kitchen trash and I use too many bags. | A pumpkin carving ‘knife’ , approved for kids to use. |
| Lala | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | Take out food containers - to wash & re-use, or just recycle/trash now. | I have places for some containers, but have run out of space for them and don't want to trash the extras. | Crab shell leg breaker in case I buy some from the store again. At least it's small. Slow cooker - I made 1 meal in it, it was terrible, but can't seem to pass it on. It still works, I'm sure, after only 1 use. I feel like as soon as I get rid of it, I'll want to make a recipe in it again. |
| Granny | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | There is no problem using the kitchen, it's just aesthetics. Sometimes it's distracting having too many things on my island, but there's plenty of space. | My pantry is very well organized and it's easy for me to see what I have and what I need to buy. My kitchen is fairly well organized and it's easy to get items into the pantry and out of sight when we have friends/family over for large events and we need the island to serve food. I think the problem with me is that I'm an "out of sight, out of mind" kind of person for certain items. If I think about them, I know where they are exactly, but if I don't see them they don't readily come to mind (food items that may go bad, for example). | Juicer machine! You made me remember it and I can't remember when I last used it... |
| Cynthia | It’s an occasional problem. | Extra hurricaine water and cans. Also some decor items for pantry door. Appliances. | Try to put snacks in bins but there is always overflow with big bags. | Le Crueset chicken cooker. Seldom/never buy whole chicken unless it is precooked. All-clad skillet. Harder to clean than non stick one. |
| Rene | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | Too many utensils, too many pots and pans, too many junk drawers, duplicates of the same item in multiple drawers, pantry shelves are too deep, and several are too high, so things get pushed to the back and hidden, every horizontal surface gets covered almost as soon as it's cleared... I have no good solution for lids with pots and pans. I have no good solution for reaching shelves that are too high because I have no home for a 2- or 3-step kitchen step stool. I'm not that short, 5'3", but the kitchen seems made for people 6' tall. | I have deep cabinets but have installed pull-out shelves for small appliances, colanders, mixing bowls, baking sheets, and the like. This works well, except it's getting crammed with too much stuff that doesn't belong because the pull-outs are so easy to use. I also converted the bottom cabinet of my hot beverage station into a slide-out for trash and recycling bins. Love this! If only I could figure out how to store a step stool in my too-deep kitchen pantry. | Citrus zester. Years ago, I often baked from scratch, and blueberry muffins with some orange zest were delectable. I do have a shrimp deveiner, too. |
| Anita | It’s an occasional problem. | The hodgepodge of foods available. I”m recovering from habits of keeping everything on hand to feed a family of 5 without frequent shopping, Now with just 2 of us, I’m slowly moving toward keeping on hand “just what we need” for meals that I’ll prepare in the near future. The fridge and freezer are usually great now, but the dry goods are still out of control. | In the freezer: small plastic baskets keep like with like. There’s a basket with 5 bags of veggies, another with 4-5 protein foods, and one with fruit or hash browns. The baskets make it easy to grab things, and the air flows better in the freezer. It used to be a Tetris puzzle in there! 🙂 | My one-trick ponies live on a shelf in my basement, along with seasonal things like pie pans and corn-on-the-cob holders. |
| Rose | It’s an occasional problem. | In an old house, the cupboards aren't the best size or shelf height for storing pots and pans and bakeware. Also, corner cabinets are deep and dark; things get pushed to the back and forgotten. | Turntables; mesh rectangular basket in cooking utensil drawer to hold measuring spoons and smaller items; decorative metal tin to hold vanilla extract and other extracts; clear bins in refrigerator for meats. | Salad tongs; meat injector syringe |
| Gabriella | Infrequently or never. | This pertains to my home in Berlin: My partner, who spends most of the year in our home in Morocco, hat accumulated a lot of kitchen gear, of which he uses about 80% when he's in Berlin. When he's in Morocco, I keep "his stuff" that I do not use tetrissed away under the kitchen sink. Everything I use fits into 2 cabinets, (that hold pots, dishes, a curated number of utensils and a minimal pantry), a set of drawers and a small shelf that serves as a coffee bar. I keep utensils out in an 2 oblong jars near the stove. Apart from the coffee shelf, everything else There's space for a small table and 2 chairs by the window, which serves as a breakfast nook and also as my "counter space" for preparing food. I cook from scratch with lots of fresh produce, some of which I keep out decoratively in bowls and baskets. All my kitchen items have a designated place, so that I can access them easily. In 2024 I set myself the goal to keep only what I actually use. Then I did a huge declutter and subsequently tweaked the organization to make it very functional. | I like to have absolutely clear counters, but I also want some things, that I use very frequently within reach in half a second, without having to open a cabinet door. I therefore keep some items out. It's a comprmise. What works: I keep only those items that I use, with very easy access to those used most frequently. Every items has a designated place and it's easy to put back after use and cleaning. A slender Ikea shelf with a white door that blends in with the kitchen cabinets holds my small vacuum cleaner and other cleaning products. My food storage is minimal and so is my designated pantry space. There are several supermarkets within walking distance, so this has never been a problem. Whenever my partner is in Berlin, the kitchen becomes his territory. I enter the kitchen only to get myself a coffee and to eat the delicious meals my partner prepares. | I keep a Chinese bamboo steamer stored away - it's an aspirational tool for eventually preparing dim sums when my friends come over. |
| Anonymous user | It’s an occasional problem. | Our countertop and table collect clutter such as books, otc meds, reminder notes, things to take with us to the city, etc. Mine are in a basket but spouse wants his in plain sight and within reach at the table for easy access and as a reminder. The top of the fridge is too far away and not accessible. We have no entry or drop zone just inside the door, but we’re really good about putting everything else away. | Pretty baskets work for me and my “ command centre “ is in a cupboard out of sight. I’ve tried both of these ideas for his things, but then they get put on the counter beside the basket or cupboard. We can’t put things on top of the fridge or on the front. The hallway is too narrow for a shelf or table. Medicine cabinet is on another floor. | I have a small hand mixer that isn’t used because I don’t bake anymore, but I have room for it and it’s my only mixer. |
| Isabelle | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | With only 60 inches of countertop working space, I have successfully eliminated everything on the counter that is not essential (including the electric kettle) and have introduced routines that keep the countertops ok. Main problem that remains: Finding a successful routine in deep cleaning the kitchen/ keeping the kitchen drawers and cabinets clean despite having glass jars to store everything etc. European kitchen = food storage/ pantry is part of the kitchen (cabinets) not seperated. | Making sure to go to bed with all dishes done and surfaces empty. While the kettle runs in the morning, I put away all the dishes that have dried overnight and I do a clean up after lunch so that things don't pile up in the evening. And cleaning up while cooking/ baking filling "empty" time in the cooking/ baking process. And everything has a home, and we have pull out drawers not shelves. this also helps A LOT. | I am a gadget girl, that's for sure and lo2 piemakers ve my baking tins .... My household comprises 6 waffles irons ;-))), for Belgium, German, US-style and icecream cone waffles and ;-))) but they get used and are stored outside the very valuable kitchen space. "One-trick-ponies" have been reduced and/ or are stored somewhere else. |
| Barbara | My kitchen is often out of control. | Pet food, pet toys, the dog's towels that don't have a home. Mail/computer work in progress on the table. Biggest issue is things that don't have a home. Also I know I overbuy groceries but due to childhood issues am very uncomfortable if the pantry isn't full. | Have tried to move the pet stuff to another room but it is really inconvenient. Have started rotating the dog toys & that has helped, having fewer out at a time. Sister likes to bring a new toy every time she visits (nearly weekly) and my current dog isn't a toy destroyer like my previous dog. At least she has stopped bringing dog treats after I told her the vet was concerned about the dog's weight gain. | I already got rid of my toaster last year- that was a no brainer once I thought about this. Current item is my tea kettle. I make hot water in the kettle less than once a week and could just use a saucepan, but I'm still hesitating on this one. It's a really nice Revereware kettle. |
| Sandra | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Kitchen island tends to become drop spot, pantry and freezer are too full, and... too many cooking books and magazines! | Clearing up island on regular basis works, but not occasional purge of pantry/freezer (empty spaces tend to fill up again), and the magazine I love comes in 6 times a year so this one is still missing a solution. | I have a Grandpa Witmer’s Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Mixer and it's staying because it works great. |
| Hawthorne | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Family just drops stuff on the table instead of putting things where they go | Narrowing the food storage to 4 cabinet places was a big success for us. we live in an old apartment and have no pantry space. Next on the task list is to better organize and declutter the counter tops | Spaghetti spoon. We could use tongs, but my partner has a hard time getting rid of anything in the kitchen |
| C | It’s an occasional problem. | Things that are not for the pantry are not put away after shopping. Newspapers and mail and other info that ends up in various piles on the counter. To-do and shopping lists and coupons and menu lists and receipts bunch up near the phone or white board. When the junk drawer "overspills" a bit. | Yelling at DH ? no, no just kidding. I gather the things that belong elsewhere on to trays and carry them to other rooms. I found special bags for all the recycling categories required by the city. I have a mini-bucket on the counter for compost scraps, and empty that out often. I have a little tray where all lists and coupons go and can be found quickly. | Thus far it is the air-fryer. I need to remember to use it more often, supposedly healthier than frying stuff. Just not used to it, yet. |
| Noreen | It’s an occasional problem. | Temporary clutter as I am having new cabinets installed and trying to find a place for everything. | Cutlery dividers and small shelves in cabinets work for me. | Coffee Maker - I dont drink coffee and only use it when I host Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. I even bought a small Keurig to use instead, but still have coffee maker. |
| Mar | It’s an occasional problem. | As a retired couple, we use the kitchen table all day.In addition to meals, (3x a day plus snacks), we use our laptops here during the day, and also play solitaire. My husband also has all his art stuff on a cart which we wheel out of the coat closet and to the kitchen where on the table, he creates gorgeous art. I do mine in a little sun room off the kitchen. So this kitchen is the busiest place in the house. I also cook a lot and rarely even have a frozen pizza. Also, as this room leads to the garage, all the bits of recycle cardboard await removal on a far countertop. It's just too cold right now to open that door every time. | We purchased two small drawer units that are placed near the table on each sides for our office/computer needs...We each put the laptops on the top at night for charging and to clear and thoroughly clean the table. I also just purchased an in drawer knife holder and it is a game changer....no more knives clanking around in plastic holders. And the BPA free plastic organizers to place in and around other objects in kitchen drawer to corral small objects are great.. We don't have a lot of cabinets....and we've made them just enough by decluttering rarely used items over the past couple years. | The kitchen aid mixer I purchased about 20 years ago before I realized that soon I would be an empty nester and make "cakes" much less often. But there's room on the counter and I'm not parting with it esp. as I realize just how much they cost now. I also have a large bread machine on that countertop which I regularly use. I love it and haven't been without a bread machine for the past 30 years when they first came out. |
| Evelin | It’s an occasional problem. | European here. A few years ago there were warnings about a huge possible blackout and many people stocked up on canned food. Now most of it is almost expired. I put in on the counters so we don't forget about it but it's probably just too much and husband doesn't like to eat lentils and beans every day 😀 | just stick to the obvious rules: Expired food has to go. Tupperware without lids or lids without a bowl have to go. If it's gross or broken it has to go. If I tried it once and have not intention to use it again it has to go. Don't keep paper in the kitchen. I think the kitchen is easier to declutter than other rooms because the stuff in there is more about utility than sentimentality (at least for someone like me who doesn't like to cook) | lemon squeezer - I used to buy fresh lemons to add lemon juice to my sparkling water but often the lemons sat there until they became moldy. Now I buy bottled lemon juice and don't need the lemon squeezer anymore (but I keep it anyway, just in case ;D ) |
| Julie | My kitchen is often out of control. | My big kitchen island is a catch all for EVERYTHING. A landing place for all things coming and going from the house. I rent my mom's house and I live alone, so I'm not pressured to keep the place tidy. I have good intentions and often attack the clutter and love the clean surface. But stuff piles up again especially when I'm tired and/or focused on other areas of the house. | I have downsized kitchenware and cookware in cabinets and cupboards over the three years I have lived in the house. After Christmas, I gave away dozens of glassware items. Fun fact-I used the wrapping paper from the family gift exchange to wrap the glassware for donation. I turned the wrapping paper inside out, and attached a note saying "This is not Christmas glassware" just in case. Then I decluttered Christmas kitchenware that I realized I no longer need. I follow Gayle's advice and put a box to donate NEXT year in the garage by the Halloween decorations. I went on a "buy nothing" food mission to use up canned items, only bought fresh greens to accompany my soup and chilli. | I have a mustard colored circa 1970's fondue pot I will never part with. Long after I left for college, my dad put it in a white elephant gift exchange (as a joke) at a party. When I found out, I was so upset that he went and got it back from the couple who got it at the party. Fondue made a comeback in the late nineties and I was all over it. I'm waiting for the next wave of fondue-mania. In the mean time-a "fond" memory of my dad. |
| Jessie | Infrequently or never. | Like with like Occasionally declutter a drawer and the refrigerator | Old standing juice squeeze from the 1940's I keep it because it reminds me of my mother | |
| Yvonne | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Dishes not put away in the dishwasher ( left in the sink) My kids leave their possessions on the table and counters Things that need to leave the house frequently get left on the counter by our back door. Our kitchen is an eat on kitchen, plus there is a bathroom and laundry room off our kitchen too. So it’s a multi use room that my family occupies the most in the house . | I decant most of my pantry staples into matching Tupperware storage containers with labels so when I open my cupboard doors everything looks neat and tidy. I always do a night-time reset on the kitchen before I go to bed. Everything is out of the kitchen that does not belong there, floor is vacuumed and dishes are all in dishwasher and dishwasher gets run regardless of how many dishes are in it. I HATE coming downstairs to a messy kitchen in the morning. | My juicer. It is up in a cupboard and rarely gets used because cleaning it is such a pain. I keep it though because I love the way a good green juice resets my health when I’m not feeling well and how it improves my skin. |
| Jennifer | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | Too much cereal and canned goods | Writing expiration dares in big sharpie. So I can put in order and use things in order. Count how many I have and look at the list before I go shopping. Begged my husband nit to buy stuff just because it is in sale | . |
| Alana | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Disorganization of lazy susan and spices/grains. Also counter receives daily mail which I try to face daily. Also is the place for active files and comings and goings of "stuff" like keys, important papers needed to say reregister the vehicle on trip out tomorrow, etc. | files in cabinet above counter for "Important Save" and "time will tell" This becomes out of site - out of mind bigger hidden clutter I try to read and act - works some I move to my desk and the desk needs attention - working it | lettuce spinner used only in summer - mostly for Kale Waffle Maker Lemon/Lime squeezer |
| CHRISTINE | My kitchen is a clutter nightmare! | tiny kitchen in a small old house...no pantry... For organic healthy food prep, i need extra prep space, that I do not have. I have been using rolling carts to handle the overflow, but they are in the way when I have to move around the kitchen. I wish all my lower cupboards had sliding drawers, to access items in the back, but I hope to move, and do not have the budget for those improvements | 1.storing spices, in a tiny kitchen, drive me crazy. I have tried many spice racks etc. and none work out for me. I do use all my spices up in a year. Interesting story... my adult son, a good cook, has a nice kitchen, and installed one of those pull out spice units, for lower cabinets, that hold a hundred spices. Well, my young grandson figured out how to pull out that unit, and he opened and emptied every spice jar into one huge pot. it was over a thousand dollar lost in expensive spices. So now I know why every grandmother i has a simple wood spice rack, they hang up high on a kitchen walll, out the reach of children. 2. no room in small kitchen to store equipment like roasting pans, food mills., baking pans.... needed but not used often . so I have to store these under furniture, or bedroom closets, and it takes forever to search the house to find them, when I need them. 3. my huge and easiest improvement was immediately getting rid of everything in the kitchen that had lead in it.. lead is toxic. leaded mugs, expensive leaded dish sets, leaded crystal wine glasses, And getting rid of dangerous plastics that make its way into the food....plastic cutting boards, plastic mixing bowls, plastic cups, plastic food storage. Just by getting rid of toxic kitchen supplies, I have been able to reduce my kitchen supplies by 50%,. | 1.a rolling pin to roll cookie or pie dough to 1/4 inch depth. especially when baking Christmas cut out cookies with my grandchildren, having the cookies at the exact same depth, makes the difference, so the sides of the cookies do not burn. and the organic ingredients are so expensive...I do not want to lose half the cookie to burning... and children put in so much joy into making these cookies, and the adults said the cookies look professional, , that it seems worth it to store this rolling pin. 2. anything safety is l worth the storage space. I ended up in emergency room for stitches, with cut from cutting chestnuts. so I bought a "chestnut cutter" and it works well a cherry pitter is safer than using a sharp knife, to pit cherries. |
| Danetta | It’s an occasional problem. | The kitchen counter is a magnetic halfway point between the car/garage and the rest of the house. Have to reset counter on s as regular basis—every2-3 days | Bins for snacks help a lot. Not buying too much at a time and trying to eat it all within a week or two. Buy mostly frozen vegetables so veggies don’t rot in the refrigerator bin. I don’t always have all my favorite foods, drinks, and snacks—I rotate buying a couple of each category each week so I won’t have too much in my pantry. | Boiled egg slicer for the Christmas holidays, uniform pretty slices that I can’t reproduce with a knife. Cookie cutters for the Christmas holidays—the only time I bake cookies |
| Barbara | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | My kitchen is small and has little counter space. I tend to clutter one counter that is open to the living/dining room and the kitchen. It holds the phone & a notepad, pencil cup, toaster, any fresh fruit that can’t be refrigerated, maybe a container of cookies or some cake after I put most of it in the freezer. Then there’s the other stuff: my key, the phone, whatever mail I was reading when I left the desk, a dirty plate or glass that is on its way to the dishwasher. | I try to clear it off before I go to bed but I’m not very regular in doing that. I have also tried to find another place for the stuff but there just isn’t much room in the kitchen, period. | I have a plastic spoon that I rarely use, preferring the wooden ones. |
| Jeanne | It’s an occasional problem. | ADD adult son impulsively opens duplicate when one is already open. He brings other items into kitchen and leaves, often forgotten projects. Leaves drink and meal activities on counter. | Pantry is organized. Refrigerator is divided into zones. Many choices of food storage available. Pretty much a fail.. Frequently asks where items are. He is here three days every two weeks from his job. | Son’s espresso machine. |
| Lela | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | My kitchen is the room with the most landing zones for random stuff. I tend to set my purse, keys, and to-do items on the counter; and I frequently have small stacks of items to deliver to friends, family, and donation places. Plus, I have fruit bowls, kitchen scrap containers, and lap trays on the counter to keep them convenient for my hubby to use regularly. Then there's the toaster oven and dish drainer that are used multiple times per day. You know, after writing all that, it makes me wonder how I still have a nice counterspace spot for prepping food. Lol. | I inconsistently put my purse in another room, but it is not as convenient when I do. I have placed to-do and donation items in other places, but then I forget about them for days or weeks. On a positive note, I have decluttered inside the kitchen cabinets and drawers, which are now roomy and functional. | An ancient meat grinder. It used to belong to my parents and we used it when my relatives would give us fresh deer meat. We haven't used it in several years (due to the wasting disease deer began carrying), but I keep thinking we might get fresh meat again someday & would need to use the grinder. |
| Rowan | It’s an occasional problem. | food containers and pans to be washed. | I have no dish drainer so I always dry and put away immediately after washing things, it only takes five to ten seconds per item . this is great. note I have done this for over four years and have no regrets (except regretting not doing this sooner). | I have a wide but very short screwdriver that I only use to remove the stem from winter squash. But I just found out it is perfect to pop the lid on jars (just enough to pop the vacuum seal and then the jar is easy to open). |
| Dawn | It’s an occasional problem. | Two things usually surface: 1. Too much stuff on the counter, so I will declutter as well as rearrange to make it fresh. 2. Too many items in two specific drawers--the silverware drawer and my miscellaneous drawer where I have the remaining calendar sheets for the year, napkins, recipes, toothpicks, and whatever I (and this is key) I feel like throwing in there to address later. | Within the last week or so I spent 15 minutes and decluttered the silverware drawer. I decided to keep only the orange straws (A&W). The remainder of the straws I rubber-banded together and decided if I haven't used them in a couple of months I'll just throw them out. The other drawer I reference in the previous question, I go through it once a year. It works for me because I feel the need to have a place to throw things (esp. due to time management) and not feel judged about it. | The cookie press with its various attachments to make spritz cookies. I keep it because I like spritz cookies. Last Christmas I didn't make them, but it's staying! 🙂 I only made a date oatmeal bar. Even though I'm in my 60's, cooking/baking is somewhat new to me. I'm starting to experiment. |
| Kim | It’s an occasional problem. | Toaster, coffee maker, microwave | Store toaster and coffee maker in pantry when not in use, created microwave station in pantry | Blue Mountain Pottery 1976 First Edition Christmas plate. Serve cookies on it at Christmas. Love its beauty (just bought it last year. BMP factory closed down decades ago). |
| Stephanie | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Too many pots and pans that get minimal use Too many spices and condiments that get minimal use Too many mismatched plates and saucers Too many appliances using up counterspace | Little tiered shelves for spices. Works somewhat but I bought the cheap kind that the spice fall over on A pot top organizer that is in the back of the cupboard and is not used Plastic buckets in the freezer | Mandolin |
| Amanda | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | I don't have room to put away the things we use frequently, because there are things in the cabinets and drawers that we seldom use. | I've tried using closed containers on top shelves for small items we use seasonally, but then I forget they're there and we don't use them at all (hello melon baller!). | Blender - I use the Nutribullet for smaller servings, and the food processor for chopping and mincing. I keep it because... What if we want margaritas?! (We seldom drink at home and are too busy during parties to make fancy drinks.) |
| Linn | My kitchen is often out of control. | c Counter tops and excess boxes, baskets and carts are over cluttered. | Spices are in alphabetical order and pantry is organized. Pantry items are categorized by box, glass, bag or can packaging. Counter tops and desk area keeps being recluttered. | many |
| Denise | It’s an occasional problem. | Too many spices or I forget that I have ___________ and accidently buy more (fill in the blank with rye flour, pumpkin puree, etc). | #1 I started doing the dishes EVERY night and emptying the dishwasher since 2017... and THAT has made a HUGE difference!!!! Life changing!!!! #2 Decluttering!!!! Despite occasionally over buying... my kitchen is soooo much better. All of the drawers are neat and organized and not over full. My sister calls drawers that are too full "Jack in the Box" drawers. You open the drawer and all kind of stuff pops out of the drawer like a Jack-in-the-Box. ALL of my drawers used to be like this and extra food storage containers used to crap-alanche out of the cupboards onto my head. No exageration! But I have ruthlessly decluttered every November, before Thanksgiving, since 2021 and the kitchen is easy to work in. The counters are clear of dirty dishes and I don't have too much stuff! | I used to have this egg cracker. (From Amazon "Egg Topper Opener Cracker Tool | Easily Cut and Remove the Top of Soft-Boiled Eggs") It is a gadget that is supposed to crack soft boiled eggs. It didn't work very well, so I kept it for 5 years. <insert crazy face emoji here! lol!>. I decluttered it in 2021. A wine bottle opener pretty much only does one thing, but I use it a few times a year when we have company. : ) |
| Millie | It’s an occasional problem. | I do not have a real pantry cupboard, only a small area to store food. I end up storing some items on the bottom of a sideboard in my dining room. | The best thing I purchased was two clear plastic containers for my refrigerator. One is for vegetables, the other is for bread. Prior to having these containers everything was all over the place. Now my refrigerator has order and I can find what I'm looking for (In case you're wondering, I keep flours/sugar in my two crisper drawers.) I also make it a habit to eat up leftovers within a day or two. I do not keep mystery food in the fridge/freezer. | Lemon squeezer. It's used very occasionally. I keep it because it's one of the very few items my husband purchased for the kitchen. |
| Allison | Infrequently or never. | Occasionally papers will accumulate on the counter but the kitchen and pantry are generally uncluttered and functional. | I use stackable metal or wire shelves in cabinets. They're great for dishes, glasses, etc. and use vertical space that would otherwise go to waste. I also use dishpans to corral items in cupboards and under the sink. For instance, all cleaning supplies are in a dishpan that is easy to pull out to grab something. | I guess a gravy bowl. I prefer multi-use items and pretty ruthlessly decluttered several years ago. Goodbye garlic press, ricer, melon baller, and waffle maker. |
| Beagle Mom | It’s an occasional problem. | DH dumps his unsorted junk on the counter near the door and never sorts or cleans it up. I like using a clean counter, he seems to view a counter as a final resting place for random items that need to find another home! | I went through my kitchenware and utensils when I retired nine years and let go of things I didn't need any more for just two people in an empty nest. I did this again last April when I had some updating done in the kitchen, because I decided that I would use the "company" dishes and got rid of the "every day" stuff, and serving platters that I hadn't used since the first cleanout. I am going to enjoy "the good stuff" now, since later it will be just "stuff". I am sure that I have enough to last even when I accidentally break things! Also, my sister and I had to clean out our parents home of sixty years, and they didn't do much sorting or downsizing, so that experience was, and is, a good motivator for me to try to be purposeful about what I hold on to and what I send on to others. | A meat slicer because I like the way it cuts salami and the like, even though we don't make salami very often. Also my waffle iron, for that holiday breakfast. |
| Lee | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Some items are on the countertop because I haven't made space in the cupboards yet. Had done a fair amount of work on decluttering the kitchen about 2 years ago while hubby was out of town and cleared significant counterspace then, but never got back to it after his return. Am hoping I can tackle more in the kitchen during his next lengthy travel, but by then it will be time to start working in the yard, so we'll see... | Extra long and width-expandable silverware organizers for kitchen gadgets. May have gotten from Bed Bath and Beyond? 3-step rack for spices. Can see and reach all of them now. Plastic coated wire racks with legs (there is probably a name for those) that serve as additional small shelf in the cabinets. I have several. They can be turned in either direction depending on what you want to put on and under them. Have them in a pantry cupboard also where I store thermal lunch bags, thermoses, and some deli plastic containers for sending leftovers home to others. | Yogurt maker (on a high shelf, but would like to try that again). Potato ricer - used every Thanksgiving. Waffle iron - hubby would be happy it if I used it! I have the space (and the places these items are stored in are not super accessible), so I don't plan to part with any of the above. I don't consider it clutter if the kitchen is functional, and mine is. Just a few items that if I fit them in a cupboard would make it easier to wipe dust off that area of counter. |
| Lynn | It’s an occasional problem. | Things that get infrequent annual use, that I don't want to get rid of and have to buy again when needed for a cooking project. As long as I keep everything else in the kitchen within my clutter tolerance and have the empty cabinet space for it, things like canning supplies and baking equipment can stay. | For condensing and decluttering my mother's things with my own, iI set up folding tables and boxes for sorting like with like items. It helped me see what duplicates I had and choose the best, most useful one to keep. I also got rid of a lot of single-use items not needed. I have two pantry areas, one in the kitchen has daily use amounts of ingredients in appropriate container sizes. The second pantry area is off the kitchen in the laundry room. I store bulk items in buckets with gama lids, and cases of canned goods. The two locations help me keep on top of the rotation of use-by dates. I only shop to restock the bulk storage area as needed when things go on sale. It saves me quite a bit of money, cut way back on expired food waste and I only need to shop once a month to replenish things as they are in season. | Very few single use items left in my kitchen. I moved many of the seldom used appliances to my garage. Things such as canners, mixers, food savers, dehydrator, pressure cookers are all out there. They get used seasonally and don't need to take up real estate in my kitchen the rest of the year. |
| Brenda | It’s an occasional problem. | Flat counters attract various items on a continual basis | Large and seldom used appliances now have cabinet space instead of counter space | Ice maker, but hey it is Arizona! 😎🌵 |
| Becky | My kitchen is often out of control. | I absolutely hate the middle bar in the kitchen- every new house seems to think that they need a bar (with the sink) as the partition between a living room and the kitchen. So the kitchen is one of the first rooms that is seen. Wouldnt you know- that bar is where everyone places items that need to be put up. And it all tends to pile up! | Clean and reclean the bar off- just to have the next family member bring in items to place there. I really dont have a solution. | Probably some crystal and china. 40 years of using only 1-2 times |
| Katharine | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Items left on counters & not where they belong. Other family members bringing home food items & putting them wherever. Dealing with expired items in a timely manner. | I try to give myself deadlines to clear the counters daily as dishes get done. I write items with dates in sharpie so I can notice them quickly. Throwing items in bins do not work for me. They get lost & forgotten. | A hand tool that scrapes butter into balls. It sounded fun to begin with & I never use it. I just scoop butter on a plate with a spoon or knife. |
| Anonymous user | My kitchen usually has some clutter. | Extra snacks, bread, etc in a corner. Mail on the counter Purse, keys on a portion of the counter Notes, things to do, papers, etc | Set out baskets or containers then they get full and I’ll start another basket or container Tried making more room in my small pantry then bread and desserts and water ends up on countertop | Small wand mixer |
| Linda | It’s an occasional problem. | Large items I use often take a lot of room. Mo pantry, garage or other room to store items in. | I’ve tried decluttering less used smaller items but still tight in the cupboards. | Due to space they are already gone. |
| Ellen in W Michigan | It’s an occasional problem. | I need to work out a better system for my pantry cabinet so that it is easier to see what I have. I found that my new cabinets and drawers are not as tall as the display models and I am keeping my stock pot and blender in my coat closet. | I got a spice drawer rack, and love it! All spices in alphabetical order. I put in drawer organizer bins and dividers and cut down the amounts so that things are easy to see. My problem is figuring out a system that makes sense for pantry items. I like acrylic bins and things organized by zone/purpose, but haven't found a way to make that work yet. Pantry items are so randomly shaped and ever changing depending on my meal plans. I've gone from cupboards to a pantry cupboard with roll-out shelves and I'm still trying to find my way. | I guess I have a couple, but the biggest would be my bundt pan. Pull-apart cinnamon rolls made in this pan are sort of a family holiday tradition. I have cupboards to the ceiling and seldom used items live up on the upper shelves. |
| Celina | Infrequently or never. | sometimes I buy too much tea or fruit smoothie, but otherwise it's a problemless area for me 🙂 | What has worked: realising that since I don't cook, I can give away the spices to my family members who do, before these spices expire! 🙂 | long red dessert spoons that I don't honestly use, but I like them 🙂 |
| Karen | It’s an occasional problem. | Too much food and I hate doing dishes, lol | I don’t have a pantry so my food gets stored in my upper cabinets. I have designated two cabinets side by side for food and bought organizers but they just take up more room. Each night I have to force myself to do the dishes because I am just too lazy to do them as I go. | Air fryer….I keep it because everyone I know loves theirs and think I will too once I decide to use it. |
| Name (click to view full survey response and comments) | How often are you troubled by clutter in the kitchen and/or pantry? | What sources of clutter or specific issues do you experience in the kitchen or pantry? | What organizing solutions or strategies have you tried or used in the kitchen, and how have they worked for you? | What “one-trick pony” resides in your kitchen or pantry? Why do you keep it? |
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