In the kitchen where memories are made

The words I penned above are heartfelt. Our kitchen has always been the heartbeat of our home. It’s where many memories are made, stories shared, hugs given and of course, delicious meals enjoyed. It’s my favorite place in our house, besides our new front porch.

While I’d love to bond over this Norman Rockwell moment, it’s also where clutter collects, so I am spending this first week decluttering in the kitchen.

When people first walk in the house, most congregate in the kitchen and those flat counter surfaces get us every time, don’t they?

Envision the scenario. (Not that it’s ever happened to you, of course.)

You walk in the door with a handful of mail, the other hand dangles keys, while grocery bags line your arm. Your handbag is thrown over the shoulder and somewhere tucked under your chin is your child’s artwork for the day. You are exhausted and it all gets dumped as soon as you enter the door.

Ahhh!! Finally it’s out of your hands and it feels so good. You’re so tired, so there it sits and then the next day, the same thing occurs and now there’s two days of mail, along with your month magazine, a few bills tossed that get buried under the pile and…..

You get the drill.  It’s become a habit that needs to be changed, but don’t go running for the hills yet.  We will save setting up a system that will help break that habit for tomorrow.

15 Minute Counter Clean up

As promised on Day 1 of our Clutter Countdown Challenge, this is about just starting. Baby steps. Let’s set the timer together for 15 minutes, blast the music, dance a few steps to warm up and race against the clock. 

We are focusing on one counter right now – that “hot spot” where everything lands.

Yes, its clear the cluttered kitchen counter day. If you can make through more than one surface, that’s ideal, but just keep going until the timer ends. That surface may be your cluttered island, I can’t decide for you, but just identify one flat surface where items get stacked.

I thought I could get more done in 15 minutes than I did, but when I got down to 3 minutes, I could see that I wasn’t going to finish in time. It caused me to start running around trying to beat the clock. You can do the same. Make it a game, don’t get side tracked and just stick to it.

Items you will need to get started:

  • 2 boxes or baskets
  • two file folders – one folder you will put any papers, bills, school work that needs immediate attention and the second folder for items that you can get to next week.
  • all purpose cleaner, rag

Remove everything from the counter.

Yes, remove everything, which means appliances, papers, tissues, books, pens….everything.

As you take things off, throw away as much as you can or add to Goodwill bag. With the two boxes/baskets, put the items that will remain in the kitchen in one box and the items that do not belong in the kitchen, in the other.

As to papers, sort them as you take them off the counter and be BRUTAL!!!! I threw away three magazines and it was kind of painful. I had them sitting there because I wanted to cut out recipes,  but THIS IS ABOUT DECLUTTERING!!!  It wasn’t happening and I can probably find them online, so just get rid of it. I had been saving multiple sheets of “to do” items, but I just threw them all. It hadn’t gotten done in three weeks, so it’s trash.

Now that your counter is completely empty, quickly wipe it down and get rid of the dust that’s gathered under the stacks.

Your time may be up, but if it’s not, return the non kitchen items to the spot they belong. If you can donate them, even better.

Keep your counter empty, well unless you need your phone there. 🙂 

I cheated and put back a few other items which still make it look cluttered, so I include that in the picture to learn from me. Keep it empty until tomorrow when we get our system in place and enjoy the freshness of a perfectly empty spot.

Tips to decluttering kitchen counter

 If your counters are not a problem, then just set the timer and attack another surface area in your home.

How did you do with your Clutter Countdown?

I’d love to hear.  Post your before and after pics over on my facebook page or on instagram and tag them #cluttercountdown

Clutter Countdown begins now! Come join us. Just 15 minutes a day with revolutionize our homes. Let's hold each other accountable.

Clutter Countdown begins now! Come join us. Just 15 minutes a day with revolutionize our homes. Let’s hold each other accountable.