I can guarantee you your kitchen is not the worst in the world - but by the end of this clean out, it will be one of the best

I suggest reading through this entire page for organizing the kitchen prior to starting.

If your kitchen is a real challenge, start early in the morning. Make sure you have no commitments for the day - this day belongs to you and your kitchen. Try to avoid any distractions - turning the answering machine or sending the kids to the neighbors for the day is a good idea.

You'll Need
10 of manila envelopes
1 fresh, black, thick big heavy trash bags
vacuum bucket and old rags
a good cleaning agent for counters, stove and appliances
new shelving liners
4 large boxes for sorting things like,
donations/giveaways used occasionally
return to sender
recycling center

Let's begin
Like most kitchens, you counters are probably covered in papers. We need to retrieve that glorious counter space, no matter how big or small your counter is ...in order to continue with our organizing.

Unearthing Kitchen Counters
Take one of your large trash bags and keep it close by. (Feel free to use additional garbage bags as needed.)

Although we'll be going through all of these items in detail as the day progresses, anything you see and know is garbage immediately, get rid of it now - either by recycling if possible, or throwing away.

Grab the recycling box and keep it close by.

Sorting for "stuff" and piles"

Do you see any of the kids' stuff here? Create an appropriate pile for each of them. There's no need to run to their rooms now. Divide there items into separate piles. We'll run to all the rooms at the same time.

"The Paper Chase" of Kitchen Counters

Too many magazines all over? Invest in a decorative magazine rack. Place the magazine rack in an appropriate area: living room, home office, or even the bathroom. The point is to place the magazine rack in the area that you are most likely to do your reading. Simple!

Any catalogues here? Keep the good ones only if you are going to make a catalogue purchase within the month.

Place the others in your recycling box!

Now, we all know exactly what junk mail looks like from the outside of the envelope.

Look lets face it -- if you haven't opened it up until now -- it really wasn't that important.

Solicitations for donations are not junk mail per se. I do understand that many of you give to many agencies and non-profits. I also understand your good intentions. Once again, trust me -- please! If you have not been able to donate yet, rest assured you are in their database and will be approached again in the future.

For now, toss it! Unless you are committed to writing your contribution tonight.

Did you notice the space you have reclaimed already? WOW! Great job!!!!

Hmmm, I'm sure the next thing we'll stumble into is a vast array of "loose papers." Phone numbers, recipes, old business cards, last years teachers notes from the kids schools, a 1994 football schedule, the Mother's Day Fair that came and went, fund raiser requests -- you name it.

Ok. You know what we need to do here. Make decisions. Yikes! Not to worry -- I am here to support you. Just ask yourself:

·        do I need it or do I want it ? (big difference)

·        is it too late to do this? is this out of date?

·        does anybody care if I do this?

·        do I have time to read this?

·        will I possibly receive this again?

·        is there another resource for this if I decide I have time at a later date to do this?

Whatever you do, do not take time to read at this point. Skim the information.

If you are going to keep some of those long lost phone numbers and business cards, grab one of your manila envelopes along with your black magic marker from the "kitchen organizing ingredients."

Place all of these items in the envelope and label it with the magic marker: "phone numbers." Set it aside for the time being, as we just may run across more.

Other items commonly found are bills. So, let's collect them all and place them in a pile to be delivered to our "bill paying center" later. Take another manila envelope from the "kitchen organizing ingredients" and place them all together. Label the outside "current bills." Set this aside for later distribution.

Almost always we run across a conglomeration of pens that don't write, stubs for pencils, markers that are dried up a long time ago, name tags from a conference we attended way back when, "pieces" of items that need to be fixed (which we forgot we owned by the way!), loose change, rusted old paper clips, twist ties, rubber bands, maybe a screwdriver, old tops to pens, mascara (so that's where it went!), keys that we have no idea what they belong to, etc... I believe you get the point.

Let the stuff go that no longer serves you.

You want to avoid thinking "Who would want this?" How could I use this some other way? In all honesty if you have to ask the question, most likely the item is worthless.

If you say "I could use this for something else" and you don't know WHAT the "something else" is -- the odds just increased to 80% that it won't ever be used.

You do NOT need this item! You may want it. There is a huge difference. How many other things are you holding onto that you wanted ...yet have never found a use for? Believe me, they are eating up valuable space! This space is precious and your success in this project is too important. Just let it go. It IS quite OK!

Is Johnny's toy car in the pile? Barry's CD? Sally's doll clothes? Hubby's pocket change? Spare set of keys? Old golf tees? Sunglasses?

OK. Lets sort all family members "stuff" into their own piles. No need to become distraught in having to put their stuff away. All you need to do is create piles for each of them at this time.

When all the counters are clear and the sorting process appears to be completed -- then go to each of their rooms and deliver the full piles for them to deal with.

Wow! The only things remaining on the counters ought to be the appliances, utensils and kitchen knick-knacks.

A few words about knick-knacks here. "How many do you want to clean or have time to clean?" Believe me -- I am not a "sterile" type of person. I definitely believe in creating a space that has my signature, energy and heart in it! I also know that no one has tons of spare time to clean bunches of "little things."

The Kitchen Counter
All you have to do now is clean the counters and set up your new found space. Grab your heavy duty cleaner. Move everything off the counter tops. We are going to clean spaces we forgot existed!

Yes! Now we are ready to organize the kitchen. What do you do with items  you use all the time? Coffee maker? Toaster? Cutting board?

Unless you grind your coffee daily, the grinder will be stored in a nearby cabinet with easy access.

If you only make toast on weekends, the toaster will be stored too.

Is your mixer on the counter right now and you only bake once a month? Yes? Then it gets a new space in a cabinet.

Get the drift? Place the new items that need to be stored in a cabinet on the table. After all, the cabinets can't hold much more in their current state and we are almost ready to address them.

Look closely at your kitchen layout. Where is the refrigerator? You may want to keep your cutting board close by for making sandwiches, cutting veggies etc... If you use the toaster daily, then it needs to be near the cutting board, to make cleanup a whole lot easier.

Keep the coffee maker near the cabinet with the mugs.

Is there a phone nearby? If so, go grab one of your favorite containers, mugs, pottery or whatnot and place only useable pens/pencils inside (maximum of four each). Dig out those scissors from your pile of stuff and place them in the same container (after all we use scissors in the kitchen for scads of things!) Get one pad and place it near the phone. Place the phone book under the phone, and place your address book nearby.

Onward to the kitchen cabinets
OK. Now for some serious weeding.

The easiest way to proceed is to take everything out of the cabinets. What we do from here on in creates an incredible dominoes reaction. In order to place everything in its new and appropriate home, we first need the space to do it. This is actually the easiest way to plough through the rest of this fabulously fun project. Make sure your "giveaway box" from the "kitchen organizing ingredients" is nearby.

Let's start with the pots and pans first. Hmmm, I bet we find some forgotten items and "oldies but goodies" on this round!

Any pots, pans, casserole dishes, odd covers, ancient, hand-me-downs and "things I've been saving for potential antiques" are ALL prime candidates for the "giveaway" box.

If you are indecisive as to whether or not an item is fit to give away, put it in the "giveaway" box and let the Salvation Army decide if it is useable or not.

Look at your selection now. Identify your favorite set of cooking pots, pans and casserole dishes. Locate the lids that go with each item. Place these on a separate part of the kitchen counter where they won't get contaminated with the "not favorites and not used" items.

Now select the items that are used at holiday time only. Place them in a separate pile.

More than likely, we will find space in another location of the home to store these items if we are cramped for kitchen space. However, I also guarantee that your kitchen will somehow get bigger by the time we are done with this project today. Place all "seasonal" cooking items in a separate box for the interim. Place them near the "keeper" pile that is not in an area of "clutter contamination."

There is no stopping now. Keep on track. Enjoy the release!! Vow not to be a "space thief" yourself from this time forward. Release what you are not using. Think of it as being greedy by keeping it, because those that really needed it -- have not been allowed the privilege of using it either! YOU are making a valuable contribution to someone's life. Enjoy the feeling of really knowing you are helping others by letting these go! Hurray!!!!

Dishes, dishes and more dishes
Alrighty! Now, the next area to sort through is dishes! Once again, pick out your favorites. The ones you use the majority of the time will fall into this category.

Eliminate any plates that have cracks or chips in them.

A dose of reality - Is it true that when you set the table, you take the chipped plate because you don't want anyone else to possibly deal with any mishaps? Ahaa! Well let me tell you, that cracked or chipped plate is a hangout for bacteria! It never is truly clean. The protective finish is no longer there. Instead you now have all kinds of "little critters" you have befriended at each and every meal you use the plate, bowl or mug.

Please toss it immediately. Do not even consider donating it. It has seen it's better days and you no longer have to be a martyr about using it.

 It's a good time to remain in the spirit of giving.

A tidbit of info - you are really only using 20% of what you are currently storing in the cabinets 80% of the time. The remaining kitchen items are just taking up valuable space. This is a true and very real statistic! Sooooo...what about that platter you just grabbed? The one you bought on sale two years ago ...and have never used? I believe it belongs in the donation box "kitchen organizing ingredients" -- yes?

A suggestion?

If or when you ever decide to invest in a new set of dishes, vow to donate the old ones that are being replaced. It's a futile attempt to think you can cram both sets into the cabinets, using the logic that "their still perfectly good." I ask you then: "if the others are still perfectly good -- why are you buying a new set?"

Avoid "impulse buying." A sale is not a real sale if you pay the high price of having to come up with valuable space to store sale items. Think of your dishes as an "investment" not a "purchase." If your budget is tight for the set you really want, put the money aside until you have the full price necessary. Buying "interim" pieces is a waste of time, space and money.

Glasses and plastic cups: locate this category in the piles that you stacked that were pulled from the cabinets. Hey, look here! We still have Johnny's first baby cup!

Alright, I am not some cold soul just "saying things" here without a heart. If you really want this as a memorabilia item, then it belongs in the memorabilia box -- not in the cabinet.

Weed through all glasses, cups and mugs in the same fashion you have done already with the pots, pans, casseroles and dishes. Please understand the same bacteria live in these items as well as the plates! When in doubt, toss it out!

Plastics- The infamous plastic-storage-type-items! Don't you just hate the space they consume? Do they seem to behave like rabbits or what? Seems like they can multiply at the blink of an eye! And how come, no matter how many pieces you have, you can never seem to find the lid for the item you want to use?

I will let you in on a secret. Here is another deal you can live without: purchasing a 60 piece set of these plastic storage items at a discount rate!

I highly recommend going to a Tupperware party and selectively investing in the items you really need and really have space to store.

Another option for dealing with the pesky little lids is to invest in a "lid organizer." These organizers are mounted directly to the cabinet door. When you open the door -- viola ...all the lids are in one place!

Another alternative is to take a large plastic container and store all the lids inside of it.

I have seen many a kitchen that has a surprise plastic avalanche awaiting. You know what I mean...it's the cabinet door you can never open without something falling out. So what you do is crack the door open a smidgin, toss the plastic in ...and slam the door shut REAL QUICK!!

Take all the plastic containers that you are going to use and start stacking similar kinds together. Squares with squares. Round bowls with only other round bowls. Rectangles with rectangles etc...

The rest of the containers go into the donation box found in your "kitchen organizing ingredients."

Now, let's think about something here. We still need to get all the varying shapes back into a cabinet in a semblance of order -- creating a safe cabinet door to open. What you may want to consider doing is creating an extra shelf to use "dead space" found in almost all cabinets.

You see, the problem with plastic storage containers is they are so light that everyone stacks UP. The only problem is you somehow always seem to need the one on the bottom -- yeah? Sooooo, why not have more shelves in this cabinet? This is actually a simple carpentry request.

If this is not feasible for you, invest in tiered shelving units.

Sorting Appliances
Do you still own the last three types of coffee makers you ever used? What about multiple toasters? Are you using that blender still when there is a new one never used lying around?

By now you are a pro at this part of the process! You know exactly what to do with the excess. Just think, someone who can't afford the cooking tools could be making some very interesting recipes using these dishes, bowls, duplicated appliances etc...

Shelving Tips
Remove all the old shelf liners you have in the cabinets.

Now take the vacuum from your "kitchen organizing ingredients" and go through every cabinet.

Using a good cleaning agent, from the "kitchen organizing ingredients," wipe down all cabinets insides and out.. We are being real thorough today to create a totally clean and fresh start.

Whatever liner you end up purchasing, start relining all cabinet spaces. Remember the scissors are close by now -- you won't even have to hunt around for a pair! See how good it feels knowing where something is in seconds!

Cabinets-- the hidden secrets
Alas! We are finally ready to neatly place all items back into the appropriate cabinets in an organized fashion.

Hint: avoid looking at all the stuff on the floor, counters, tables etc... No reason to go into overwhelm at this stage. Trust me this next step will go quickly! You have already accomplished the hardest part: the weeding and decision making. Follow these "recipe style steps" and it'll be a cinch!

Place glasses, cups, mugs and dinner plates in the cabinet(s) next to the dishwasher or sink. If there are any specialty plates or platters used periodically -- place them on the top shelf of this cabinet.

If you are limited on space you can invest in "plate tiers" in order to stack higher in a way that allows you to easily get to the item on the bottom and avoid as much "dead space" as possible.

Select the cabinet next to the stove as the great candidate for condiments, seasonings and spices.

Place what you use the least in the back of the cabinet. As you create each new row you will continue to think "how often do I use this?"

Um, the one you just put in there? You know, that "different" spice you bought on holiday 3 years ago that has changed color? I think it's quite OK to lay that one to rest.

Invest in adjustable extension shelves specifically designed for seeing multiple rows of condiments. These tiered shelves allow you to see even what is in the back row. See our kitchen resource section for product recommendations.

Another way to store spices (for those who buy the standard size jar/container), is to invest in a spice drawer organizer. These nifty inserts come in several sizes and allow you to lay the spice in a drawer -- sideways -- label up -- so you can readily identify the contents as well as see every one you own in one quick glance! (this item can be found in kitchen designer or specialty stores)

Food Cabinets
We are nearing the home stretch here. We are going to put away all the food. See, now you know why I had you eat lunch first -- we didn't need any potential diversions in this step.

Now, from my experience many times when we have emptied the kitchen cabinets, it also means collecting food items from numerous locations -- amidst frying pans, glassware, dinnerware and even under the kitchen sink! Let's make sure there is nothing hiding now.

Make sure all food items are visible to you at this time from the various piles you made when emptying the cabinets.

We really need to centrally locate all the food items and break them into the appropriate food categories for storage:

·        canned goods

·        cereals and breakfast foods

·        snacks

·        oils and dressings

·        baking goods

·        juices, water and soda; pastas, beans

In organizing a specific cabinet for food items, we want to think "central location for a specific purpose." For example, this would mean in near proximity to the stove making it more accessible when we are cooking.

Ideally you would also want food to reside near the pots and pans, baking dishes etc...

Make sure that whatever cabinet you choose, there is ample room to house everything after a "full grocery shopping" to boot! Keep that in mind as you make your choice.

We also need to decide what your interests in the kitchen really are -- Do you like to cook? Who cooks in your home the most? You or hubby? How tall are you? These answers are very important!

If you are below average height, I can tell you right off the bat that a corner cabinet that demands you to s-t-r-e-t-c-h across a counter... becomes a storage for "items not used often," regardless of proximity. Even in this regard, you must think how often is "not often."

If you have to drag out a step stool, which by the way every kitchen needs... anytime you need something or have to put it away, you will forget you even own it after a while. Like I've said before --we've unearthed many a golden treasure in a client's kitchens.

Now I also asked who cooks? Hmmm if the answer is "only you" then I would presume you have plenty of kitchen help from your family! Yup -- you heard me right! If you do not, then this may be a perfect time to incorporate even more changes to the system.

In this day and age when both spouses work, it seems only fair to divvy up the responsibilities in the home too. If you cook -- then he can help with the cleanup and vice-versa.

Kids of any and all ages are more than capable of assisting. Younger kids can set the table or clear. As kids get older they can even pitch in on the meal preparation.

You would be surprised how many of them are dying to learn how to cook, help mum or use some of those fancy kitchen gadgets (hey ...whatever it takes!)

Remember, encourage them continuously and understand that it "won't be perfect" or "as good as when you do it." Everyone had to start somewhere ...and the sooner the better! It can be an incredible empowerment to kids' in their future.

Do you do a lot of baking? If so, make sure all categories for your baking needs are in a cabinet nearest to the stove. This includes bowls, mixers and any "tools of the trade." This particular space also needs to be near your largest counter, if at all possible.

Let's pretend you are making dinner. Is this cabinet near the stove where you will be preparing the food? Is there a counter for prep work nearby? Will this cabinet work for canned items and side dishes? If it is an out of the way spot, maybe it is a better candidate to store snacks or paper goods?

OK. I think you get the picture of how we need to approach these cabinets now.

Designate your appropriate categories.

Select the appropriate cabinet while taking into consideration whether you still need to do a major food shopping.

Once you have a layout plan in your mind we need to address some space saving tools. Understand that any purchases you need to make are not a waste of money. They are an investment. An investment in you, your time, efficiency and effectiveness in remaining organized.

You might also be interested in knowing that any items that we install as "permanent" will repay you in the future. You see, statistics show that when people are selling a home, improvements in the bathroom and kitchen render the greatest return on investment by increasing the value of your home.

We still need to put the food away today in an organized fashion. No "stuffing allowed!" We are going to make it through these last few stages in an organized state. So here we go!

When there are several cans of one item, continue stacking from back to front, in a single row, 2 cans high.

Now, take your canned goods and stack similar items 2 cans high. When staking different items of the same category, in the same space...place one category on all the bottom cans, and all the other on the top cans.

Pick the next item (category) and repeat the process.

Example: If you normally have a lot of tomato sauce cans and are low on inventory at the moment -- leave enough space for the amount of cans you normally buy and continue with the next item.

When lining up soup people usually have several different kinds. Stack the same type of soup on top of each other so you can readily see the labels and have an idea of the variety.

Place the ones least liked towards the back. Now, make a note here...avoid purchasing the ones no one hardly eat and save your space!

People have a tendency to have several different oils for cooking a multitude of cultural foods. Line up all the oils from the back of the cabinet, towards the front, in the order of "used most often." You will at least know that is the row of oils ...even if you cannot easily see all the different ones.

The Grocery Gamut:
One of the key errors I find people make in the food cabinets is that, when they come home with 10 bags of groceries, they just want to hurry up and put it away -- just to get it out of sight!

This leads to all kinds of problems, due to the fact that people approach this chore thinking: "stuff it in whatever space you see." It doesn't matter what the item is ... or how it's used. At this moment of truth, the theory is: "see a space? FILL IT!" Well! As of today this method no longer works in the wonderful, happy kitchen you created today.

OK! So, when placing the food groups back in the cabinets -- leave plenty of room for when you go shopping. Know which cabinet is for what category and leave it sacred, regardless of the amount of space you see at the current moment in time.

This is the sole reason why I never have to organize my kitchen cabinets. Each category has it's own space and is in it. Mind you, I am not heavily endowed with a pantry or tons of cabinets either!

Under the sink ....The final frontier, where no man has gone before
Yuk -- I know! Here lies all the miracle cleaners of the world, that failed to deliver as promised --all in one messy location!

It is absolutely amazing. I mean ...what's wrong with this picture? Thousands of wonder cleaning products? And...if you watch all those infomercials late at night, you may have an even bigger problem on your hands.

Hmmm, seems they offer the most incredible products when the world is sleeping -- now doesn't that make you wonder? How good can it really be if their being marketed at a time when the largest population is sleeping? Sort of reinforces the premise of marketing experts: late night TV viewers are the most trusting. So beware of being taken advantage of!

Decide exactly which, if any, of these products are really worthy of your valuable space in relationship to how well they work.

Dispose of the ones with the rusty lids, the unidentifiable labels, congealed ingredients and the ones that smell so bad we couldn't possibly use!

Please do this in a responsible manner so as not to contaminate our landfills.

View each and every can, bottle and box you have been storing under the sink. If you don't want it and don't use it, do you have a friend that uses the product? If so, place in the return to send box from the "kitchen organizing ingredients."

Deciding the keepers:

Rate each product A, B, C or D :

·        A = I love it and use it all the time on everything!

·        B = Not too bad. I can finish this one in a short amount of time and then never buy it again.

·        C = Keep in case of emergency (usually for spills on carpets and furniture)

·        D = "Big mistake! Yet, it was so expensive -- I can't just toss it!" "Maybe I'll use it -- someday?"

Now, after you have weeded through the failing products, eliminate any D's. Place them in the donation box from the "kitchen organising ingredients."

Vow to use all your B's and then no longer purchase them. These two categories are space gobbling monsters!

When purchasing products in the future... really think about the investment before investing in it.

·        Do you know someone who has had success with it?

·        Is the pretty package catching your eye?

·        Are you humming the tune for the advertisement?

·        Beware! Think before you invest into the "commercialism" of these products!

·        Search for products that do a multitude of chores --those are the real buys!

Vow to reduce the amount of cleaning supplies on hand. Contrary to the commercialism we are exposed to, you do not need umpteen different products for cleaning!

Think of products that are cloned to lead double lives and solve a multitude of cleaning dilemmas.

One way to deal with "multiples" in the cleaning agent department is to have a "set" of cleaners in each bathroom as well as the kitchen. This can save a lot of extra footsteps when it's cleaning time as well as make it easier to cleanup the "interim missies" in these locations.

If you have children and cannot leave cleaning supplies in a safe place in each room, in which that they are used, invest in a hand caddie.

Load all supplies in the caddie and carry it from room to room as you clean, avoiding the continuous back and forth "fetch and retrieval" procedures that waste steps and time.

When storing cleaning agents, the under-the-sink- roll-out works great here too! (See our kitchen resource section for product recommendations.)

Make sure you keep spare sponges and paper towels under the sink too.

Last and not least, is our utensil drawer recipe
There ought to be one last smidgin of honesty remaining from your "kitchen organizing ingredients." Now, I want you to really hear this: "there is no such thing as a kitchen "junk drawer."

Now think about it. What usually lands in a junk drawer?

·        Scissors, which are now located in our mug of pens/pencils or in a knife drawer.

·        Screwdrivers, tape measurers, nuts and bolts, hammers and MacGyver tape -- which all really belong in a tool caddy.

·        Loose change

The caddy or mini tool box can go either in this work area, your office space, your closet or in a hall closet for easy retrieval.

By the way I highly recommend that each and every woman acquire her own tool kit. One that is all your own, so that when you need something you don't have to hunt it down! Besides we can keep peace this way because I don't think the guys like it when we use their screwdrivers for prying lids or the handle of a wrench as a hammer. Hey, we're ingenious lot, what can I say?

·        We may also find loose change in a junk drawer, which belongs in a piggy bank of sorts. Magic markers and scotch tape, which belong with the office supplies. Get the drift? A place for everything....and everything in its' place!

·        Specialty knives can be displayed on the counter in a cutlery block or in the case of little kids another drawer can be designated for this purpose.

·        Ladles, large drain spoons and scoopers of sorts can be hung on the wall.

In deciding to hang kitchen utensils the convenience is a definite plus. You will also eliminate the hassle of an awkwardly sized utensil jammed in a drawer.

Start reducing what you have to basic items that are a necessity. Think diversity not quantity!

Make sure the drawer you select for silverware is large enough, yet not so big that it becomes a dumping ground for miscellaneous items. Remember, today you decided to decide -- so there is no such thing as miscellaneous any longer! <smile>

Baggies, foil, plastic wrap and wax paper get a large drawer near the fridge. After all, that is where the items we are saving are stored right? Keep it simple and save steps!

Wooden or plastic utensils can be stored in an attractive kitchen crock, thus avoiding using drawer space you may not have while keeping them extremely self-contained.

Whatnot drawers
Each kitchen needs a drawer for kitchen towels, pot holders, place mats and napkins.

·        To save space and save a tree, consider eliminating the costliness of paper napkins -- totally!

·        Treat yourself and the family to real cloth napkins. Why do we only take them out for guests anyway? We're important people too!

·        Linen napkins won't consume as much space as that jumbo pack of paper napkins and it's easy as pie to pop them into the washer.

·        In all reality you don't even have to wash linen napkins after every meal. Use your discretion. It's all based on the person using it and the type of meal that is served.

·        Napkins, napkin rings, place mats and trivets all belong in a drawer nearest the dining table.

Place towels and potholders together in a small drawer nearest the stove.

Kitchen gadgets
A word of warning: be careful of all the kitchen gadgetry that is on the market these days. Although many gadgets are very attractive and extremely functional, it seems that they all take up valuable counter space.

Be frugal with your purchases in this category especially if you do not have adequate space to begin within the realm of counter tops.

Another option for purchasing these gadgets is to invest in under-the cabinet mountable appliances if you are short of counter space.

Storing pastas, sugar, flour etc...can be done by utilizing the click-clack airtight containers. If counter space is a premium and you have a closet shelf of some sort available to you, it is an excellent space to store these containers.

Don't forget, for a pantry to work properly, it too needs to be organized.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
You have done an incredibly splendid job! Clap-clap-clap-clap! Bravo!

Welcome to your newly reclaimed space and we sincerely hope you enjoy your new found freedom from excess stuff!

We seriously want you to do something very special for yourself tonight. It doesn't even have to cost you money! Read a book you never have time for. Take a bubble bath -- whatever! Understand that this was not easy task and you have done a superb job! Plus you even lived to tell about it.

Reward your efforts and we'll see you next time when we tackle the closets!

Now, I want you to schedule a "family meeting." Give everyone who uses the kitchen a guided tour of where things now live -- permanently! Enroll them in assisting you to maintain this room from this day forward! Best of luck!

Remember, in order to maintain this room... all you have to do is put things away directly after they are used.

Ask family members to be responsible and do the same. Think positive! This is just the beginning of what can be done to the rest of your home sweet home!