BEST Decluttering & Organization Kitchen Tips

[@ellenh278]

I was aware of few of these delightful ladies, but Diane in Denmark is the queen of clean in my life. Love so much that you put in her "get off your bahookie" 😂👏

[@MinimalistHome]

I know, she's the best!

[@dellnichols4625]

Love all these contributors! I’m 71 and still learning. (Just think of all the problems I would have avoided if I had learned these lessons years ago!

[@elisaangel9789]

That's good info. I've been trying to do some of that, and I should reevaluate how much I use my small appliances. On the Tupperware front: I lend out my circular containers. Sometimes I get them back. If they don't make it back, it's fine, but they are nice containers. I keep the rectangular ones stacked with the lids, so all the containers underneath, and all the lids stacked on top. They fit exactly since they're mostly the same size. It is great to donate the leftover containers to the thrift store because I noticed one day that construction workers and truckers were buying the containers to keep their lunches. I image those containers may not last quite as long as the ones I keep in my kitchen. Once I gave a whole set of containers away to a friend in my old building. I was decluttering, and she mentioned she would like them. That was easy decluttering because I found the items a good home. It's easier for me to declutter when I think my stuff will be used by someone else. Maybe I shouldn't think like that, but I do. I keep one or a couple small containers that completely snap shut in my suitcase too so I can pack things that might spill, and I often use them while I am traveling. Something always happens and I need a container to stash a snack or to carry something delicate or perishable.

[@MinimalistHome]

Sounds like a great strategy!

[@jeanarino732]

Although I do not have a pantry, deep drawers, or loads of cabinet space, these tips are still valuable! Thanks for all you do Robyn!

[@MinimalistHome]

That's great Jean!

[@mindsjanne]

Thank you for a great video ❤ I have gone all in on the “lids on concept”. I’m doing it with the pots too. I have 4 pots now. That’s what fits in my drawer. I love that I can’t have as many dirty pots. It’s like Dawns burner theory. Only as many pots and pans as number of burners. I have to admit it’s enough 😮😮😮❤ Love from Jossefin / Denmark.

[@MinimalistHome]

Totally makes sense!

[@vickiuridge3375]

Thank you for a brilliant video. I use Dana's methods for the plastic containers and it made me donate so many and now so much easier to find what i need. I had way too many!

[@sofia_ines]

Thanks for being such a fun declutter "guru" and thanks for sharing all the other declutter sisters! Will check out! Hug from Portugal!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Sofia!

[@jocelynsmyth6604]

Came here from Areil over at The Akward Mom, have been enjoying going through your videos :) thanks for sharing

[@MinimalistHome]

Oh thank you!

[@teresaremaniak856]

Someone wise once told me that when you have cleaned up from a huge celebratory meal and put all the leftovers away, whatever containers you have left, donate bc you’re actually not going to use it. Btw, keeping the lids on speeds up cleaning and meal prep, and is so much neater.😊

[@MinimalistHome]

It really is amazing! I'm loving it now! I was so silly for so long!

[@yarnmom816]

We lay out our lids to air dry *completely* before putting them on and stowing away the containers. It takes a day or two, but we’ve never had an issue! 😊

[@MinimalistHome]

See that's a step I choose not to make time for.

[@waterfallpeace8057]

Yes, I agree with lids on containers. It works best for us too. We donated the others. Thanks for your videos. I enjoy them.

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks!

[@arisettinon8105]

Love your videos! Your hair/curls are beautiful!

[@MinimalistHome]

Aww, thanks

[@susanfindell6154]

How many leftovers do we really even have in the fridge at one time anyway? Not having too many makes me eat them up. I forget that they are in there if I have too many.

[@judyb4288]

I'm on a well and as long as everything is completely dry (same w city h2o) there's no problem.

[@jeme7339]

Do you air-dry the plastic lids before storing??

[@carolfuller4940]

❤Love the format. Thank you 🎉

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Carol!

[@barbkandel777]

Super fun video - lots of great ideas!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks!

[@jennylhenry78]

Huge fan of all of them too!

[@MinimalistHome]

They're awesome!

[@patricek.466]

Argh...I have 6 small drawers,TWO upper cabinets, No cellar( dirt ) or attic , ONE closet...I nest everything! I would love for all the declutter queens to get together on storage in a SMALL home like so many of us have !!THAT would be useful..( Sorry cranky Wednesday!)

[@JANICEK-wu4vq]

Agree, we all don't live in big houses! Older homes, that have not been renovated or updated, need fresh new storage ideas.

[@melissamilnor7823]

I live in a small apartment with 4 drawers, 2 upper and 1 lower cabinet. Still put lids on. Just manage what I have left over. Don’t use plastic containers. Old dog learned new tricks.

[@bunacat1]

I'm with you! I live in a townhome and have exactly 4 drawers and 5 cabinets. I have another cabinet, but it is one of those corner ones where everything get shoved to the back. I used to keep my spices in there, but could never find anything so now I keep the popular ones on my counter. Doesn't look the greatest, but cuts down on the frustration of dragging a stool over there and taking them all out of the cabinet looking for one. My pantry is the size of a very small closet. You can only declutter so much and still have the essentials close by. It's very frustrating. My sisters pantry is 5 times the size of mine.

[@MinimalistHome]

I hear you! It’s a puzzle and definitely having less items in the kitchen makes it easier to fit them all into a smaller kitchen! Keep at it and you’ll figure out what works best for your home! 🤞🏼

[@joycemitchell2092]

I paused the video to say I am on a well (for the last 28 years) and I have been storing my containers with lids on for years. No issues. Of course make sure completely dry before putting lids on. Also I live in Virginia and the humidity is extremely high☹️ Now back to video…

[@MinimalistHome]

Yes, my issue was with making sure they're SUPER dry, but it doesn't seem to matter now ☺️

[@joycemitchell2092]

@@MinimalistHome 🥰

[@monicas2269]

I like to use my plates in rotation, not the same ones over and over, so I store mine upright in 2 retro plate racks, similar to the rack for saucepan lids. I have way too many plates for just two of us, but I like them all. The ones I use from the front are put at the back when they are washed.

[@MinimalistHome]

Awesome!

[@kmartin2170]

Instant pot is a great rice maker! No need both 🙌🏼

[@lisawilson134]

Love these ideas!

[@jennyjenkins877]

I'm a minimalist who keeps the toaster on the counter and lids off the food storage containers. That's just what works for all the members of our household.

[@MinimalistHome]

Wonderful!

[@sisterj9099]

Great video! Thank you 😊

[@MinimalistHome]

Thank you!

[@jmsl_910]

robyn, were the glass food storage containers crazy $$? if not, where did you get them?

[@MinimalistHome]

I got the square ones at Costco, and the round ones at Canadian tire (anchor brand)

[@happyx2]

Love this! Thank you!

[@MinimalistHome]

Thank you!

[@jillychandler]

I have a tiny kitchen - I live in my own home, which I own, but it used to be a holiday let, so there are very few cupboards in the kitchen, only an under sink cupboard, and two corner cupboards, and at eye level two full length cupboards, and two half ones above the sink! So hardly any room for anything! Plus I am a butterfly, so like things out on show. I have had one lovely rustic shelf put on the wall above my electric hob. I live alone with my rescue greyhound Madge, and know that I have far too much stuff in the kitchen, so need to have a massive de clutter. I have hardly any work top too, and have my 40 year old Panasonic microwave out (I use it every day) and a toaster, and kettle. Because I am only 5ft 4ins, I can not reach the top shelves of my eye level cupboards, so have to use a step to get up there! Quite a challenge to sort out and make a usable area I can tell you! xxx

[@MinimalistHome]

I love your setup! I’m 5’1, so I feel your pain!

[@SBL1932]

Such good ideas

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks

[@hookedbydonean]

Love all your videos ❤

[@MinimalistHome]

Thanks Donean!

[@JaneH3675]

I like the suggestions but I have a very small kitchen, with only 4 drawers. 🤷‍♀️

[@MinimalistHome]

Ok, so what could you to with your kitchen?

[@djdj8110]

I have a very large kitchen with lots and lots of drawers and a Butler pantry AND I am also on a well…..having said that I ONLY store my storage containers with their lids!! NEVER have I had a funny smell or funky anything!!

[@MinimalistHome]

Yes, I totally love it now!

[@smz5302]

May I ask...who's the maker of your refrigerator-freezer combo? Thanks.

[@MinimalistHome]

It's an upright freezer next to a fridge. Fridgidaire

[@smz5302]

@@MinimalistHome Frigidaire is making these? Thanks! Will check it out. (We paid $3,000 for our two...Sears Kenmore counter-depth freezer next to fridge...but these no longer available...and the fridge is dying.) Thanks again.

[@crybebebunny]

Those air fryers one of those is a rice cooker too.

[@fierafirefairy315]

I wish I could do that with my pot/pan lids, but unfortunately despite the huge drawer we keep them in, there is not enough space for that. And since I generally batch cook, we are actually using all of them. I do nest some of them but the lids just have to go on top of them upside down in order for them to fit, which would be fine if my husband could understand this concept. We are lucky that the house we bought has a cupboard designed for the toaster, even with a plug in it, so there is no putting away the toaster or leaving it out. All the other appliances except the microwave because it is having the dual purpose of being the kitchen clock.

[@Kathryn728]

What is the brand of your refrigerator and freezer

[@MinimalistHome]

They are fridigaire

[@kayalford6746]

I tried the putting the toaster in the cabinet. Didn’t work for me. It was too hard to get to the plug. Non of the cabinets in my kitchen are big enough for the solutions seen on the video. I’ve tried the putting the lid on containers. But I don’t aways need the lid. So separate storage works for me.

[@MinimalistHome]

Yep, you’ve got to do what works for you

[@lonnarheaj]

One rather unpleasant reason why most (all?) plastic storage container manufacturers recommend storing their containers open/without lids is because the plastic continues to OFF-GAS for the life of the product. The volitile chemical off-gassing can lead to nasty odor build-up in a sealed container, and it can also accelerate the breakdown of the interior container surfaces. Volatile chemical release typically increases as a container is used and ages due to the plastic breaking down. This occurs regardless of the type of poly-based plastic the container is composed of. Its just the nature of the beast. The best way to avoid inhaling and consuming volatile chemicals from food storage is to use glass food storage containers, especially if the containers will also be used in a microwave to cook and reheat food, and/or used to store initially hot foods. The amount of chemical nastiness released may be miniscule with each use, but how much poison do you really want to inhale and consume in your food over your lifetime? 😬 Another detail to keep in mind: just because a container states its composition is "natural" or "plant based" does not mean it is any healthier or safer to use than the all petroleum-based plastics.

[@MinimalistHome]

Good tip!

[@raymondmonaghan4112]

Great ideas thanks for the ideas decluttering queens love from Eugenie your friend xxx🏡🌻🍁🌞

[@ingerfalch-jacobsen1717]

"Garbage day" ("open fridge, scoop up all the wilted and rotten and mouldy foods and throw it out") is no longer a thing here, after this game changer: I only buy what I actually want to eat, and what I have planned to eat, or at least know how to prepare and think I might like. It sounds so dumb, when I spell it out like that, but it was a big problem. For long stretches, I was really into "healthy eating", without consideration for my preferences in taste and cooking style. I wish I had understood this while growing up, it would have saved me a lot of money and hassle and guilt. But now it's really easy to manage food. It's actually fun. I'd never believed that could happen. But I had to become a lot more confident first.

[@MinimalistHome]

Yes, it's great!

[@kathleenquinn6053]

Love all the drawers these people have. My kitchen has NO drawers.

[@MinimalistHome]

I’m sure you’ve found or can find some creative solutions somehow! 💪🏼✌🏼

[@sandrainontario6710]

OMG the size of some of your kitchens refrigerators freezers special deep drawers four pots and pans and Tupperware it's pretty much more square footage than my entire apartment😢

[@JamieM470]

I can relate lol....I enjoyed the video but pretty much the whole time I was envying all that space & especially those beautiful deep kitchen drawers!

[@sandrainontario6710]

@@JamieM470 I have such a hard time getting into my bottom cabinet! I keep all small appliances on my counters because they are so heavy I don't want to have to move them around

[@MinimalistHome]

I totally understand, most of my kitchens have been tiny, but this one happens to be bigger. The fridge & freezer is hilarious to me, but came with the house. I work always with what I have. How can you structure your storage to fit you?

[@MinimalistHome]

Of course, do what works for you

[@JamieM470]

@@MinimalistHome I found one of those fancy sliding metal drawers at a thrift store but it was more hassle than help. The screws kept coming out of the bottom of the cabinet, and the whole arrangement actually gave me less storage space. I replaced it with a large plastic bin! I put my cooking pots in there and it slides in & out of the cabinet so easily, so it's like a big drawer, and much easier to use than that metal drawer. Necessity is the mother of invention 😄

[@gailgohrick5836]

Why do people call all food containers Tupperware??

[@MinimalistHome]

That's just what people do I guess.

[@barbarapinto2305]

Like calling all tissues Kleenex!

[@gailgohrick5836]

@@barbarapinto2305 or all watches Rolex… but I guess in the UK they call a vacuum a Hoover, which is also a brand name - weird to me LOL

[@GingerJar]

Yeah I chuckled thinking it was just in my country!(& generation)..husband kept asking me to pack him lunch in a "Lock n Lock" the Korean brand...kids don't even know Tupperware anymore. "Thermos" for water bottle, too 😁 Btw--had that issue of water bottles smelling so was storing them with lids off then just rinsing before use...

[@LeftyPencil]

Velcro for Hook and Loop

[@jeme7339]

That did not look like Tupperware - Rubbermaid, maybe?

[@vienicestyles]

I donated all of my plastic food storage containers and only kept my glass ones. I have plenty of room in my kitchen drawer now. 🥹🥹🙂🙂🙃🙃🥰🥰

[@MinimalistHome]

That is awesome!