15 Things Your Kitchen Doesn't Need

If you declutter your kitchen it will be easier to keep clean and tidy AND you'll probably find that you enjoy cooking more and eat out less, win-win! Today let's talk about 15 items that your kitchen doesn't need whether your goal is to be a minimalist or just live more simply!
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[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you so much for watching! I'd love to know what you've declutter and don't miss in your kitchen! And here are the links mentioned in this video: My Plaid Shirt: amzn.to/3s4EIrY Dansko House Shoes: amzn.to/46QFGqE Drawer Knife Block: amzn.to/3QkK63v Knife Magnet: amzn.to/3S14msk Bamboo Drawer Dividers: amzn.to/3S3vXJr Dish Clothes: amzn.to/401EH4D Slide Out Cutting Board & Baking Sheet Rack: amzn.to/3rVrkGJ

[@maribelquesada5651]

Hello Dawn, I love your bedroom it’s so peaceful.. I’m guesssing it wasn’t always, what did you minimize.. did you have nightstands and dressers before. My bedroom always has random stuff

[@MsArtistwannabe]

I just ordered a pair of the nice house shoes. Thank you for the recommendation.

[@danicegewiss862]

I got rid of so much from my kitchen. Occasionally I get rid of a few more items.

[@sandysmom100]

I just took out all my toxic pastiche kitchen cooking utensils . I was asking a seller and creator on Etsy about something I wanted to buy to create a minalmaist Japanese style family room ..I already decluttered . I wanted to ask him if you used a stain on his low dining Japanese tables he makes and does finish them with polyurethane or beeswax if you choose that . He told me , did I realize all wooden spoons and kitchen utensils are sealed with polyurethane . We are trying to go completely chemical free .Now this weekend I’m going through everything , wgat msde in china that usually has lead in the paint . So I’m going through everything we have .

[@karensouthward4472]

Dawn Where did you get your cool kitchen “chopping”knife? It looks very effective. And it fits in your drawer knife block - not too tall/deep. Thanks for the great suggestions. I’ve been following you in TYHB for three years and my kitchen was my starting place!

[@sandyhoward1661]

I think this works for people that don’t entertain and have large parties. I could never have one spatula and one spoon. Many times i am cooking on all 5 burners of my stove at one time. We are having 34 family members for lunch on Sunday. I have many sets of dishes and glassware. They all have a place, my cabinets are not cluttered looking.

[@williamsmith4899]

You are not the typical person that gets inspiration from Dawn's channel. Sounds like your kitchen is the way you like it - and that is great. If absolutely every member of my extended family came to my house it would be less than 10 people - you are lucky to have such a big family!

[@rdb4996]

You are right! And blessed 😊 But you can apply the same ideas to any other room. Like your bathroom: for example do you need 4 combs, 6 brushes in a household of 4? Do you need 4 face creams, cosmetic testers etc?

[@emmashafer6463]

Minimalism isn’t cookie cutter, it will look different for everyone. You have a huge family to host, so you will have a lot more kitchen inventory. But, I am sure there are other areas in your life where you have less stuff than the average person. We are all different people, and our spaces need to work for us :)

[@llkg9]

In other videos, Dawn addresses those differences we all have. And for situations like that, she often recommends keeping in the kitchen what you need often, and keeping elsewhere (eg, in the basement but easily accessible) things you need to keep but use less often. And if you're having dozens of people over EVERY week, even Dawn would probably agree that you'd want to keep those items in your kitchen.

[@austenpoet]

Then that part of the video doesn't apply to you Karen 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@debbykidd9813]

Wow. I LOVE my knife block. I've had it since I was in my twenties! I'm sixty now. Yes, I need duplicates of many things. I do a LOT of cooking and don't like to re-use tools in multiple dishes. You and I are very different I think. I agree with SOME of what you say, but don't mess with my kitchen 😛 My items are serving me. I've "decluttered" everything I DON'T use, but I LOVE my kitchen.

[@pkmcnett5649]

Same. There is no room in drawers and is so handy.

[@debbykidd9813]

@@pkmcnett5649 I have plenty of drawer space, but nothing as convenient as my knife block next to my stove. I also have no food in my kitchen. All of my food stays in my pantry except for my jars of bacon grease and some everyday spices

[@dianedavidson5283]

I didn't care for her adjective "tacky" knife block. So she doesn't like hers. I like mine.

[@TreJ999]

Yes, I think if you like something… keep it!! I have turquoise handles on my knives and love the cute pop of color on my counter. She is just giving her opinions. Do you! 😃😃

[@annabrahamson4320]

Agreed, she must not cook.

[@lee-annsmith8566]

There are a ton of good tips here! I do want to point out that for folks in older homes with small kitchens and few cabinets and drawers, it is really hard to NOT fill them as much as possible 😂

[@west-Co_exploration]

Not sure about the ton of great tips... But you are definitely right. There are a whole lot of kitchens in this world that do not have any extra drawer or cabinet space... Much less enough countertop space to even cook a meal. It's easy to get on KZbin and pontificate about decluttering when you have way more space then you can use. For those of us with tiny kitchens and barely enough cabinet space for plates and glasses, almost all of these "tips" are simply the equivalent of telling starving people in a third world country to just eat more

[@bumblebee_ms]

In Europe they have the tiniest kitchens which makes you be an extreme minimalist by circumstance.

[@JasminAsterios]

​@@bumblebee_ms I, for myself, had never ever had the idea of putting some decoration in my Kitchen. 😅

[@bumblebee_ms]

@@JasminAsteriosI never did before either until this year, I hung glitter stars off my 3 lights over the kitchen bench and love it more than the tree. Simple is better.

[@ac1646]

@@west-Co_exploration I too have a tiny kitchen. I have taken on board these tips. I'm not quite sure why you find them so offensive! 😊

[@BarbaraButzow]

Dawn, I love that your videos go sraight to the point without all the blah blah of other videos. I get sick of listening to others who have a lot of useless superfluid chat. Your minimalism even extends to your presentations. Thank you.

[@SuperBookdragon]

My fridge pics make me incredibly happy. They are not going away.

[@63electricmayhem]

No one's making you.

[@llamalluvv]

I have spider and snake magnets on my fridge, and they make me smile whenever I see them. Same with my daughter's art of the week. Never going to take those down.

[@suzannetaylor6285]

Me too ♥️

[@jvalderas4011]

Last week I finally put all the "Tupperware" in the cabinet with the lids on and my husband was amazed. He thought it was a great idea! 🤩I've been purging random things throughout the house (like 12 sets of full size sheets and 2 trash bags full of towels, all of which went to a dog rescue) and he's starting to join the party without me nagging! Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks!💌💯

[@kunduzrouse5088]

Every time I watch your video, I want to declutter my house. You’re so inspiring ❤️😘🎊🎉

[@cassandrapowell1671]

Me too

[@daniellescrochet]

I love my slap-chopper, and use it all the time. Which just goes to show, how personal decluttering is to each person and family.

[@cogit8able]

I use my pampered chef chopper multiple times per week and per meal even.

[@cogit8able]

I dislike crying over onions.

[@DebDebbiesWorld]

I have one of those and do use it all the time. were a small family so its a good size for the size meals I do, stores easy in a drawer, can toss it in a dishwasher, its great.

[@elmichele]

I use mine all the time. 😂

[@lynne3989]

What's a good brand of the slap chopper?

[@kakylong2]

Dawn, We've gone through our kitchen 2 times & we still find stuff that we don't need. 😊

[@chris...9497]

After so many years, there are some kitchen items (utensils, cookware, even appliances) that I know will eventually be decluttered. Am I the only one who has emotional or esthetic attachments to certain kitchen items? I'm researched cookware surfaces and now realize I need to transition to wood or silicone utensils, letting go of metal ones. But some of my favorite utensils (acquired over years to find the most effective and comfortable ones) are stainless steel. Hard to let these old friends go, plus I'm just starting the 'test driving' portion of replacing them. It will take AT LEAST until I find a functional, comfortable replacement before I can let go of the faithful utensil the new one will replace. Meanwhile, there will be some temporary duplication. I'm also transitioning into this single-living, nonsocial period of my life, so still downsizing the appliances that will be smaller but not too small for this time of my life. I'm testing the production volume of what I now have. I'm also still editing the cuisines I want to continue to prepare and enjoy, along with their needed 'tools'. Also, I've set up a corner shelving unit to set out those appliances, to encourage use and test interest; in another year I will KNOW what appliances I don't use enough to earn a spot in my kitchen. Stuffing appliances into a deep base cabinet where I can't easily reach them is not likely to encourage me to use them; on display on a shelf, I get reminded to use them and they are SO much more accessible. This is basing my kitchen firmly on practical intentionality. No one says I have to get rid of the excess before confirming it's excess. I can wait to edit certain items out. I'm not so much a minimalist as I am just practical. inventory curation makes sense in terms of time, upkeep, repair, storage, and time management. And as someone who has moved a lot (I once moved coast to coast TWICE in the same year), I know what an upheaval it is to corral all of one's possessions and pay to move them (and heartbreakingly forget others). I like living simply, can get by quite well just by making do, but I'm like a magpie always collecting things that attract my eye and mind. I need to instill discipline, to think ahead to the end game for every item that comes into my home. It's about creating a process, a strategy, for these things. Not to be a minimalist, but to live more simply so I am not possessed by my possessions.

[@kakylong2]

​@chris...9497 Have you thought about putting sticky notes on your appliances & writing the date each time you use it. After a year, if you've not dated it or there is only 1 date, then question if you should keep it. 😊

[@chris...9497]

Yep. About 6 months ago. Actually, not expensive sticky notes; painters tape. @@kakylong2

[@marciabutler987]

I have decluttered my kitchen to the point that I only keep things I need. HOWEVER, I have chosen to keep my utensils and oil/S&P on either side of my stove. Ours is a working kitchen and my husband and I make use of these items several times a day. They are beautiful and functional decor, plus, they make me happy to see! Otherwise, we do keep a clean and decluttered kitchen.

[@annabrahamson4320]

It can go too far. My daughter got rid of a really nice salad spinner only to have to go out and buy one when she needed one!

[@CharletteG]

Yeap everyone is different, I like having all my utensils close especially since I cook a lot. I like my kitchen area to be inspiring and a completely clear counter like that is so uninspiring and not homey to me. I guess I like a happy medium between minimal and necessary. Love seeing my most used and loved things and at close reach. I also intentionally buy beautiful things to use and looks wonderful on my counters.

[@ButterflyCatcher72]

My husband found it amazing the beginning of this month when I purge my entire house (I do a whole house purge twice a year, I go through EVERY thing) and he found it amazing I would just take a decoration piece off the bookshelf and just toss it. When he asked me why I did that I simply said I'm tired of cleaning it! 😂 I have zero guilt getting rid of stuff, I don't have attachments to things however I dont consider myself a minimalist. I'm more of a practicalist. I like clean lines, I like organization but do I have lots of stuff...yes, everything has a place though and when it doesn't any longer out the door it goes

[@bmonster]

That's amazing. I am the type that doesn't let go because of guilt over the money I spent. I try to sell as much as I can but donating is a lot harder.

[@amisklake5711]

I hope your hubby will always have a place, lol😂 Please forgive my weird sense of humor. It's the first thing I thought of, after your comment. It seems your working hard on your declutterin journey, and Im thinking you must have a lovely home with all your effort.❤️😊

[@rdb4996]

​@@amisklake5711haha 🤭 I know you meant it as a joke, but for some of us decluttering is a necessity to keep our relationships healthy 😊

[@mama--rua]

Stop buying things😅

[@ButterflyCatcher72]

@@mama--rua 😂 where's the fun in that?! Lol

[@MaxineCourt]

Since coming across your channel and Cas' 4 months ago my life has changed. Our home is now decluttered and organised and more peaceful. Still a ways to go and I try to do a little bit more each time I watch your videos, today I will be having a sweep through the kitchen. Unfortunately my husband is not quite on the same page as me and he believes there will be nothing left in the house by Christmas!! :) Love from Perth, Australia

[@Sunflower.7]

😅

[@llkg9]

I've been on my decluttering journey for years now, but hardcore(ish) for almost 6 months now. I really tried to avoid all my husband's stuff, but he'd still complain about miscellaneous items that I've decluttered. Then, 2 weeks ago, he pulled EVERYTHING out of his super packed "Man Cave" shed and started getting rid of it all. I like to think my efforts have finally starting to wear off on him. ☺️ So... keep it up, don't try to force it on him, and he'll probably eventually come around as he experiences the benefits.

[@anitachopping]

Sounds so similar to me. Also from Perth Australia

[@marthastrayton]

😂😂😂

[@dwanaseratte3009]

I have almost completely decluttered my kitchen, & I'm actually kind of enjoying being in there to cook & clean. I've even started baking my own bread, which I've never had any desire to do before I started to declutter. My weird, old kitchen is now much more functional & while it still needs work, I don't hate it anymore.

[@cindytaylor698]

I really love a runner in my kitchen because it screams “cozy” to me so I’m going to keep it. Everything else in my kitchen is highly simplified. I know you’re fine with me keeping my rug, Dawn. 😂🥰

[@peacenloveforall6]

Re the runner, the decorating channels say runners are "high-end."

[@gwenshin]

I never understand people when they say they like a "cozy" kitchen. To me, a kitchen is a place to work. We do our cooking and cleaning in a kitchen, not take a nap or read a book. I like to save "cozy for the living room and bedrooms, but to each their own.

[@peacenloveforall6]

@@gwenshin I think it is because where people tend to hang out the most, especially when there is a special event going on.

[@jennasaisquoi73]

“…that tacky knife block…” I love my “tacky” knife block, I cook a lot, and having to open the drawer every time I need a knife would just take more time. I love to be organised and keep clutter pared down, but I also don’t mind my kitchen looking like people live here rather than like a magazine spread. 🙄

[@rdb4996]

Some knife blocks do look tacky though 🤭 And they might be a bad idea with young children around. But overall if it works for you and you have the space, keep using it!

[@AK_AF_LB]

⁠@@rdb4996 most knife blocks look tacky. And good point about the kids!

[@neonmoon2119]

Yes!@rdb4996

[@lizbratcher2919]

I think she’s just trying to give people permission to think differently about their space. Not everyone cares about having nothing on their counters but a lot of us think better with less stuff on surfaces.

[@leannewith3]

@@rdb4996 we kept our knife block as a safety thing for our kids. Kids can reach drawers but not a knife block in the back corner of the bench. It all depends on the house and the family.

[@MyTexanHeart]

I personally love having clear countertops with no clutter on them. I also don’t use floor mats or put things on my fridge either. These are good decluttering tips!

[@reinhard8053]

I got rid of everything on the fridge my moving and now having an integrated fridge with a wooden front. Bye bye magnets.

[@longgone2023]

Rugs get skidded around by dogs, are good to trip over and we banished them. And my fridges have nothing on them ever.

[@NovasYouTubeName]

I really love your phrasing “would you be willing to let that go”, I can just feel your genuine care and it makes me feel like “yeah Dawn, I would be willing to do that thank you”! 😁 Also doing a huge homeschool decluttering and a “time will tell” bin is helping my brain lots!!❤

[@christiebarnhart4157]

As a previous Home Health Executive, we used to do a Fall Prevention class and one of the first things I would go over was removing all rugs. It’s a major fall hazard. Now that I’m a little older and have a bad back and hip, I would not want to fall over a rug and risk being in more pain Thank you for sharing!

[@DerrickMims]

I lived in my last place for over 10 years, and I only tripped and fell once: over a throw rug! 😮

[@cindygrisham4754]

Consider runner backed, slip resistant rugs. I like them. Also, I found on Amazon skip resistant tape by the (large) roll. This stabilized my footstool. I’m looking for other applications. I have two bad knees.

[@JasmineBrownOttawa]

YUS! I agree with pretty much everything Dawn suggests in this video. But I do have a set of 12 plates, glasses and cutlery, as we have a large family 😃 Everything else is really pared down, no extras, no single-use gadgets, and nothing that we don't use regularly. Almost everything is off the counter. It feels GREAT. I love not having to constantly figure out what to do with all the stuff in my kitchen.

[@stephaniegaddis1716]

Same for us! We have a household of 8, so the inventory can get out of control really fast!!

[@debbykidd9813]

I currently have a household of three, but have guests on a fairly regular basis. I have eight or more of each flatware or tableware item I have however Pared down my coffee mugs, travel mugs, and cups

[@luvslyfe1]

I can’t imagine not using my instant pot! Pressure cooking, crockpot function, rice, etc, I use it several times a week. Some of the ideas are applicable, so take what info we need and leave the rest 😊

[@reinhard8053]

Me, too. There are definitely gadgets I don't use, but not that. On the other hand I still have my pressure pot (for the stove) lying around, too.

[@flohough1870]

#18. Don't go to Pampered Chef parties. Overpriced stuff that you can get elsewhere for a fraction of the price. We remodeled our kitchen this summer and I got rid of so many duplicates. It was my goal to have way less on my countertops after the remodel, it made such a difference! I even gave up my Keurig, I'm making coffee in something I can put away when I'm done.

[@lauralaforge558]

Plus mlm business models are unethical...

[@MaxsMom-bv6hf]

If you must have pampered chef you can find them for a fraction of the price at the thrift store.

[@mariakristinahawl1640]

I, too, gave up my Keurig, which took up too much space!

[@Clarabellyha]

I thought about getting a keurig but then decided on a French press instead so that it doesn’t sit on my counter

[@leek7987]

I think that keeping things that are meaningful and useful at times but perhaps not everyday are as important as having empty cabinets, drawers and counters. In my kitchen a stack of 5 bowls takes up the same space as 3 bowls. We are all different and that is good. Miss seeing you and Tom with house projects.

[@kayelle8005]

Some of those projects are on Tom’s channel

[@rdb4996]

And that why you have these items in storage away from your day to day kitchen (in case of a small kitchen) and memory bins

[@leek7987]

@@rdb4996 I can keep them in my kitchen so they will be available for me to use if and when I need them. I "store" them in kitchen cabinets that would otherwise be empty if I stored kitchen stuff in other parts of my house. We all do what makes sense for us not because someone tells us how we are should be doing it. We are able to take good ideas and use them and disregard others that don't work for us. Have a blessed day rdb.

[@juliekonigskind6434]

Dear Dawn, I cannot tell you enough times, just how much I love your content and how happy I am, every time, you upload a new video :) I started my minimalism journey with you and two years in it still feels like the very best decision I have ever made and I even start teaching others the principles I have learned from you. So thank you again and be richly blessed, you and your whole family.

[@rivasoucie]

Amen

[@saracroft21]

Love this! I've binge watched your videos the past weeks and have just so much energy when I listen to you. Thank you so much. I can't express how much I love, your attitude, your kind voice.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Wow, thank you, this means more than you know!!!

[@wrylife57]

This is right on point for me. I recently went through a whole-house decluttering process that started in the kitchen. Not only did I get rid of a lot of unused items but I also rearraigned the contents--such as moving heavy crockery to bottom cabinets and moving the lightweight storage containers to upper cabinets (duh!). I already see that I need to do a second round of kitchen decluttering which incorporates some of your points, like fewer storage containers and dish towels. I had been overwhelmed by this task for years but, now that I've started the process, the dam has broken and I am feeling ruthless about getting rid of things. YAY!

[@HotCoffeeCalmLife]

My Mom turned 90! last Sept and for her, the anti fatigue mat isn't a 'want' - it's a necessity! But I hear you! I'm going through my kitchen cabinets AGAIN. I now have one cabinet this is EMPTY! and one cabinet that is only half full (maybe a little less than half!) My small appliances are down to what we use on a regular basis! I've got my eye on a LARGE (this Jammerril Stewart large lol!) casserole dish that is now too large for my family. Hmmmm..... I use my Instant Pot weekly - if not more! So mine stays!

[@Ouisaa]

I loved all of this. I especially loved how you got straight to the point and didn’t sit in front of the camera on your couch and explain your reasoning for 15 minutes before your video. I appreciate that. I exit videos that begin with that. 😆

[@lindacarr314]

I recently did a purge in our kitchen. Got rid of the heavy glass baking dishes, anything we hadn't used in over a year. We had 3 junk drawers! We're down to one, and I no longer need to call it a junk drawer because it only contains stuff we use on a regular basis. Thank you for all the tips and encouragement.

[@kathrynratenski-harrison4635]

"I MIGHT NEED IT- I MIGHT BREAK IT- I MIGHT HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE OVER- I MIGHT LOSE IT OR IT MIGHT GET DISTORTED & I DONT HAVE ANOTHER ONE RIGHT AWAY- OR WHAT IF I DONT HAVE MONEY IN THE NEAR FUTURE- ETC.. CREATS ANXIETY. HOW DO U GET IN CONTROL OF ANXIETY ?

[@gailmpintos7232]

I have the same reaction when these ladies just want you get rid of it. I was brought up by people who saved everything! So, I now use Dana's container system. You can save as much as will fit in the container. It eases the anxiety of needing it.

[@shirleybrewer8921]

I need my counters more clear but I don’t want that look as if no one lives here like yours! But that’s ok, we all have our own way of life! You did encourage me to purge some!

[@colleenarthur8472]

Linens: we hardly ever use them on our table, just for holidays. But knowing that the hand crocheted table cloths and runners took someone a LOT of time and energy to create, I am finding new uses - one doily table cloth is now serving as a curtain. It's being used, and it's beautiful, and makes me smile every time I pass it - several times a day!

[@tayh.6235]

That's lovely

[@marinakaplais]

In the UK a lot of us have small kitchens and dont have numerous cupboards or drawers to store stuff like utensils and knives. So they have to go on tops

[@ruthtaylor7863]

Tacky? My utensil caddy and knife block are on the counter because I have little cabinet/drawer space. Give tips without judgement.

[@stephanie7572]

There are some good tips here for a busy person, someone with a family, etc. As an older adult, I love interesting coffee mugs, bring them on! I think you have to adapt to what you like, what works for your lifestyle. I like the tip about putting storage containers away with the lids on.

[@dpstoops]

I cannot thank you enough - I cannot imagine the challenge of being a YT creator, but please know your work has blessed my life. THANK YOU.

[@7binaz109]

Keeping the lids on the storage containers is the BEST! Those darn things were always a mess, even to the point of rolling out of the cupboard! 😂🤣 That and I want to thank Dawn for introducing me to two things I didn't know existed, but now I can't live without, the stretchy drawer dividers and the in-drawer knife block. I just ditched the rug in the sink area, and honestly, life is much easier without it!

[@Kate.West.]

For chopping onions….. I chop an entire bag of onions all at once and then put them in the freezer in a zip lock bag…. I just take as much out of the bag as I need for each meal. Makes cooking faster and I only have to cut onions from time to time 😊

[@daisybuchanan5378]

That’s such a smart idea. I’m going to do that, and so like that frozen onions cook up faster.

[@lesleyhubble2976]

Does it ruin the flavour, I’m going to give it a go

[@Kate.West.]

@@lesleyhubble2976 I haven't noticed any difference in flavour, and as I'm frying it up in things like bolognese etc, the texture isn't a problem for me either as when you fry them off they soften anyway. i freeze loads of ingredient veggies this way..... leeks, celery, squash etc. Also fresh herbs, i divide them into ice cube trays and freeze with a little water.... that way i can just dump in a couple of "herb ice cubes" when I need them. It's really helpful for making sure things don't go off if i have spare ingredients after making something that doesn't need a whole bag of a vegi or herb

[@Lcshell]

Great idea! I often end up throwing away onion’s because I bought a bag and only used a couple.

[@nancyelizabeth8364]

Great idea I will try that

[@audreydecker8881]

I found this video extremely helpful for me in my decluttering venture. It was very timely and thank you so much.

[@bnzwiebel]

We just moved cross country and I’ve been binge watching your videos while we unpack and I have 1 quarantine bin and 4 donate boxes already, all just from the kitchen!

[@cb9825]

Would be even better to declutter before the move. Less boxes! 👍 I wish I knew it before our move LOL

[@redhead911126]

I like having things on my fridge my daughter draws but even more importantly I have a magnet calendar and grocery list and I display appointment cards on the fridge so i have some sense of time and will actually remember to purchase important things. I do take time to declutter the artwork and reorganize the empty magnets from time to time though. Clutter does stress me out but i also like to see some character as well, its a fine line im still defining

[@amisklake5711]

Children s drawings on the fridge, family photos, magnets, etc. are clutter - or decorations. It's all in the eye of the beholder. Some people even use their fridge like a bulletin board. (Gasp!) I mean who cares? Enjoy your home the way YOU want to!

[@margueritelankinen7661]

I have the onion chopper and I use it. I slice the onions and then chop. I do not use the bottom piece or stuff the onion in it, just chop away on the cutting board. It is great when you want small pieces. I actually have 2, one for nuts or other baking goods as well.

[@lindabutler7295]

And you can put it in the dishwasher. How easy is that?

[@girlonaswing9439]

I love my food chopper and use it regularly for onions, carrots, celerly, and garlic. I've had it for years, and one of the blades is a little bent. I just used it yesterday for soup. I try to always rise it under water after a good chopping session.😊

[@marianna6733]

I totally agree. My journey to simplify had started with organizing (i. e. : buying dividers and extra shelves to put even more stuff into my cabinets!). Then I relized I had way too much inventory, as you call it, and that I had to take out stuff instead of organize it better!!! Yestarday, watching one of your videos, I even threw away some forks, now I'm left with 6 of anything (it's two of us, hoping to have some guests, every now and then!) and it's such a relief, now, openig that drower! I don't have the energy to wash dishes after every meal, so I do the dish washer every night. I'm very happy and satisfied with my decluttering! Thank you very much for the joy you bring. Bye from Rome, Italy!

[@Anna_Anna92]

I love my cluttered fridge with pictures of my son, his artwork and achievements.

[@helenbuckwalter3955]

I love all my grandchildren’s pictures and art work on my frig!!

[@Asphodel27one]

My pyrex pie dishes just went to a local pie shop that will need them for the holiday rush. Several saucepans with lids, extra dishes and small kitchen gadgets/appliances went to a local thrift shop that provides for a very busy food bank in back. A couple estate sale Le Creuset casserole dishes now replace several other items. My cast iron skillets aren’t going anywhere though! Thanks for the encouragement through these videos.

[@akontilis1792]

Ooh good idea about the pie plates.

[@debbiehadad7968]

You are very good at demonstrating your thought process and that gives me a way to apply your suggestions that work for me.

[@debbiebowles7001]

"Our brains love simplicity" So very true! Clutter can make life more complicated.

[@Mrs.J.D.B]

I am decluttering my kitchen right now and REALLY want to reduce the inventory in my house by about half. But i struggle to get rid of things because i get anxious thinking we might need something in an emergency. The fact that you have emergency food storage gives me a great sense of peace that i can do this too, while keeping some stuff/food in the basement for emergencies. Thank you for all you teach us!

[@Rosie_C]

I tend to be such a hoarder and something that has helped me is to temporarily remove items I think I don’t need, then get them out 6-12 months later and decide if I can part with it.

[@janengels3635]

Sorry, I’m keeping my knife bock out. We do a lot of cooking and it’s so convenient!

[@tiffanychildwithin]

looooove my knife block out so so much!

[@LulaMae21]

I do a lot of cooking and got rid of my knife block eons ago lol. It's not hard to pull the knife from the drawer.

[@heidihenninger6253]

I have a magnetic strip on the side of a cabinet that works great. Knives are still out and next to where I prep, but not taking counter space.

[@ucfhillcollege8296]

I use the knife block in the drawer.

[@madelinehelwig8409]

Knife magnet is my fav by far

[@EFergDindrane]

I'd love to see this sort of thing for people like me in tiny apartment kitchens. I have literally ONE drawer in my kitchen. One. So how do WE keep our 3' of counter space clear or at least tidy? I have stacked boxes, which is better than loose crap, but it's still clutter, and I have no counterspace to chop things. I use the top of the stove.

[@darleneh608]

I second this.

[@AlyssaWolverton]

Check out her rv camping videos. She organizes in there. Different then tiny living but a good start.

[@EFergDindrane]

@@AlyssaWolverton ooh, great idea! Thank you!!!

[@leahringer4786]

Dawn I love how much pushback you've gotten on this video. It's proof you're getting to people's triggers and heart strings and really making them survey how they want their kitchens. Yall. One size doesn't not fit all!!! It's okay if you choose to do something she recommended against! Her literal job on KZbin is to introduce you to MINIMAL ideas and help you decide what that looks like for you! Keep up the incredibly impresses, fresh, and inspiring content Dawn. You rock!

[@deeannbenson3096]

❤

[@joanprestonplaut2767]

I genuinely like Dawn and her channel. I just wish she would word things a little differently sometimes. Especially in a paring down type of video. You might be correct in that people including myself are probably two connected to the items I have at my house and especially my kitchen but at the same time having someone tell me that I don't need something that I use several times a day every day gets a little annoying. Especially since everyone who tells themselves as being a minimalist says exactly the same thing. I can appreciate that you're standing up for her but I get the impression she's pretty strong and impressive on her own and doesn't need your help standing up for herself.

[@kimberlytrevino2210]

Yes yes yes! I got rid of the mats years ago and am so much happier. It was a frustration for me. I do have foot and back problems and also found that the right house shoes is the key. Great advice.

[@Seams_in_the_Wild]

Yes! A mat only helps in one spot, but good shoes help with every step!

[@mkel858]

You've just gave me incentive to clear my kitchen again I did it awhile back but I can see it needs more thank you!

[@wilhelmina8843]

Some people are hung up on the specific items she mentions - that’s not the point. They are just examples. If it’s super helpful to you and you literally use it all the time, keep it. Multiple scissors, tongs and cutting boards are MUSTS in my kitchen, but I don’t have a spaghetti scoop/spoon (with teeth) thingy or a garlic press or salad spinner. Three things I would really like to have but don’t have to have. For me. Declutter what you can. Dawn is trying to be a strong voice for those of us that needs it (tough love) but I bet you she would be the first to tell you to do what is best for you and to just try.

[@calico_mojo]

In past homes I had dedicated a ton of kitchen real estate to herbs and spices, when I really only use a few on a regular basis. When I recently moved to a 400 sf studio apartment with extremely limited storage space, I downsized to 10 jars - and that includes salt and pepper! We've been sold the idea that our home kitchens have to be stocked to make thousands of different dishes, and it's just not true. I really like to cook, but creating a versatile capsule menu (like a capsule wardrobe!) and eating slightly different versions of the same meals more frequently has freed up not just space, but also time, money, and energy.

[@sume6103]

Over the last year I have started to embrace minimalism! The only problem is when I entertain I really need all of my stuff so I keep only essentials in my kitchen but the extra stuff (for when I am having company) in my basement. I can not part with my floor mat only because I drop stuff on the floor all the time and I have hardwood floors so the mat protects them. My house is 100 years old and the kitchen is very small with fewer than normal cabinets so have only essentials and I still looks full. I watch your videos to keep myself motivated. Now I have some more stuff to donate! Thank you for keeping your videos short and to the point....it is so hard to watch a long song and a dance 🤗

[@austenbrit68]

I have a VERY small kitchen with very little cabinet or counter space so I found a lot of this helpful. I’m already pretty minimalist there because I have so little space, but time to rethink some stuff!

[@johannabennetts64]

Yay! You kept the shacket :) So cute. "Permission to break up sets" gave me SO much freedom! I had a huge wooden salad bowl that we got for a wedding gift (sixteen years ago) and it had these awful tongs that went with it. They were useless and hard to clean. You made me realize I could KEEP the bowl and donate the tongs. Duh.... but so good!!! I never thought of it myself, ha! Same with pots and pans... my husband recently suggested we upgrade because again, we've been using them for 16 years. He said, "let's look at a new set" and I said, "NO! Let's look at one spaghetti pot and one large skillet, because that's is ALL I use!" 😂😂

[@chrispavlich9656]

One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Not everyone cooks the same. I’ll keep my “clutter.”

[@mama--rua]

Tacky knife block? Handy and out of reach for toddlers.

[@debbiehadad7968]

I find your videos extremely practical and useful. Thank you so much.

[@MyFocusVaries]

Great list! Years ago I pared down my pots and pans, and now have two good cast iron pans and one large stock pot with a strainer/pasta insert and a small double boiler. We kept two spatulas/flippers because there are often two of us cooking at the same time--we often have three burners going at once. I stopped stocking extra food except for a case of canned chunky soup in our earthquake kit. I put a reminder in the calendar to donate it to the food bank a month before its best before date, and buy a new case.

[@lyndabrown3402]

I started storing food containers with the lid on and designated x amount of space to stack them. It’s much less hassle. I’m about 3/4 thru declutter in the kitchen. Since I’m 77 yo I’m doing the Swedish death cleaning routine.

[@emmasebastian8018]

So glad you kept that shirt. It looks great on you😍❣️

[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you!!! 🥰

[@jesseostone386]

I have TWO drawers dedicated to utensils, along with one drawer for silverware. I LOVE those bamboo drawer dividers, especially for the Knick-knack, trinket drawer.

[@jillrector8568]

Thanks Dawn for pointing out breaking up sets of bowls. I don’t order sets of brilliance ware for those reasons. I got only the medium and large that fit together and and use the same lids perfectly and all the little pieces weren’t necessary. Definitely having all the same brand helps things fit together so well

[@randalynshaw7262]

I love my countertops clear! I decluttered my juicer. Never miss it! It was making me feel guilty not use it. It was a pain to clean! I now make smoothies. 🙂 Love the video! Thank you!

[@maggiehermanson6298]

Do you ever find though that not having extras or spares causes a different kind of stress? You and I both have 6 people living under one roof. If it was up to me, I'm sure everything would be accounted for, but with the 5 others I'm POSITIVE things would get misplaced. I feel like I have way to much stuff, until I get behind on laundry, or we have back to back parties/ hosting gigs, or I'm sick and everything falls down without me there to prop things up. We are in a busier season with young children, but I've tried the time will tell bin and it gets dug into regularly. My question is what do you do when you desperately want this serene, clutter free, lifestyle, but what seems so appealing isn't practical?

[@kateyare4708]

I do not mean this comment to sound flip, but perhaps you need to consider a larger space to house 6 people. It sounds like you are trying to declutter too many items and really need more space to keep what you need.

[@jac4YouTube]

I like how you mention seasons of life , when my kids were younger I had no time to cook, now that they are out on their own i have tons of time to cook and i love choosing dinners that freeze well so I save more money than in the past

[@corinnew6569]

For those with back issues, I think getting rid of anti fatigue mats is bad advice.

[@K-66]

Love my instant pot! Use it!!

[@lindamarsden8024]

Great video, I love the "time will tell bin" when I'm stuck with letting something go. I now buy so much less and I have time to do the things I love.

[@EbonieBlackforest]

The thing about putting stuff in a drawer only works if you have drawers. I have three and they are narrow but two are also very deep. I put my dish towels, backstock seasonal stuff I use for half the year, in the two deeper ones, and my actual silverware in the shallow one. And that was a tight fit. I have four cabinets I can actually use (the rest are too high) so I added in shelves. I use my coffee mugs as decor and stuck a British Carry On poster on the wall (because I can't reach that space for stuff anyway and I hate blank white walls).

[@michelled.613]

I'd love more tips for small apartment kitchens. It seems a lot easier to make a kitchen with plenty of drawers and cabinets look great. I don't have space to put away my sharp knives, spatulas, small appliances, etc, but I still need to be able to cook for a family. Thanks!

[@myrabeth77]

The smartest little trick I've ever come up with for making things work in a small kitchen is to get a cheap plastic (read: easy to keep clean, even in a kitchen) magazine holder (with open side) from Walmart or Target to hold cutting boards in a tidy, contained way on the counter. Mine is pushed up against the wall with the knife block angled in front of the closed side of it, right next to the best bit of counter top workspace in the kitchen. Easy counter top cutting station that takes no drawer or cabinet space, has a modest counter top footprint, and your cutting boards will never fall over again. In our household, there are 3 adults, all of whom do at least some cooking, and all of whom have different opinions on cutting boards, so we arguably have too many. If we had fewer, I'd probably use the extra space in the magazine holder to slide my cooling racks in at the back. Edit: Making things like this work is all about color. I have a neutral kitchen (grey and white, some black). I bought a black magazine holder and store the cutting board with the corner color that matches my towels in front.

[@michelled.613]

@@myrabeth77 thanks for the tips!!

[@haeremaikitewhariki]

Agree with having house shoes, not only for support and comfort but I also wear them to keep my feet warm instead of slippers 👍

[@hl8547]

Thanks so much for your videos Dawn! They’ve been incredibly helpful and motivating to me. Not everything in your suggestions works for me. For example I still keep my utensils on the counter because my little kitchen has one silverware drawer one weirdly narrow long drawer I keep my knives in (much fewer now), and two tiny short and shallow drawers that wouldn’t work for utensils. But I always come away with one little tidbit or motivation, and I love how you end each video. ❤️ Thanks!

[@jtaylor5401]

Great to be reminded of all this....I decluttered mugs they creep in each year and take up so much room in the cupboard.

[@lellachu1682]

Great suggestions! I love the seagrass rugs in my kitchen because they protect my wood floors.

[@lauralaforge558]

Yup. We are having wood floor and primary reason I am doing a runner is bc of that

[@CJR-bs7eu]

Oh Dawn this last thing about storage containers reminded me of my dear departed mother. My friends laughed when they saw her clean out her fridge which I found totally normal. If she used some of the leftover but not all, she would downsize it to a " more appropriate size" so as to free of space in the fridge. Now mind you we had plenty of room, we could easily close all the drawers, shut the doors & see what was on the shelves. But since mom had so many containers, well why not use them. So funny now that I think of it @ 67 yo. I love & miss my dear mom & her. Cabinet of containers. LOL 💕💕

[@mimiscountrycooking1607]

Great advice! I don’t like my counter tops looking cluttered, but I do have things I need to get rid of especially when I haven’t used it in over a year Thanks for the motivation ❤

[@lynnern57]

I actually love the onion chopper. It’s dishwasher safe, so I clean it that way.

[@julieklas184]

I use mine almost every day and toss it in the dishwasher...easy! It is over 20 years old!

[@lynnern57]

@@julieklas184 same!

[@AudreyCormier]

It's so hard to let go of "things"! One thing that took a long time for me to realize, was that I don't need larger sizes of cookware. I live alone now (and your mileage may vary if you're cooking in large quantities for a family, or entertaining a lot). But I downsized (literally) quite a few pans and pots to smaller, and even "mini" sizes, and everything is perfect for the quantities that I'm cooking now. These things take up so much less space in cabinets as well. So maybe think about giving away the XL size cookware if you're not using it due to the size.

[@jotippet9053]

Thanks for giving us permission, this such a powerful word and a breath of fresh air. We are moving next week and I have been culling big-time. It’s an eye opener 1) how much STUFF we have and 2) how much we don’t use and actually need.

[@annasandoval11]

i don’t know why this video came as a suggestion for me. nice lady and all but i can’t agree with everything, I’m blessed with a large immediate family and we host almost every weekend. (need serving spoons for the meals & 5 different salads-lol). I need all extra stuff i have and i love all my gadgets. Good thing i have a large kitchen. Also, kitchen rugs work wonderfully when someone spills something while preparing over the sink, the island or getting something out of the fridge. 😊and those extra food containers, in my case, are good to send leftovers with the kids/family when they leave (which are stored w/ lids). 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m sure this video works for some people though. sorry, just expressing my opinion, I guess I could’ve just moved on. 😂

[@thegmanviews11]

I have decluttered so much stuff thanks to your channel - and have become much more mindful of what I store in my absolutely tiny kitchen. One thing I do that my children seem to struggle with is I keep my containers with their lids. Amazing how tidy my cupboards are when the kids remember to put the lids on the container

[@debschott3979]

My French press coffee maker is one of those gadgets that to me is a mess to clean. I went to a pour over with unbleached filters. I use an adorable coffee pot on my induction cooktop. It’s faster than the microwave and the pod coffeemaker.

[@LulaMae21]

I hate cleaning my French press so much!

[@alexisblake1889]

I know this comment isn't about decluttered. Just wanted to let you know my almost 4 month old was glued to you. I was watching this video on the TV and she was squawking and squeaking all smiles. At one point in time she leaned towards the TV like she wanted you to hold her thought it was the cutest thing. So I may have made my 4 month old a fan of you.

[@kristinkiddy9079]

Emergency food hint: write the best by date in marker on the top of the container. It's much easier to check inventory that way. Then set a schedule to rotate the food into the daily kitchen and replace the emergency food with newer product. You don't want to be eating 5:year old canned beans.

[@myefone1536]

I certainly do that! There came a point where I had to get rid of 3/4 of the cans of food because they were long expired. So now I label the top of every can with mo. and yr. of expiry. XP 01/24

[@motherof1132]

I love m’y Space empty. I love a clean Space and decluttering.

[@mariaperez-i9n]

Hate to cook, live alone, realizing that my kitchen was cluttered because of my fantasy self was a good thing.

[@melissaquantock9566]

Oh my goodness....the kitchen towel drawer...always a struggle to close for me...Thank You...I'm going to thin it Tonight!!! Dawn....your just like visiting with a dear friend....Your appreciated!

[@Kevin15047]

I'm not even a minimalist but man did it feel good to declutter my kitchen. Christmas mugs, autumnal mugs, patriotic mugs, Valentine's Day mugs. Who the heck has Valentine's Day mugs? Well now Savers does.

[@Bea56601]

I love that you have mugs simplified so much. I try to have ours narrowed down to 2 or 3 per person that we each love, but what do I do about family that gifts mugs to us? Its such a common gift. My MIL (chronic over-spender and will not listen if we tell her no thanks) gifted us 8 (YES EIGHT) mugs and 3 teacups last year. It's frustrating trying to keep clutter at bay 😩

[@rosywilson3076]

🤔 can you just donate the excess? I agree mugs tend to come into the house very easily, because they’re cute, and cheap, and ‘useful’ I don’t know how your MIL feels about her gifts being donated? It may be worth heading over the Dana K Whites’s channel (friend of Dawn’s so I feel ok recommending her) as she has lots of useful thoughts on this sort of thing. Good luck 😊

[@tibbinova]

I hate our kitchen all the drawers are the same small size. Hard to organize with that narrow size.

[@janetmaniex2077]

Thanks for this video, it was very helpful. A few things that work for me are to use only stainless mixing bowls...they're lighter weight, easier to mix in, fit well in the cupboard, etc... Also, Dawn, I'm 64 and for 40 years I've only chopped my garlic, onions, nuts, etc... in an electric mini chopper (Black & Decker). Easy peasy and the parts are dishwasher safe. Thanks again for all of your tips!

[@Stephpope19]

Thank you so much Dawn!! You have truly changed the way I look at things in my home and now my home is warm, cozy, and my kids are always in the playroom that I've completely overhauled!! Everything you say is point in about kids needing to be in simplified spaces. Please do a hair tutorial!! Loving the curls!!

[@ExcitingPossibilities]

Thanks for saying “I love you!” At the end of every video! You are so genuine with sharing Christs love and so many people need to hear it! It’s meaningful for me every time. 🤗 We love you too! 💛

[@sayitlikeitis8759]

The notion that “it’s more trouble to clean than it saves you time to use” really struck a chord with me. Goodbye onion chopper, herb grinder, fruit slicers etc. goodbye to that ovenproof dish that is too big to turn in the microwave, goodbye to those extra ‘bits’ that come with pan sets & the utensils that came with gadgets that are never used. Goodbye to those tea towels that are too many to fit in their container. Thank you!

[@jamiescott5718]

I've been storing my food storing containers with the lids on for a few years now. I was totally skeptical. BUT it has been a complete game changer!!

[@DebDebbiesWorld]

So many comments getting mad about suggesting to reduce the number of utensils. oh my lord. take what is useful to YOU and YOUR lifestyle (or what you want to ACHIEVE) and leave the rest. good grief. Certain utensils I have more of, because I am likely to be using multiple simultaneously. For others (even most), one is sufficient. I got rid of most of my small 'one trick pony' appliances that I never, or rarely used. I kept the ones I DO use. I have one small cabinet for my cups and water bottles. If I get a new one... one has to go. It can only accommodate so many, so that's my system there. It keeps it to a number that I am willing to 'babysit'. I do have certain appliances that live on my counter because i use them every day and that's where I want them to live. My coffee pot. Air fryer (mostly used by my 18 year old son), and microwave (which isnt used often but I'm sure not hauling it out from under the cabinet when we do want to use it). My husband is putting in a new kitchen this spring, and with the new range will install an over range microwave, which will solve that issue. But with any of the decluttering/ organizing vloggers.... take what is useful to you, that you think will help you in attaining your goals, and leave the rest. its not a one size fits all system for anyone. If it WERE, no one would HAVE issues with clutter or organization and videos like this wouldn't exist.