7 Expert Tips to Finally Declutter Your Kitchen and Keep It Clean

Out of all the rooms in a home, a kitchen can be one of the hardest to declutter. Since kitchens are the hubs of most homes, it’s easy for clutter to accumulate over time.

But if you’re up for the task, cleaning up your kitchen can be easy, especially with the help of experts. We spoke with a few organizing pros to get the best tips to declutter your kitchen below.

Set Decluttering Goals

If you want to declutter your kitchen thoroughly, you should first assess the space and craft a game plan.

Be on the lookout for problem areas that need to be addressed, like overflowing drawers or cramped countertops, says Michelle Parravani, professional organizer and owner of Design With Less.

Next, set goals, whether big or small. It can be to create more space, make areas more functional, or pare down on clutter.

Whatever your main goals may be, setting them can help keep you focused through the decluttering process, Christian Pfeiffer of Valley Organizing tells us. 

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Use Boxes or Bins to Keep, Donate, or Toss

One of the first things Barbara Brock, professional organizer and owner of Barbara Brock Inc., recommends to clients is to use boxes or bins to sort through the clutter with three goals in mind: keep, donate or sell, and toss.

Give yourself a few hours to go through each area of your kitchen and decide what you want to keep, donate, sell, and throw away.

Then, Brock says to move the donate or sell and throw away boxes out of the kitchen and into new boxes or trash bags, respectively. Go through the items you plan to keep and make sure to find them a home in the kitchen or elsewhere in the home.

Declutter by Section

If the thought of decluttering your kitchen is overwhelming, start small and clean up section by section, whether it’s a drawer, pantry, or cabinet.

“This approach will help you stay focused and make the process more manageable,” Parravani says. “And remember to take breaks if you need to!”

In each section, Brock recommends removing all items so you can start with a clear space, making it easier to organize what goes back in.

Get Rid of Multiples

Over time, it can be easy to collect duplicates of utensils, takeout extras, and all sorts of kitchen items. But if you really want to make decluttering progress, ditching multiples is one of the easiest ways to do it.

According to Parravani, ask yourself the important questions. For example, if you don’t host often, is it really necessary to have several serving platters? Keep what you need and get rid of the rest.

Clear Up Counter Space

Busy countertops can be one of the main sources of clutter in a kitchen. Keep only the essentials on the counter, like frequently used appliances or utensils, Parravani says. 

As for things you don’t use daily, like blenders or stand mixers, Katy Wells, decluttering expert and host of The Maximized Minimalist podcast, recommends storing them away in cabinets or shelves rather than on the counter. 

Relocate Seasonal Items

Seasonal items can also take up a lot of space in a kitchen—think holiday cookie cutters, turkey basters, and appliances like crock-pots.

“Don’t let these seasonal items take up valuable space in your kitchen year-round,” Wells says. “Instead, after the season ends, declutter any of these items that you didn’t use.”

For the seasonal items you want to keep, store them in another space in your home or on a high shelf in the kitchen.

“This approach keeps your kitchen decluttered and ensures that it’s only filled with items relevant to the current season or your needs,” Well says. 

Regularly Declutter and Clean

Once you’ve finally decluttered your kitchen, it’s important to regularly clean and organize your space to maintain it. According to Parravani and Brock, this step is crucial to prevent clutter from building up again. 

“Spend a few minutes each day or week putting things back in their place and decluttering as needed,” Parravani says. “I like to make sure the kitchen is tidy before going to bed.”