Do you have a leaning tower of Chinese takeout containers in your kitchen? Perhaps you have an ice cream or bread maker you bought with good intentions but only used once or a collection of yellowing plastic containers that have long since lost their lids?
When it comes to organizing a NYC apartment, less, as always, is more. Whether you have a galley kitchen that barely fits 2, or a sprawling, open plan kitchen, spring is the perfect time to freshen up the space.
Below are 5 things to get rid of now.
1. Extra containers – Are stray Chinese food containers or old plastic containers taking up valuable kitchen real estate. You’ll be surprised how quickly they can pile up. It’s time to let some of them go. Here’s a quick technique to help you do this quickly and easily. Clear your kitchen counter and pull out all the containers. Choose the “best of” and let go of all the rest. If a plastic container has no lid but is still in good shape repurpose in a cabinet to organize pantry items. Sort the keeps by shape and size. Think about getting a container organize. I particularly like the white mesh food storage organizer from the Container Store. If you have kids, it’s also great for organizing sippy cups and kids’ plates!
White Mesh Food Storage Organizers from the Container Store ®
2. Expired pantry items – If you haven’t looked at the tops or backs of your cabinets in a while, chances are there may be some old stray rice and pasta, rock hard brown sugar, sticky soy sauce, stale chips, exotic spices in fancy tins you never use or expired cans of organic soup that may need to go. Pull everything out, discard stale or expired items, wipe down the shelves and put things back in an organized way (think “like with like”).
3. Pots, pans and gadgets you never use – In a moment of aspiration you might have put an ice cream or bread maker on your gift registry. Maybe you thought a Panini press was the answer to quick and easy lunches but you never use it. Same with the rice cooker and waffle maker. Be honest with yourself – do you really enjoy cooking – will you use these gadgets? If you are more of an eat out, take out, order in kinda New Yorker, you can let go of all this stuff. You will free up some valuable kitchen real estate, feel lighter and truer to yourself.
4. Broken dishes and stray cutlery – If your dishes are broken and mis-matched and not in a whimsical, I planned it that way kind of way:), then by all means get rid of them. Let go of broken dishes and glasses, cups, mugs and stray cutlery. Purchase a fresh set of everyday dishes, glasses and new cutlery if necessary. You’ll be surprised how good it will make you feel.
5. Clutter in your junk drawer– This necessary catchall in the kitchen can get overrun with – well, junk. Take this opportunity to do some spring-cleaning. Do a quick pass through and with a trashcan by your side pull out anything you don’t need. Empty out the drawer and wipe it down. Use your catchall drawer for items such as a tape measure, pens, notepads, scissors and matches. To organize your junk drawer use organizers such as these silver mesh organizers from the Container Store.
Silver Mesh Drawer Organizers from The Container Store ®
Do you have questions about how to spring clean your NYC kitchen? Leave a comment below and we will answer it for you!
