|
Blog: Can We Have Some Order Here?
 Kitchen Magic
Have you ever noticed that some people manage to get a complete aerobic workout just while preparing dinner? Back and forth, back and forth -- feeding your family doesn't have to be this hard!
Making Mealtime A Bit Easier
Today, pay attention to the way that you move while you cook -- and the energy you expend in the process. How many times do you cross the length of your kitchen in one evening? Do you find yourself doing squats to get at your pans? Stretches to reach your dishes? Are you becoming a world-class hurdler, jumping over the dog's dish every time you go from refrigerator to stove?
And what about the time it takes to get dinner on the table -- how many hours have you wasted looking for the right utensil -- or trying to find your double boiler in the back of an overstuffed cabinet -- or making a last-minute run to the store because you ran out of a vital ingredient? Would you be more likely to cook if your pantry wasn't cluttered with outdated canned and boxed goods that you know you'll never use? It only takes a few minutes of cleaning out and rearranging to make your kitchen storage function more efficiently, saving you a lot of time and energy in the long run.
Honey, Is This Good?
We all know how disgusting it is to pull an item out of the fridge -- only to discover that it has mutated into something no longer edible and (quite frankly) a bit scary. However, we often mistakenly confuse "non-perishable" with "indestructible". Even Twinkies have an expiration date!
Do yourself a favor today -- go through your cabinets and toss out anything that is old, rancid, stale, or hairy. And as you purge, be sure to keep a shopping list of items you need to replace. It's also not a bad idea to make cleaning out the kitchen a part of your regular "home maintenance" routine. You may use these food "life expectancies" as a guide -- but when in doubt, trust your gut (or your nose!):
- canned foods (2-5 years)
- flours (3-6 months)
- cereal (6 months)
- grains / legumes (1 year)
- pasta (1 year)
- dried herbs (6 months)
- spices (6-12 months)
- condiments (1 year)
Five Centers
Every kitchen implement or supply that you use tends to fall into one of five categories -- cleaning, food storage, cooking, food preparation, and serving. So if you can set up your kitchen and dining room to reflect these activities, both storage and food preparation will become a whole lot easier.
It's just like your kids are taught at Montessori -- make it easy to find the tools you need for your work, and to put your supplies away when you're done. The goal is to keep your equipment nearest the appropriate center, making it easier for you to perform your kitchen duties.
- Your cleaning station consists of the sink, dishwasher, and trashcan. Of course, soap, disinfectants, sponges, and rags should be stored in a cabinet nearby.
- The stove is central to any cooking activities, so keep utensils, baking sheets, pots, and pans within easy reach. If you can, also move the microwave and toaster into this area.
- Your food preparation center should be located near a large workspace (countertop or island). You will probably want to store knives, a cutting board, mixing bowls, blender, food processor, measuring cups, and other related implements close by.
- Food storage, on the other hand, will center on the refrigerator -- and should include room for Tupperware containers, canned foods, dry goods, and fresh fruits or vegetables.
- Your serving center may be split between the kitchen and dining area. It is often easier to store serving dishes, linens, and candles near the table – while flatware, glasses, and plates usually work well closer to the sink (it's easier to put them away after washing).
Transform Your Existing Storage Space
In your cabinets and drawers, try to limit yourself to one category of paraphernalia per area. That may mean putting canned goods on one shelf and boxes on another -- or keeping dishes separate from glasses. This just makes it easier for your brain to remember where things belong. Organize your kitchen in a way that makes sense to you, but try to avoid storing food and cookware together in the same cabinet.
Also see what you can do to make your current storage spaces work better for you. Stepped shelving allows you to see items hidden in the back of a deep cabinet -- and drawer dividers will keep your utensils under control. Remember that rectangular storage containers take up less space than round ones -- and pot lids / flat cookware are more accessible when lined up in a rack. Finally, don't forget the many ways to bring "dead" space back to life -- including pull-out racks, lazy susans, cup hooks, stacking bins, hanging storage, and space-saving appliances.
The Triangle Theory
One final concern in your kitchen is movement from one "center" to the next. Some people claim that you should be able to reach every major appliance in your kitchen with just one step. But that seems highly impractical to me, especially if you have a very large kitchen or a very large number of appliances. However, you can make your life a bit easier as you cook and serve and clean -- if you keep motion in mind.
Try viewing your kitchen as a triangle -- from the sink to the stove to the refrigerator. Your goal is to keep those paths clear! If you have to dodge garbage cans, recycling bins, or any other obstacles to get back and forth, you are doing too much work. And those of you with an island may need to have your triangle at a very oblique or obtuse angle, but you can still make it work -- just pretend that your triangle has curved sides that go around the island. We're flexible here! 
read the original post of this blog
posted on: 1/28/2010 11:30:00 AM by Ramona Creel
category: General Organizing Tips
Can We Have Some Order Here?: < Previous Post - Next Post >
Blog Central: < Previous Post - Next Post >
 Discuss This Post
There are no comments.
|
|
Can We Have Some Order Here?
by Ramona Creel
View This Blog
 Subscribe To This Blog
About Ramona:
I have been a Professional Organizer for more than 10 years, I am a NAPO Golden Circle member, and I was the original founder of OnlineOrganizing. I have worked one-on-one with scores of clients and have trained dozens of newbie organizers as they got started in the industry. I provide both hands-on and virtual coaching to help clients improve their organizing skills and simplify their lives. I invite you to visit my website at http://www.RamonaCreel.com, and I challenge you to find one new idea that you can put into practice in your life, to help you become better organized, starting TODAY! I am passionate about coaching folks toward a more balanced, productive, and enjoyable life -- and I firmly believe that if I can do it, so can you!
You are also welcome to follow me on Twitter, check out my Facebook profile, and subscribe to my feeds.
Ramona's Website:
www.RamonaCreel.com
Ramona's Other Blogs:
Ramona's Favorites:
|
www.OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
