Strategically organizing your kitchen storage space will make it easy to prepare meals and organize nightly dinners. These easy steps will help you organize your cabinets.

Step 1- Take everything out of the cabinets. You can take every sippy cup, shelf liner, and ketchup packet and stack them on a counter or table. This will allow you to see what you have and, perhaps more importantly, what is not.

Step 2- Clean out drawers and cupboards. You can use a damp cloth to remove dirt and crumbs from all corners. Add some dish soap to any spillages. Use warm water to scrub the gunk off-shelf surfaces. You can also use an all-purpose brush to move the bristles in small circular motions. To prevent water damage, wipe off all surfaces with a dry, clean cloth.

Step 3- Throw away anything that is broken or expired. Clear out any expired or damaged appliances and spices from your cupboards to free up space. You might consider donating gadgets you haven’t used to charity in the past two years.

Step 4 – Keep consumables together. First, reserve one cabinet or section for food. Then, organize the space according to daily consumables (crackers and nuts) and cooking needs (flour, sugar, baking soda, etc.). A turntable is a great way to make small items such as spices more easily accessible.

Step 5 – Move items that you don’t use very often. Separate your gravy boat and holiday cookie presse from other mixers. Store them on a shelf in the pantry or a hall closet. You should reserve space in your kitchen cabinets for items you use often.

Step 6 – Label all. Opaque and half-used containers are major sources of cabinet confusion. Clear POP containers can be used to store dry food such as nuts and grains. Label each container with the contents and date before replacing them on shelves. Return items to your cabinets. Place items that you only use occasionally near the back and those you rely on every day or week near the front.

Step 7- Sort by task-not-type Look through your kitchen cabinets and consider what you use them. Are your cookie sheets more used for baking than roasted vegetables? They should be placed with the frying pans and not the cake pans. You’ll find everything you need to complete a task in one place if you organize your kitchen items according to their purpose.

Step 8- Plan where you’ll use the most items. A zoned cooking area is a more efficient one. It would help if you placed things where you will be able to reach them when you need them. It would help if you kept cooking supplies near the stove. Mugs should be placed above your coffee maker. Food prep items should also be kept close to a large counter space area.

Step 9- Keep things organized with organizers. A utensil holder can store spatulas or stirring spoons near the stove. A drawer organizer is a great way to store cutlery and helps you organize the pens, stamps, and other junk drawer items.

Step 10- Maximize vertical space. Use the areas that are difficult to reach, such as the backs of deep cabinets and high shelves. Sometimes, decorative items such as vases or pitchers can be stored on the top of your cabinets.