For my Monthly To Do List, the time has come to search my kitchen cabinets and drawers for things I no longer want or need (aka. clutter). I do this job a couple times every year, so I rarely have tons of things to get rid of. Still, it never ceases to amaze me that I can always find at least a few things I’ve been hanging onto for no good reason (again, aka. clutter).

Besides weeding out the clutter, I also use this time to evaluate the best way to arrange my kitchen and the best places to store the things I use most often. I try to keep things near where I’ll be using them. And, just for kicks, I enjoy rearranging the kitchen a little from time to time to keep life exciting. Yea, I’m easily amused.

Here’s the basic steps I follow when cleaning out my cabinets:

1. Open a cabinet or drawer and take the items (or stack of items, such as plates) out one at a time.

2. Evaluate each item as it’s taken off the shelf or out of the drawer. Ask: Do I like this? Do I need or use this? Is it worth the space it’s taking up? And here’s my all-time favorite question: If everything else in my kitchen was dirty, would I take this out and use it, or would I wash something else to use instead? The answer to this question is often the decision maker for me.

3. Set aside items to get rid of. Don’t get distracted by whether your cast-offs should be donated, sold, or given to a friend. Tell yourself to focus on one thing at a time, and quickly get back to the task of evaluating and sorting.

4. Wash out the cabinet with a damp cloth or sponge and wipe it dry.

5. Once the cabinet or drawer is empty and clean, take a second look at the stuff piled on the counter or floor. Decide where would be the best place to store each dish or gadget. Ask questions like: Do I need this bowl when I make bread on the other side of the kitchen? Would I use that serving dish more if it was stored where I could reach it? Can I move this turkey platter to someplace out of the way?

6. Finally, arrange everything back on the shelves or in the drawer, keeping in mind that some things can be stacked or shoved to the back, while other things should be where they can be easily grabbed with one hand.

What tips do you have to share? Tell us in the comments. The more wisdom, the merrier!

This post is linked to Raising Homemakers.