Kitchen Clean Out
The start of the new year brings so much promise, the promise to lose weight, get in shape, or get organized. Organization is one of the more common resolutions made every year. While plenty of areas in one's home may need a little organizing, we want to focus on the kitchen. The pantry, refrigerator, and freezer can are easily organized but sometimes forgotten when organizing the house. Keeping an organized kitchen makes life so much easier. We spend so much time in our kitchens, so why not make them function like a dream? Everyone talks about spring cleaning, but we want to start sooner; let's try winter cleaning. Winter is the time for indulgent cooking and baking projects. We tend to hunker down for a few months after the holidays, so it's a great time to get that kitchen into shape for 2023 and start your year off right!A great first step to winter cleaning is a pantry purge. We all have unnecessary food tucked away and forgotten. The first step is to pull everything out; we mean everything. Go through all items and pitch anything that is expired. Check expiration dates on all remaining items to know what should be used sooner rather than later. Remove unopened items you're not likely to use and collect them all in a box to donate to a food bank or charity.
Head to your favorite home or discount store and pick up food-safe clear bins and containers with a good seal. Wipe down all the shelves; now is a great time to add a pretty patterned wallpaper to the back wall to add color and fun in an otherwise dull space. Group like items together, putting things that need to be used first in the front. Be sure to wipe down shelves before putting anything back into your pantry, and make a note of what things you need to replace or stock up on.
Now let's move to the refrigerator. Empty everything, discarding any items that are expired. Mix hot water, vinegar, and baking soda, and wipe everything down. Pull out all of the bins and clean them thoroughly. Once everything is clean, and your drawers and shelves are back in place, add your favorite clear bins to help keep everything in order. Again, keep like items together and save space by downsizing containers on things that are half empty. Now that everything is clean and space is available, it's time for a trip to Kuhn's Market to stock up for the New Year!
Cleaning out your freezer is similar to the refrigerator. Start by pulling everything out and pitching any items that have been in there too long or that you don't recognize as food anymore. Wipe everything out with the same cleaning solution as above. Clear and wire bins work great with organizing the freezer. Downsize half-empty containers and bags where possible. Write dates on items to help with their efficient use in the future, and take note of what you need to replace or stock up on. Be sure to keep like items together so that they are easily found.
Another great way to keep your kitchen spaces in order is to label everything. You can buy pretty labels online or make your own using an inkjet printer and packaging tape (instructions here).
An extra tip for winter cleaning is to check your kitchen equipment and tools. Check knives, container and lid pairings, appliances, and pots and pans. Ensure everything is sharp, paired up, and in good working condition. If not, it's an excellent time to repair or replace.
Spacing out your New Year kitchen cleanout over a few days is a great way to ensure efficiency and prevent burn-out; doing it all in one day is a lot to take on. Take it step-by-step, and before you know it, you'll have a completely transformed kitchen for 2023!
Visit Kuhns Market to start your New Year Clean Out list!