Arguably, the kitchen is the heart of the home. We cook there, eat there (hopefully as a family), entertain there, chat at the table, do homework, and any number of other family-related things. A disorganized kitchen discourages us from doing the above; we do not want to cook and eating will likely then take place in front of the TV. We do not want to entertain others or sit and chat because the clutter distracts us and makes us feel ashamed of not keeping things in better order. So lets get to it!

Please understand that this room CANNOT be done in one day or in one chunk of time. I am willing to bet it took more than one day for your kitchen to look the way it doesso it will take more than one day to un-do it. Be patient and attack these different tasks in small chunks of timesmall steps! You will find that as each one is done that youll be motivated to do another and another. And then when its all done, you will not want to mess it up, and so be motivated to keep it organized! Oh happy day!

1) Unload your dishwasher. If your dishwasher is full of clean dishes and not put away, you wont have a place to put your dirty dishes as you clean up. If you do not have a dishwasher, take a look at your sink. If youve got clean dishes in your dish rack, put them away now. Then move your dish rack to the counter and put an empty dishpan under the sink. Youll see why as we keep going.

2) Take a look at your countertops. Are they piled high with papers, dishes (dirty), and appliances (some you havent used in weeks or many years)? Are they stained (underneath the stuff on them)? Lets clear off one countertop at a measure . Pick your smallest one and clear everything off. Put it on a table or other surface where you might go through the things. Put the dirty dishes in the dishwasher (or dishpan under your sink), go through the papers (junk mail = trash might , bills go to the study, etc.). Put the other miscellaneous things youve found in separate piles to be schlepped to the appropriate rooms where they belong. Then look at the naked countertop. Take a cleaner of your choice (I love the Lysol disinfecting wipes, but you could use a spray cleaner, a bleach cleaner, or simple window cleaner) and a rag and start wiping from back to front. Sweep the crumbs in to the garbage may. Now put only the things which are *necessary* back on the counter. That means no more paperwork, no hairbows, etc. If you absolutely need space for a coffee maker or other small appliance, you now have it!

3) Move to the next counter and repeat the identical steps as above.

In Part Two of Organizing Your Kitchen, well take a look at the next round of steps to create a kitchen youre proud of!