The kitchen is often called the heart of the home. That’s with good reason. It’s a place where people gather, meals are lovingly prepared, and memories are made. Because so much goes on in a kitchen each day, it can be a room that is difficult to keep clean and organized.

Food prep, snacking, and hanging out can all be messy affairs. Since these are the activities a kitchen typically most often sees, it’s natural that things can get a little unkempt from time to time. But there are things you can do to minimize the mess.

From small changes to periodical overhauls, there are a number of different ways you can ensure your kitchen stays clean—for good. All it really takes is a little effort and attention to detail.

If you’re striving for a less cluttered and more immaculate kitchen, you’re not alone. A recent survey found that 78% of adults have at least one room in their home that they wish were cleaner. The good news is, this is an achievable dream.

Read on for ten simple yet effective actions you can take and habits you can form to create a more clean and organized kitchen today.

1. Clear and Clean as You Cook

Cooking is one of the occasions that can cause a lot of mess in the kitchen, but it doesn’t have to be. If you can get yourself into the habit of cleaning and clearing utensils, equipment, and mess as you cook, then you’ll find food preparation to be a much less messy affair.

2. Have a Compost Bin

Having a compost bin is a good idea for a number of reasons. First, it minimizes food waste and is all-around better for the planet; second, it helps with the aforementioned clearing as you cook technique. If you have a compost bin close to hand, it’s easy to toss in vegetable or fruit peel, out-of-date food, really most types of organic matter you can think of.

3. Make Sure Everything Has Its place

An important part of keeping your kitchen organized is to ensure everything has a proper place; whether that’s in the pantry, a drawer, or the fridge. If you have kitchen items that don’t have a set location they should be, they’ll most likely end up as clutter. Something you definitely don’t want.

4. Wipe Down Your Counter Tops Each Night

After everyone has finished with the kitchen for the evening, give your countertops a quick once over with a cloth or wipe. If you’d like to wake up to a clean kitchen each day, this is a really good kitchen habit to get into. It will take all of 60 seconds, but it makes a huge difference.

5. Clean Your Refrigerator Once a Month

Sometimes, in the fridge, things pile up and get forgotten about. Out of date food, containers of half-finished take-out, empty milk cartons, the list goes on and on. The best way to keep your fridge clean and uncluttered is to take a little time once a month to clear out any unwanted items and give it a quick clean.

6. Don’t Clutter Your Countertops

There is no easier way to make your kitchen seem cluttered and disorganized than by having tonnes of random items out on your countertops at all times. Remember the above rule about everything having its place? That place shouldn’t be your countertops, instead, try to keep only a few essential items out.

7. Take Inventory of Kitchen Items Once a Year

Over the years, kitchens tend to magically accumulate bowls, electrical appliances, and various other accouterments. When this happens, things get cluttered. Try to take inventory of all of the items in your kitchen at least once a year, and throw or give away anything you’re not regularly using or have too many of.

8. Don’t Let Spills Sit

Good kitchen habit number three: never, ever let spills sit. Especially on certain kinds of surfaces—such as wood or natural stone—this can be a disaster waiting to happen. If you see a spill, make sure to attend to it right away, it will keep your countertops looking clean both in the short and long term.

9. Do a Periodical Deep Clean

Keeping your kitchen clean on a day-to-day basis is important, equally important, however, is to take the time to give it a deep clean at regular intervals. You don’t have to do this every week—every few months should suffice. If you’re afraid you won’t have time for this commitment, you can always hire a professional cleaning service.

10. Have Labeled Containers

Having clear, labeled containers is a great way to keep your kitchen looking nice and organized. Instead of having a mish-mash of different boxes, packets, and bags, turn your pantry and cabinets into an oasis or organization with beautiful glass jars and boxes filled with dried grains, cereal, and spices.

Make Your Kitchen More Clean and Organized Today

The real trick to having a clean and organized kitchen is to form healthy habits that work to eliminate mess and clutter. Whether that’s to do with food prep, keeping things minimalist, or knowing that everything has its place. Good habits can be difficult to form, but when a sparking clean kitchen is the end result, it will make things all the easier.

If you’re looking for a professional cleaning service to start your newly clean kitchen off on the right foot, we’d be happy to help. Get in touch today to see what we can do for you.