Kitchens have a way of getting crowded before you even realize what’s happening. A few extra mugs turn into an entire cabinet. A couple of takeout sauce packets become a drawer full. Before long, you’re moving things around just to find the one item you actually need.
A lot of kitchen clutter comes from keeping things because they might be useful someday. That sounds reasonable until you realize “someday” hasn’t come in months or years.
If you’re short on storage space, these are some of the things worth sorting through. You might find that you’re keeping far more than you actually use.
Excess Coffee Mugs
Most of us have a few mugs we reach for again and again. Then there are the ones hiding in the back of the cabinet that haven’t been used in ages.
Promotional mugs, souvenirs, chipped mugs, and random extras can quickly take over a shelf. Keep the ones you like and actually use, and let the rest go. You probably won’t miss them.
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Takeout Sauce Packets
Soy sauce, ketchup, duck sauce, taco sauce, and other little packets seem too small to bother getting rid of. The problem is that they add up quickly.
It’s fine to keep a few if you actually use them. But if you have enough packets to fill an entire drawer, go through them and toss the ones you don’t need. There’s no reason to keep a restaurant-sized stash at home.
Storage Containers Without Matching Lids
This is one of those kitchen problems almost everyone seems to have. There’s the container with no lid, the lid with no container, and somehow neither one matches anything else.
If you can’t find a matching pair, there’s little reason to keep both pieces. A smaller collection of containers that actually have lids will make storing leftovers much less annoying.
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Expired Spices
Take a look at your spice rack and see how many jars you haven’t touched in years. That cinnamon from your previous home may still smell like cinnamon, but it probably isn’t as flavorful as it once was.
Spices lose their flavor and aroma with age. Check the dates and condition of the bottles, then get rid of the ones that are well past their prime. You’ll also make room for spices you actually use.
Small Appliances You Never Use
It’s easy to get excited about a bread maker, popcorn machine, yogurt maker, or some other kitchen gadget. The idea sounds great when you’re shopping. A year later, the appliance may still be sitting exactly where you left it.
If you can’t remember the last time you used something, ask yourself whether you’re really going to start using it again. Appliances take up a lot of cabinet and counter space, so getting rid of the ones you never touch can make a big difference.
Reusable Shopping Bags
Reusable bags are handy, but there’s a limit to how many you need. Most people have a few favorites that get used regularly, while the rest sit stuffed inside another bag or crammed into a cabinet.
If you’re dealing with a pile that keeps growing, keep the number you actually use and donate the extras where possible. Your cabinets will thank you.
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Plastic Utensils
Those plastic forks, spoons, and knives from takeout orders seem to multiply on their own. Keeping a small supply for picnics, parties, or emergencies is reasonable.
But if you have a huge container filled with them, you’re probably storing far more than you’ll ever use. Keep a modest handful and clear out the rest.
Cookbooks You Never Open
Cookbooks can be beautiful, and some are worth keeping for sentimental reasons. But if you haven’t opened most of yours in years, they’re taking up shelf space without getting much use.
If you now find recipes online, look through your collection and keep the books you actually cook from or genuinely want to keep. The rest can go to someone who will use them.
Baby Feeding Supplies You’ve Outgrown
Sippy cups, toddler plates, baby spoons, and other feeding supplies tend to stick around long after children stop using them. They get pushed into the back of a cabinet and forgotten.
Once your kids have moved past that stage, sort through the supplies and donate anything that’s still in good condition and accepted by local organizations. Clearing out those old items can free up quite a bit of cabinet and drawer space.
Food You’ll Never Actually Eat
We’ve all bought something because we thought we’d try a new recipe or eat a little healthier. Then the specialty sauce, unusual ingredient, or healthy snack sits untouched in the pantry.
If you’ve had something for months and keep passing it over, be honest about whether you’re ever going to eat it. Check expiration dates and food safety guidelines, then toss anything that’s expired or no longer safe. For unopened items that you simply don’t want, a local food pantry may be able to use them.
Single-Purpose Kitchen Gadgets
Kitchen stores are full of gadgets that promise to make one tiny task easier. There are avocado slicers, egg separators, herb strippers, garlic peelers, and plenty of other tools that seem useful until you realize how rarely you need them.
Before buying or keeping one of these gadgets, ask yourself whether a knife, spoon, fork, or your own hands can do the same job. If the answer is yes and you hardly ever use the gadget, that drawer space may be better used for something you reach for every day.
