Declutter Your Kitchen By Tossing These Common Items
Kitchens should be functional, but it's easy for them to become cluttered with items you don’t actually use. Extra gadgets, expired foods, and duplicates take up valuable space. Decluttering keeps your space organizes and makes it so you actually look forward to cooking.
If you have any of these 13 items laying around, it's time to toss them.
Expired Spices
You may think your spices will last forever, but old spices lose flavor over time. If your paprika looks faded or your cinnamon no longer smells strong, it is not helping your cooking.
Most ground spices only last a couple of years, while whole spices keep a bit longer. Check dates, give them a sniff, and toss any that no longer pack a punch.
Duplicate Utensils
Everyone has extra spatulas, ladles, or tongs, but do you really need more than one or two of each? While having backups can be useful, having too many takes up unnecessary space.
Keep your favorites and donate or toss the extras. Streamlining utensils frees up drawer space and makes it easier to find the tool you actually want.
Chipped Mugs and Glasses
It can be tempting to hold onto chipped mugs or glasses for sentimental reasons. However, they're not safe to drink from and rarely get used.
Letting them go makes your cupboards neater and reduces risk of injury. Choose a small set of mugs or glasses you love and keep those, leaving the damaged ones behind.
Mismatched Tupperware
Plastic containers pile up quickly, and many end up missing lids. A container without a lid is unhelpful and not likely to get used.
Take the time to sort through and recycle mismatched pieces. Keep only complete sets that stack neatly. Having a tidy collection of containers makes storing leftovers easier and keeps cabinets from overflowing.
Old Cutting Boards
Cutting boards that are deeply scored or warped are not safe to use. Bacteria can hide in cracks, and uneven surfaces make chopping harder.
Wooden and plastic boards wear down over time, so replacing them is important. Toss the old ones and invest in a couple of reliable, sturdy boards you can count on.
Excess Water Bottles
Reusable water bottles are good for the environment, but having too many will make your shelves cluttered. You really only need one or two good-quality reusable water bottles.
Keep the ones you use daily and donate or recycle the rest. Limiting water bottles will keep your cupboards more organized and less overwhelming.
Extra Plastic Bags
Sure, plastic bags can be can often come in handy, but a huge stash quickly becomes messy.
Instead of stuffing them into drawers or cabinets, recycle most of them and keep a small supply neatly stored. Consider switching to reusable bags for shopping as more eco-friendly alternative.
Rusty Bakeware
Rusty pans or warped cookie sheets should be replaced. They don't cook evenly, and rust is not safe to use with food. Holding on to them only clutters cabinets.
Investing in a few quality baking sheets or pans will serve you better than keeping a pile of old, damaged ones you can no longer trust.
Duplicate Measuring Cups
Like utensils, many kitchens accumulate multiple sets of measuring cups and spoons. While having one backup is handy, too many sets will clutter your drawers.
Choose the ones that are complete and easy to read, then donate or toss the rest.
Old Cookbooks You Don't Use
It's easy to accumulate cookbooks over time, but too many take up space, especially if you only use one or two recipes from each. If a book hasn't been opened in years, it’s time to donate it.
Keep only the cookbooks you actually love and use regularly. For the rest, copy down favorite recipes and let the books find a new home.
Dull Knives
Knives that are dull or damaged are more dangerous than sharp ones. If they can't be sharpened properly, it’s better to replace them.
Keeping only a few sharp, high-quality knives is safer and more practical than storing a block full of ones you never use.
Worn Dish Towels
Dish towels tend to wear out quickly, becoming stained or threadbare. They may not dry dishes properly and can harbor bacteria.
Keep a small rotation of clean, sturdy towels and toss the worn-out ones. Replacing them with fresh towels brightens up your kitchen and keeps it more hygienic.
Mismatched Silverware
Over time, forks, knives, and spoons from different sets pile up. If you have mismatched pieces you don't use, perhaps it's time to donate them.
Keeping one full set should be enough for everyday use. Clearing out the extras makes your drawer neater and your silverware easier to find.
Keep What You Love
Decluttering your kitchen doesn't mean throwing everything away. It means keeping what works, what you love, and what you actually use.
By letting go of expired, broken, or duplicate items, you free up space and reduce stress. A tidy kitchen is easier to cook in and more enjoyable to spend time in.