Day 17 – Decluttering Kitchen Utensils

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Originally published January 17, 2016 and updated January 2018 and 2024.

Welcome to Day 17 of the 31 Days of 10-minute Decluttering Tips Challenge.   Now is the perfect time to sort through that drawer (or drawers) of kitchen utensils. Let’s see what we want to keep and what needs to be purged. Our goal is to clear the clutter that we don’t need from our lives and kitchen so that we can better enjoy life.

Purging kitchen utensils can be challenging. You look at an item and think, “What if I ever ne-eeed it?” or “What if I’m throwing a party and need five of those soup ladles?” You come up with a thousand and one reasons to keep everyone of those kitchen utensils, even all the ones you don’t need. No excuses this time. Be honest and only keep the utensils that are really useful and necessary. 

Clearing Clutter – Purging Kitchen Utensils

Grab the 6  purging bags you created earlier and your free printable Purging Clutter Checklist.  Now, let’s head to the kitchen and start purging.

Take Everything Out- Keep in mind we’re doing this in 10 minutes. Depending on how much you have, that may mean you can only tackle one drawer today. That’s okay.  You can come back to the other items another time. Lay the items you take out on a counter or table. Now take a moment. If you have similar items in other drawers or locations, go get them and add them to the pile. 

Group Like Items Together – Quickly group like items together. As you’re sorting the items think about whether you have other similar items somewhere else in your kitchen. If you do, get them add them to the group so you have all ladles together, all spatulas together and so on. 

Evaluate – Look at each group you’ve created. Any broken items need to go. Start a list of items you need to replace, but do not keep broken items. Are there any categories you don’t need? If you no longer have the espresso machine, then you don’t need all the accessories. Are there any items you haven’t used in the past year? Just because it’s an expensive brand doesn’t mean that you should keep the item. If you’re not using it, pass it along to someone else and free up that space in your life for things you do use. 

Purge – Remove items you don’t need to keep and place them in one of your 6 purging bags. Throw away broken items, but donate or pass along items that can be used. Just commit to getting them out of your house this week.

Put Everything Away – Put the items you’ve decided to keep back away. Take a few minutes to organize the items as you put them away so you can enjoy a freshly organized kitchen. 

More Kitchen Utensil Organizing Tips

Kitchen Utensil Organizing Products

When it comes to kitchen utensil organizing products, there are a few key factors to consider to ensure you choose the right ones for your needs.

Firstly, look for products that are adjustable and customizable. This will allow you to tailor the organization system to fit your specific kitchen layout and utensil collection. This can make a huge difference in maximizing space and optimizing accessibility.

Consider products with sturdy materials such as stainless steel or durable plastics that can withstand daily use without bending or breaking. This is especially important for frequently used utensils like ladles, spatulas, and tongs.

Also, search for products that offer versatility in terms of storage options. Look for organizers that provide multiple compartments to accommodate various types of utensils and can adapt to your changing needs.

We’ve done it. Another day or purging down. Woo hoo! I hope you join me tomorrow for Day Eighteen in the 31 Days of 10-Minute Purging Tips challenge. Let’s purge some more so you can enjoy life more.

Find all my decluttering tips, printables and challenges in the table below. You can scroll though the table and look for ideas or search for specific ideas with the magnifying glass in the upper right-hand corner (on desktop). Click on the topic and then click through the specific article.