Fly Lady System: The Best Plan for Kitchen Cleaning

You have to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. For many families, this room is also a dining room. Therefore, it is important to ensure that the room retains as much free space as possible, but at the same time accommodates everything necessary for cooking. And you shouldn’t forget about comfort.

In this article I’ll tell you how to quickly and correctly clean up your kitchen cabinets with your own hands.

Basic rules for storing in kitchen cabinets

The convenience and speed of work depends on the proper arrangement of utensils and various small details in the kitchen. Recommendations to help organize storage in closets:

1. First, think about what items you use most often and place them along the edges of shelves and drawers. This will help you get what you need as quickly as possible. And in the very depths, put those things that you take out extremely rarely.
2. To determine the importance of kitchen utensils, it is better to use the “three boxes” rule. In the first box, put what you definitely can’t do without. Secondly, things that are not needed. And in the third, place items about which you are in doubt.
3. It is also worth sorting items by purpose groups. This will make it easier to remember what is where.
4. If there is little free space, use the walls and make as many drawer cabinets as possible.
5. Immediately pour cereals and pasta into sealed containers to prevent insects from infesting them.
6. Throw away any dishes with defects. This will create more free space.
7. Try to hide all equipment in cabinets or niches so as not to gather dust and spoil the interior.

Organizing space in kitchen cabinets

Now we will answer the question of how to properly fill kitchen cabinets.

1. Sort products and items into categories;
2. Store each category in special trays or containers;
3. When ordering a set, focus on more drawers, which will allow you to store much more things;
4. Place things not in piles, but in rows (except for deep dishes. This will be the correct organization of storage in the kitchen);
5. Don't forget to even use cabinet doors;
6. Use corner space 200%;
7. Build drawers into the base of the unit to accommodate small appliances;
8. Buy custom organizers.

Correct placement on shelves

Shelves can be open or closed. Each has disadvantages and advantages. Let's compare them.

As you can see, closed shelves have more advantages, while open ones have more disadvantages.

It is better to store tableware, cups and glasses in wall cabinets. Such shelves are often located directly above the sink. Place a drying rack on one of the shelves. This way the dishes will be in a visible place and will dry faster. Place a shelf above the drying rack for mugs and glasses.

Dish drying rack in kitchen cabinet

Place plastic containers for storing food on the same hanging shelves.

Recommendations for storage on wall shelves:

• Keep all types of drinks in one place.
• Place bottles with syrup, vegetable oil, and honey in one corner.
• Wall cabinets are also suitable for sweets; place them together with drinks.
• Convenient storage involves the use of baskets. Place spices in them.

Organizing storage in kitchen cabinets

An organized cabinet speeds up the process of preparing and serving food. The lower storage systems are used for storing large and heavy items, and the upper ones are for small and light ones.

If there is not enough space in the kitchen cabinet for dishes, it is worth increasing the number of shelves. The easiest way to do this is to use special models of mesh baskets. You can hang cups on hooks attached to the shelves. It is better to store glasses and glasses upside down. On the inner walls of the cabinet you can compactly hang attachments from electrical appliances.

Smart storage organization in the kitchen cabinet.

Another option for rational use of space is vertical storage units attached to the inside of the kitchen furniture door. It is no less practical to use special separators. With just one partition you can create a convenient place to store lids. It is also worth using cabinet doors for this purpose. A few self-adhesive hooks and the problem is solved.

For cereals and various bulk products, it is beneficial to use containers with valves and dispensers. Containers must be transparent. Spoons and forks are best stored in items with partitions. They are easy to make from plywood with your own hands, and will ensure order in the kitchen in drawers and cabinets. Knives need a separate place.

Trays, containers, baskets and boxes

They are sold in any supermarket and are inexpensive. You can choose by width, length and height.

Trays and containers are placed in drawers or hanging drawers. To quickly find items, select containers or trays of different colors and label them.

Place a low tray with a divider in a long, wide cutlery drawer. It is better to choose an option in which the dividers can be easily rearranged as needed.

The presence of trays and drawers will greatly simplify cleaning surfaces, since you will not have to clean each item separately.

How to be efficient in the kitchen

Experts recommend developing “multitasking” – the habit of doing many things at the same time. It is very useful not only in the kitchen. While the broth for lunch is being cooked, you can disassemble the refrigerator, sort the cereals, and start preparing the dish for dinner. While the last pancake is baking, wash the pan in which you kneaded the dough.

Try to step away from doing things according to plan and do what you see. Compare which method of action makes you more effective. This is difficult work on yourself, but the result is cleanliness and perfect order in the kitchen!

Retractable systems

Be sure to use pull-out systems in lower kitchen cabinets. I recommend implementing them to the maximum. Then you won't have to dive deep into the closet to find the item you need.

A popular retractable cabinet that is used in kitchens is a bottle holder, or cargo. This is a basket made of metal rods where it is convenient to store spices, oils, drinks or kitchen utensils.

The upper tiers of a furniture set are rarely filled with retractable systems. The accessories for them are expensive. Regular guides will not work.

Vertical dividers and organizers

To avoid having to spend a long time looking for small items in the drawers in the kitchen, use dividers and organizers.

Buy ready-made dividers at the store or make them yourself. The advantage of homemade dividers is that they can be installed in any direction. In this case, you can arrange sections according to the required parameters.

Shelves, shelves, sections for organizing

Any closet consists of shelves, that's a fact. But these shelves can also be divided into sections, and each of them into even smaller cells. This way, order will be maintained in the kitchen cabinets, and each item will have its own cell - neither a cutting board, nor a bottle of olive oil, nor a jar of turmeric will fall out.

• It is convenient to store cutting boards in a vertical position (like office folders), so shelves with compartments should be provided of this type. Also, sometimes vertical organizers for boards are hung on the hinged doors of kitchen units.
• For bottles, retractable cabinets with a basket are made in advance, which “rides” on guides and can be partially or completely pulled out. It's called cargo. Thanks to the side straps, this device securely fixes the bottle and prevents it from falling, and thanks to its retractable design, it allows you to easily reach both the nearest container and the furthest one.

  Shelves for bottles in the kitchen photo

• Shelving. A very good solution for storing vegetables, fruits, kitchen textiles, cookbooks. A vertical rack with baskets takes up little space, but you can place a lot of interesting things in it - plastic perforated baskets will become a convenient shelter for vegetables, straw baskets with textile linings will store tablecloths and napkins and unused cutlery.
• Mobile shelves - racks on wheels. They are convenient precisely because of their mobility. Items that are too heavy are unlikely to fit here - but dishes, napkin holders, salt shakers, and tea sets can easily be moved on wheels from one place to another without any extra labor on the part of the owners.

  Mobile shelf for the kitchen photo

Organizing order in the kitchen largely depends on whether the storage areas are equipped with additional devices. It is very convenient to store kitchen utensils and even some products in baskets, which are located not only on shelves, but also simply stand on the floor. Also, various trays and horizontal organizers with compartments will help keep your kitchen drawers organized, allowing you to organize all your kitchen little things.

Multi-level stands and magnetic strips

Similar multi-level stands are sold in a store selling household items or kitchen utensils. The stand is useful for storing pots, pans and even food.

Stand Features:

• takes up little space;
• holds a lot of utensils due to storage in several levels;
• There are closed and open types (choose according to the interior).

A magnetic board is the perfect place to store knives: knives stay sharp for a long time. Any wooden block is suitable for placing a magnetic board.

Built-in baskets for vegetables and fruits

It has long been no secret that the ideal place to store many vegetables and fruits is in boxes closed from light but ventilated. Wicker baskets, which can be an element of kitchen furniture, have this combination of parameters.

Storage on cabinet doors and walls

To save space in the kitchen, hang hooks or special holders on cabinet doors. When installing, make sure that when closing, the attached items do not come into contact with the internal shelves, otherwise the doors will not close.

Only light items can be stored on cabinet doors and walls: spices, plastic cutting boards, measuring spoons.

Inside the top cabinet door, attach a chalkboard or simply cover the surface with chalkboard paint. This will allow you to quickly write down a recipe or make any other entry.

But the outer walls of the cabinets will hold light potholders, frying pans, wooden planks, as well as small jars of sauces. The main thing is to choose reliable fasteners and holders. It is advisable to place only beautiful objects on the outside of cabinets.

Expert opinion

Tatiana Leontyeva

Professional housewife

There will also be no space left under the wall cabinets if you attach low shelves underneath them for different jars.

Ideas for arrangement in a corner module

Some housewives complain that it is difficult to get items from the far corner of the closet. In this case, installing a carousel will help. But there will be less space for folding utensils, since the corners will not be used. If the shelves have already been made, then place ready-made carousels on them. Sold in furniture stores in the accessories department.

In corner cabinets, it is recommended to make not one or two shelves, but at least three, and if space allows, then four. This is especially true for a small kitchen - you cannot install large furniture in such a room, the corner areas will become the only place to store a large dish. But then there will be no need for high shelves.

Expert opinion

Svetlana Kolesnikova

Designer

I recommend choosing cabinets with right angles. There are two compartments on the outside, and there is a large storage space inside. Use the corner area to place large kitchen appliances.

What is order made of?

Scientists have conducted many studies on how order is perceived in people's minds. The main conclusion that was made is that everyone’s sense of order, without exception, is made up of the cleanliness of horizontal and vertical surfaces. It is especially important to keep the floor, window sill, tables, sink, refrigerator, and cabinets clean. The second most important factor in the perception of order is fresh air in the room. Ventilate the kitchen more often!

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Note! It is very important to teach all family members to immediately clean up after themselves spilled coffee, a stained stove, or a scattered breakfast cereal. If any of them took an item of utensils or spices for cooking, they must return it to the same place immediately after use.

To keep your kitchen tidy, every item should have its own place. Get storage systems and organizers for dishes, wine bottles, and glasses. Hanging systems on roof rails are effective for storing utensils.

It is advisable to carry out wet cleaning of floors and window sills daily. Every week you should wash the surfaces of the cabinets and refrigerator. Once every 3-4 weeks, a general cleaning of the kitchen is needed with a complete inspection of cabinets, washing of lampshades and window frames.

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Space under the sink

To begin, attach several hooks under the sink for brushes, brushes, and rags.

Attach the railing to the door, and the hook-runners on it. Hang baskets and storage trays on the same hooks. You can choose not the smallest trays, since there are no internal shelves, and nothing will interfere with closing the door.

You can hide a bag of bags on the hook. Organize a magazine rack under the sink. Use floor trays. But it is better to choose square ones rather than round ones. This way, more space is put to good use. It is better to store already sorted items in floor containers.

Instead of containers, build in know-how in the form of a plastic rod, which is sold at IKEA for only 200 rubles. Hang sprays and atomizers on it.

If there is a trash can under the sink, then choose a square or rectangular one.

Pull-out rack (vertical cabinet)

To make the most of your kitchen space, use floor-to-ceiling space. A retractable rack (or vertical cabinet) is suitable for this.

However, retractable racks are also found in small sizes for placement in secluded corners.

Vertical cabinets are usually included in the furniture set. If they are not provided, the rack can be purchased separately.

Organization of storage in the kitchen – Top 10 ideas (photo)

Railings

Additional storage space for kitchen utensils can be easily added using roof rails.

“Rails are metal strips with hooks on which you can place anything: pots, towels, spoons, cutting boards.”

Vertical drawers for the kitchen

Even the tiniest place in the headset can be properly organized and get a ton of extra space.

For example, you can install a shelf with special dividers and shelves.

Use of facades

You need to use every centimeter of space wisely - this is the key to properly organizing storage in the kitchen. This is what we will do. Imagine, by hanging a hanging system and hooks on the inside of the facades, you will get a lot of extra space for things.

Perforated Wall Panel

To make the most of the space, create a kitchen apron from perforated sheets and get additional shelves and hooks.

See for yourself how modern and stylish this option looks. This will be the perfect organization for storing kitchen utensils.

Find out what aprons exist in the article - Wall panels for the kitchen .

Insert shelves and bookcases

The organization of space in the kitchen, which is accompanied by insert shelves, allows you to get useful additional space for storing kitchen utensils.

Magnetic pendants

Magnetic hangers allow you to collect all the knives together on one wall. Therefore, now it will not be possible to “scatter” them across different parts of the room.

We hope that such storage organization in small and large kitchens will help to compactly place kitchen utensils.

Return to content

• Corner pull-out systems
• Wall hooks
• Organization of storage in the kitchen under the sink
• How to arrange dishes
• Spice placement
• Ideas for organizing kitchen utensil storage
• Railings

How to clean kitchen cabinets - tips

To summarize, let’s gather the tips into short life hacks that will simplify cleaning your closets and help you maintain order for as long as possible:

1. Start any cleaning with an audit. Review the contents of your closets and get rid of unnecessary items. The same applies to spoiled food - you cannot save on health.
2. Divide deep drawers into compartments. Use flat dividers or install pre-made trays.
3. Place the spices in one corner. Choose a place that will be at hand.
4. Place cleaning supplies under the sink. They are not visible there, but they always remain nearby. I advise you to divide the funds into categories and also put them in boxes. This way the surface will be cleaned faster.
5. Divide the shelves into compartments using dryer dividers. So the stacks will be smaller, and the dishes will be dry, and it will be easier to get them out.
6. Pack cereals and pasta into bulk jars. To save space, choose square containers.
7. Place large items deep into the shelves, and place small ones in front of them.
8. Do not forget about the versatility of the door and walls (both internal and external).
9. To quickly find what you need and not move it from place to place, label the trays or purchase transparent ones. Choose containers that are the same shape or style.
10. Don't neglect hooks and shelves. They will allow you to place everything at hand and at the same time keep things in order.
11. Use tiered storage devices - they won't take up much space, but will hold a lot.

What to do if there is no pantry?

Organizing storage in the kitchen with your own hands in the absence of free space is a difficult task if you cope with it yourself! This is why this article was written.

If you don't have a storage room, don't despair. Decide how much space you can use to implement some interesting ideas.

The first thing that saves a small room is open shelves, which are located in different parts of the room (corners, furniture, walls).

Horizontal and vertical shelves visually expand the space and help to properly organize storage in the kitchen. Depending on the area, the amount of possible content on them is selected. This:

• Spices;
• Glasses;
• Dishes;
• Books, etc.

If the room is small, use the window sill and place the necessary elements on it. Better yet, extend it and connect it to the work surface (countertop).

Sometimes household appliances are stored on the windowsill (if the width allows): coffee makers, blenders, mixers. But do not forget that they do not like solar radiation, so they need to be protected somehow (by installing a screen on the glass).