Simple Steps to Organize Your Kitchen

You've got three half-full bottles of vinegar in your cupboard and your utensil drawer is a minefield of knife tips and mangled wire whisks. Time to get organized!

Step 1 Go through your kitchen and discard anything you don't use, along with any food, spices or medicines that are beyond their expiration dates.

Step 2 Take everything out of your cupboards and drawers, and wash the insides with warm soapy water. Rinse, let dry and replace cupboard and drawer liners.

Step 3 Store pots, pans and cooking utensils near the stove, nesting the pots and pans together to conserve space.

Step 4 Store dishes and silverware near your eating area and/or dishwasher. Use racks and silverware holders to maximize use of space.

Step 5 Be sure that children are able to reach items they use. Put things they should not use - such as sharp tools, alcohol and cleaning chemicals - well out of reach.

Step 6 Alphabetize your spices and keep them near the stove on a spice rack or in a nearby cupboard on a revolving rack.

Step 7 Remove large and seldom-used items from countertops and store them in a cupboard. For appliances that you use often, consider adding an 'appliance barn,' which can store toasters, blenders, juicers and other appliances on the countertop without clutter.

Step 8 Store food items that you use on a daily basis in accessible spots, and store all like food items together - for example, tea and sugar.

Step 9 Put food that may become infested with insects into sturdy plastic containers and seal them.

Step 10 Use drawer dividers to organize utensils.