If your kitchen cabinets are hard to open without something falling out, it might be time to sort through them.
Maybe the shelves are full of plastic containers, old pans, or things you forgot you had. You might be moving things around just to reach the items you actually use. That makes cooking and cleaning more frustrating than they need to be.
This guide will show you why kitchen clutter builds up, where it usually hides, what items are worth keeping, and how to set up your cabinets so they’re easier to use each day.
Why Kitchen Cabinets Get So Cluttered
It usually starts with just putting things where they fit.
Maybe you’ve bought a new pan, but the cabinet is already full, so you slide it in wherever there's room. Then someone gives you a set of mugs or a crockpot you didn’t ask for, and it ends up on the back of a shelf.
And over time, things pile up. You might still have plastic containers with missing lids, chipped dishes from years ago, or a food processor you haven’t used since your kids were little.
And because you don’t want to waste or feel guilty, you keep it.
But at some point, these cabinets stop making sense. Don’t they?
Baking stuff gets mixed in with canned food. Lids are nowhere near their containers. Items you use every day are hard to reach, while things you never touch take up the best spots.
When your cabinets get like this, it makes daily cooking harder than it's supposed to be. Some people even stop using certain cabinets altogether because it’s too much of a hassle to open them.
However, getting organized gives you back time, space, and less stress when you’re in the kitchen. And that makes a real difference in your day.
But, Where Does kitchen Clutter Usually Build Up?
It doesn’t take much for kitchen cabinets to get crowded. You put something in quickly, planning to fix it later, and then forget about it.
Over time, things pile up behind closed doors. You may not notice the mess until you can’t find what you need or items start falling out. Here are the places where clutter tends to gather the most.
1. Corner Cabinets
These cabinets are deep and awkward to get into, so they often become storage for things you rarely use. You might have an old crockpot in there, or baking dishes you only use once a year.
And because it’s hard to reach the back, things get pushed in and forgotten. Over time, it becomes a hiding place for bulky items you don’t even remember putting there.
2. Cabinets Over the Stove
This spot might seem convenient, but it fills up fast. You probably keep spices, oils, or canned food there, but when everything is crammed together, it’s hard to grab what you need. Things tip over easily, and smaller items get lost in the back.
If you’ve ever had to pull out three jars just to find the paprika, you know what this looks like.
3. Under the Sink
This area turns into a dumping ground for anything you don’t know where else to put.
You might have cleaning sprays, garbage bags, old rags, or random items like candles, flower vases, or dishwasher parts. It's dark and low to the ground, so things pile up quickly without much thought.
Before you know it, you’re digging through clutter just to find one sponge.
4. Above the Fridge
This space is easy to forget because it’s out of sight. It’s common to store trays, oversized pans, or serving bowls up there—things you only use once or twice a year. Since it’s so high, you might not even remember what’s up there until you’re dragging out a step stool to look. And by then, it’s usually dusty and untouched.
5. The Plastic Container Cabinet
This is often one of the messiest spots in the kitchen. You may have containers with no matching lids, or lids with no bottoms. Some are stained or cracked, but they’re still in the pile. You might be hanging on to too many sizes or shapes, hoping they’ll come in handy.
But most of the time, it just means digging through a messy stack to find the one you actually need.
What to Keep and What to Toss From Your Kitchen Cabinets
We all have a cabinet full of things we thought we’d use but never do. Maybe it’s a cake pop maker from a Christmas sale or five spatulas when you only use one. These things take up space and make it harder to find what you actually need.
Here’s how to sort it all out in a simple way:
First, take everything out. Clear one cabinet at a time and set all the items on a table or counter. Then, wipe the shelves clean before putting anything back.
And as you go through each item, ask yourself:
- Do I use this at least once a month?
If not, and it’s not seasonal or special-use, it might be time to let it go. - Does it still work?
Toss anything chipped, rusted, missing parts, or no longer safe to use. - Do I already have more than one of these?
Keep the best version. Let go of extras you never reach for. - Do I even like using this?
If it’s hard to clean, takes up too much space, or you just don’t like it, don’t keep it.
Here are some common items people hold onto but don’t really need:
- Old mugs with cracks or chips
- Plastic containers with missing lids
- Appliances used once, like quesadilla makers or sandwich presses
- Worn-out baking sheets or peeling nonstick pans
- Extra measuring cups, strainers, or serving trays
Keep the items that make daily cooking easier and let go of anything that adds stress or just takes up room.
You can donate clean, working items to local shelters, church kitchens, or post them in a local Buy Nothing group. And recycle what you can, and throw out what’s already broken.
How to Set Up Your Cabinets for Everyday Use
You’ve cleared the clutter. Now you need a setup that actually works for how you cook and live every day.
If your coffee mugs are across the kitchen from the coffee maker or you’re reaching over pots just to grab a can of soup, it’s time to fix that. The goal is to make things easy to grab and easy to put back.
Here’s how to do it in a way that makes sense:
1. Keep similar things together
Group items by how you use them. For example:
- Put all baking tools in one cabinet (e.i. mixing bowls, measuring cups, baking sheets).
- Keep food storage containers in one place, not scattered in every cabinet.
- Stack your everyday plates, bowls, and glasses together near the dishwasher or sink to make putting them away faster.
2. Make daily-use items easy to reach
Think about what you grab every day.
- If you drink coffee every morning, keep mugs, filters, and your scoop in the cabinet above or next to the coffee maker.
- If you use the same skillet every night, don’t tuck it behind the holiday roaster pan.
3. Use bins and baskets for smaller things
You don’t need to buy expensive containers. Even a dollar-store bin can help.
- Use one bin for snacks, another for spice packets or small baking tools.
- Put small lids together in a basket so they don’t slide around.
4. Stack items the smart way
Tall cabinets waste space if everything is just sitting flat.
- Use shelf risers or small wire racks to store things like canned goods, plates, or cutting boards in neat stacks.
- Put heavier items on the bottom and lighter ones up top.
5. Label if you need to
If others use your kitchen or you forget where things go, labels can help.
- A piece of masking tape and a marker is all you need.
- Label a shelf “Baking” or “Lunch containers” so you don’t have to dig around later.
6. Always check back in a few months
Things change over time. What works now may not later. So, always find time to.
- Set a reminder in your phone or on a calendar to do a 10-minute cabinet check in 3 or 6 months.
- Pull out anything you’re no longer using before it becomes clutter again.
This setup doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to work for the way you use your kitchen now.
Clear Out the Extras and Use Your Cabinets Better
It’s hard to cook or clean when your cabinets are too full. If you’re moving things around just to find what you need, it might be time to clear out what’s in the way.
You don’t have to keep items you never use. Letting go of what you haven’t touched in years gives you more room for the things you use every day—like your favorite pan, the plates you always grab, or the container that actually has a matching lid.
Cabinets don’t need to be fancy. They just need to hold the things that help you cook, eat, and clean without turning them into a chore.
If organizing your kitchen feels like too much to figure out on your own, the Printable Space Saver Binder can help. It gives you a clear, step-by-step way to map out each cabinet, figure out what belongs, and set up a system that will suit your life right now.
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