How to Quickly Declutter Your kitchen
October 8, 2026
Hi, friends! Today’s post is short and practical. It’s actually based off of a recent YouTube short that I created and wanted to share in this space.
This week, we have been enjoying a break week from school, and anytime we have an extended break, I like to “shake down the house” (aka shake out all of the unused/unnecessary items). It never ceases to amaze me how we accumulate stuff without even knowing it. It’s as if it creeps into my house in the dark of night…
Our kitchen is probably the most item-dense room in our house, and consequently, it takes me the longest to declutter. It’s also the most satisfying to declutter because I know that I can get rid of at least a full trash bag of stuff!
Without further ado, here are a few helpful hints on decluttering your kitchen. Please don’t think that I’m trying to be bossy. In an effort to convey my thoughts, I am writing my ideas in command form, but it’s not meant to be an order…hehe.
Here we go…
Mentally prep before the declutter process. The day before you plan to declutter, pay attention to all of the items that you actually use in your kitchen. What things do you touch in a day? If you don’t touch it on a normal day, do you really need it? Of course, there are special items--like holiday pieces and specialty gadgets—that have their due places in our kitchens. But if you routinely do not use an item, think about letting it go.
Don’t spend a lot of time on cupboards that you know you like and want to keep everything in it. Maybe give it a quick glance over, and then move on to more “needy” spaces.
Think through what food you are actually going to eat. If you really are not going to eat it, then pitch it! Even if you spent money on the outdated/unnecessary food, get rid of it, move one, and don’t beat yourself up over money spent. Worrying about the cost isn’t going to put dollars back into your wallet.
Let go of unused or broken items, even expensive appliances. My mom bought me a beautiful industrial quality KitchenAid mixer for my wedding years ago. Too many bread kneading sessions have beat the poor mixer to an unusable state, so it’s time to let it go. And no, I am not dropping the mixer off at a thrift store for some unlucky soul to have the displeasure of realizing it’s broken. The mixer is going to the dump where it belongs.
Just keep decluttering. Doing it one time isn’t enough. Routinely go through your kitchen, maybe several times a year, and you will feel a better sense of control and understanding of your space. The more times you declutter, the quicker and more confident you will become!
wow, i feel inspired to head to my kitchen right now and start decluttering!