Kitchen FAQ & Tips
I get a lot of the same questions over and over in my messages on Instagram. Today I’m sharing some of these with you and sharing my favorite kitchen organization tips!
Q: Do you have a separate salt and pepper shaker for the table and a set you use for cooking?
A: Yes and no. I do have a crystal set that was a wedding gift from my mother in law. I use this on special occasions. I have a set I use on a regular basis for cooking and I add it to the table if we need to. I love using a pretty set that can be on the table, but is also really functional for cooking. I bought this set years ago on clearance at Target, but HERE is a similar set.
This brings me to another point. I love pieces that go from the stove or oven to the table. I have some beautiful pots that I can use on the stove top or oven and they look pretty on the table. This is a great way to save space.
Q: Best tip for maintaining a clean kitchen?
A: There are 3 things you can do to keep your kitchen clean. 1. Wipe up spills as quickly as you can. This keeps things from being baked on surfaces or hardened to a cabinet. 2. Do your nightly kitchen pickup. Each night I make sure my main living area is totally picked up. This ensures that my counters stay clear of clutter. 3. Clean your kitchen each week. My kitchen is part of my Wednesday cleaning in my Weekly Cleaning Routine. (You can find that HERE.) I make sure all the counters are wiped down fully by moving anything that is on the counter and wiping behind it. I clean the fronts of all appliances as well on this day. These 3 things will keep your kitchen pretty clean and make your deep clean much easier!
Q: Do you have a tip for getting spills and burned on food off the stove top.
A: Time and soapy water are your friend. I like to use a non-scratch sponge and hot soapy water. I take one pass to see if it come off quickly. If it is still baked on I get it really wet with the hot soapy water and let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then come back and try again. This may take a few times, but it will keep you from scratching your stove up with something more abrasive. This method also works for anything sticky or hardened on your kitchen counters.
Q: What do I do with all of my Tupperware/Rubbermaid pieces for food storage. They are old and some have mismatched lids.
A: This may seem wasteful, but if it’s been a while since you’ve purchased a new set of food storage containers and many have missing lids, I recommend that you toss any mis-matched pieces, donate the rest, and start fresh. For as little as $30 you can buy a new set. I recommend THESE for plastic and THESE for glass.
If you have a newer set with plenty of pieces that match, match all lids to containers and then toss what does not have a matching lid or container.
I like to store these in a bin (or use a deep drawer if you have those available.) This keeps them from spilling all over the cabinet.
Q: How do you organized kitchen linens (towels and dishcloths)?
A: I have learned that envelope folding these (or rolling) takes up the least space and keeps the drawer looking tidy! When I moved to this method I was able to use the larger drawer that I had been using for kitchen towels for my utensils and use a much smaller drawer for the towels.
I also recommend reevaluating your towels at least once a year. I have found some really inexpensive white bar towels and washcloths that works great at Target. Kitchen towels do a lot of dirty work. They can begin to not smell great or look really dingy after years of use. I had the set
Q: What about all of my kids’ items such as plastic plates and cups?
A: I keep these corralled in one of my favorite bins from The Container Store. I keep this bin in a lower cabinet so my daughter can have access to them, but yet they don’t spill everywhere. We only keep what is in this bin.
I hope these tips help you in your kitchen!