The Secret To Keeping Your Kitchen Counter Clutterfree For Good

Balance not sterile

I do something that is both environmentally friendly and cuts down on kitchen clutter. I put kitchen ware I’ve used in the fridge to be used again the next time without washing. For instance, I drink iced coffee every day. When finished, I put the covered travel flask in the fridge with any remaining ice, which is still frozen the next morning and ready to go. I’ll wash it every few days. Leftover food I cover and put in fridge as is rather than putting in a food container, creating one less to wash. Lastly I keep my dishpan top shelf in the fridge. Dishes can collect a couple of days away from pests. To some, all of this seems odd. To me, I feel good every day knowing I’m saving time and causing less waste for the environment from dish suds and excessive waste water.

I would love to clear my counters. But, I actually cook and bake often. So, my kitchen is full of items that I actually use on a daily basis.

Excellent, Joshua - common sense is so uncommon - uncluttered areas = mental rest. Great stuff --

I like the Minimalist concepts but I don’t want my home to look empty. I keep my toaster oven/toaster combo unit, microwave and knives on the counter because they get used three times a day. My one frivolous decor item is a set of canisters I use daily for dog treats and compost. They are so pretty and they bring me joy each time I look at them because they’re so unique plus they’re practical. I go for the balance and prefer to keep my house clutter free and only what I love and use.

Love your ideas and advice!!! Thanks so MUCH!!

But why do you want to have a kitchen that looks like an ikea show room? I think it looks nice to be in a place that looks like actual people lives there.

I need to work on de cluttering my entire home. In my opinion taking out and putting away a coffee pot used on a daily basis is a true definition of wasting time. I doubt many or most people do this, or, at least, I'd be surprised if they do. In addition, I have nearly no storage, so daily use items can't take it up. Creating extra work should not be part of the de-cluttering mindset - isn't de-cluttering supposed to be the opposite of extra work - Not having to move things around? There are plenty of things to address. Daily use items, in my opinion, are not one of them. In our quest to streamline, let's not forget good use of something very valuable - time.

My galley kitchen has to operate something like he’s talking about due to lack of bench space, but still haven’t cracked where to put damp bench cloths. 😊

Thank you. . .

If you like your stuff out on the counter, this clearly isn't the video for you 🤷🏾‍♀️This is for those who prefer aesthetically pleasing over practicality. Thank you for these simple, yet great ideas

Obviously, you have a HUGE home with a huge amount of storage space. Most of us are not this wealthy/blessed.

You are so productive and encouraging. Thank you for sharing with us! I am going to try to put away my toaster. Lol!

Thank you 🙏🏻

My mom makes lots of food from scratch and we always have lots of stuff out and sometimes I try and clean the counter tops for
but I always give up lol

I declutter my kitchen regularly. Now the counter top holds 2 vases, a small mirror, some books and note books, toaster, loudspeaker and coffee machine. Everything has its place and the area is clean and breezy. I just love it. I could probably take away more, but for now it is perfect. Inspiring video as always! 💚

I use my coffee maker and toaster for my breakfast every morning before leaving to work ! In order to put them back in the cabinet , apart of cleaning requires to let them cool first ! Sorry but there's no time for this ! I simply unplug them just to be sure that will not start a fire and I leave ! I clean them and tide up the counter after dinner !

I would love to see where you store your knife block or knife storage.

Thanks for this one! Question: Does the hand soap dispenser shown near the sink in your kitchen stay out, or does it get put away too?

I did a quick inspection in my home and found that only five flat surfaces are not cluttered. The coffee table and an ottoman in the living room, our fireplace hearth in the family room and two of my guitar amps in the basement. Every other flat surface throughout the house is cluttered.

Unfortunately, I have effectively no power to change this as "our" things suddenly become "hers" if I want to get rid of something. I'll find homes for things, but something else will take over the space. Not really sure how to approach it...

Balance it out
Starkness is cold
But clutter is a nightmare

I like seeing all the things on counters he said to put away. To me they make a home cozy. The outlets behind him catch my attention the most and they are not nice to look at. I don't like clutter and I don't like empty either

Absolutely nothing on the counters is overkill. I prefer a balance, and I like my home looking lived in and not like I just walked into an empty house for sale. Balance! ☯️

Please make a video on keeping the fridge organized and tidy. So many people are in and out of my fridge. I get frustrated when it gets messy!

Okay I understand what you're saying... about the toaster. However I do use it every day several times a day. Same thing with my small five cup coffee maker. Also I do not have the cabinet space, so it needs to go somewhere and I don't have the money to buy new cabinetry. Unless someone's going to drop $1,500 or more in my lap so I can get new cabinetry and reorganize the kitchen. LOL 😅 just so I could put my stupid coffee maker and toaster in a cabinet.... That I would end up getting the toaster out about three times a day and my coffee maker about four times. LOL 😅 Yes this is where space age cabinetry where my toaster pops out from underneath the cabinet and my coffee maker pops out from underneath the cabinet also. LOL 😅

Why not put away the oven and the sink also, when not used... and the closet, the shower and the washing machine 😂😂😂
No way to do that.
I like the other points of this video, though 😉

I appreciate a lot of these videos and advice but they come from a perspective of people who do have space to store off counter. Even with the best will in world and having got items down to a minimum, I don’t.

Leave out the appliances you use daily, or even weekly. Necessary appliances aren't clutter. They're an integral part of a kitchen workspace. Good grief.

Thanks for the much needed inspiration! I just minimalized my kitchen counters this morning, what a difference! I have butcher block counters and only had my toaster oven out, the only appliance in my small galley kitchen. I moved it to another place on the counter tops and also just bought one of those European looking wooden dish drying racks. Even though I have a dish washer, I had a tendency to wash things that can't go in the dish washer and let them pile up in front of the toaster oven. Now I hope to eliminate that pile that will look better on the rack til I put them away. Better looking than those plastic Rubbermaid or a metal dish drying rack. I have a couple of plants, too and have a beautiful artificial hanging ivy in front of my kitchen window. I love it , it looks real and I never have to water it. Best investment ever!

So much to learn here.. thanks for the good solid tips on getting clutter free!

Hey where do you guys put your paper towels and napkins? On the counter, in cabinet or under the cabinet?

Such a great video, I learned so much just by listening to your explanation. Thanks for taking the time to speak about this issue.

If anyone has any advice or a similar experience...
I bought a dishware set because I loved the pattern. It's a setting for 4 with 8 distinct pieces. That's 32 items in the set for a single person.
Over a decade, I find I've only used the top dinner plate, soup bowl, condiment cup, mug, etc. on a stack of 4, because I wash them promptly and return them to the stack. I don't use 3/4 of the set. The other pieces not being used are just consuming cupboard space. However, I fear letting anything go in case something gets broken, or in case some day, my tastes change, and I want to pass this complete set on to someone else.
Is it worth keeping the full set?

Thank you for saying to remove all items from your drawers and cabinets first, then replace only those things that you really use. Everything has a proper “home” within those spaces. Going to do this , because I searched for help and inspiration. I am “one of those people “ who likes kitchen gadgets. Going to simplify and keep only those things that I simply and truly can’t manage to be without.

I would never put my coffee pot or toaster in the cabinet!!!

Great video

I often dream of what a clutter free kitchen would look like. I’m ok putting away the coffee maker every day. But, I don’t want to put my knife block away every day.

I hear you but I have SMEG appliances, I'm torn; they're so pretty.

I feel so much better when my counter tops are clutter free! I agree 100%.

My best friend seems to collect top quality cookware, and knives, along with single-use gadgets like tortilla bowls used in the oven. He also has a hard time throwing away empty boxes, used bags, etc. I’m at his house a few times a week (he’s an excellent cook, while I clean up afterwards). One of the (many) problems is, once I start cleaning, I have a hard time stopping, which is not easy, because his counters are littered with stuff, and as big as the kitchen is, there’s not enough room for everything. I even ask him, before he buys something (like another baking dish) “Where are you going to store it?” “I’ll find a place.”
I’m a minimalist. We used to live together. The clutter is one very big reason why I moved out.

I love it! Thank you!!
My kitchen is small and it is a mess everytime I cook.
I started this and it is amazing and easy to clean ❤

The “I know, that you can do it” made me really emotional 🥹 I’ve always wanted a clutter free counter top and the way you put it. That it’s actually easy and not a hassle to have one was perfect. You described my feelings in the kitchen so well no wonder I hate cooking when I love it so much

I have to keep the Keurig on the counter. The water in the reservoir is too heavy too move.

My family loves to leave opened bags of chips and bread out in the middle of our island you can’t even see the top and it’s 6 ft long!

After 3 years my countertop looks relaxing. ❤

I dont have space for my KitchenAid otherwise I'll put it away 😂 the only things out are the kettle for my all day long coffees and a fruit bowl. But putting everything away, especially cleaning stuff (dish soap, sponge and brush all go under the sink) makes the kitchen really soothing.

Late to the party!
I just spent two days decluttering the kitchen- every drawer, every cabinet and then deep cleaned it. It feels amazing! The only thing on the counter is the microwave.( It is a rental and it is common not to have a built microwave in this area- so mine is on the cointer.) First person to visit- said I couldn’t live like this! To each his own.

I am afraid I must disagree re the toaster or coffee maker on the counter top and in the cabinet. Then you need two different areas for both, one on the counter when in use, and in a cabinet for storing when not in use. Most people do not have enough storage in their kitchen cabinets. Leaving a toaster, coffee maker, or electric mixer on the counter is usually not the clutter issue. It is mail, books, backpacks, purses/bags, pens, cell phone, charging cords, food (as in apples, grapes, bananas, lemons, onions, potatoes, or in my husband’s case a small watermelon). Then there is salt, pepper grinder, oil, spoon rest. Around the sink there are sponges, scratchers, dish soap, hand soap, Ajax, and the roll of paper towels. . What about the draining rack that is sometimes way overloaded and a storage place for the dried items to stay until in use again (as people are too lazy to put things away, or perhaps the kitchen is so small you are cramming these things into cabinets and drawers). Where do your brooms, mops, swiffer, and vacuum go to be stored (sharing real estate with coats, jackets or clothes)? Where do you feed and water your dogs/cats? Are you tripping over their dishes? What about your shoes? Do you have a back door and do you change your shoes before going outside? Where do your shoes/garden boots go? Now, if you’re the kind of person that stops at Starbucks in the morning for your coffee, lunches out with coworkers, and has DoorDash to deliver most of your evening meals, dine in restaurants on Friday and Saturday night, brunch out on Saturday and Sunday mornings, have no children, have no significant (live-in) other, have no pets, and don’t cook, your kitchen ought to look immaculate.

I definitely need to declutter my counters. I have far too many things on them.

I font use my toaster because i decided to put it in the cabinets. Too much work for toasting a bread. I eat my sandwich cold and bread stale. 😂