The kitchen is one of the rooms where the most things accumulate, especially small items. You probably don’t really know what’s in the upper cabinets, and some of the food in your pantry may have expired.
Organization guru Marie Kondo has the answer for organizing your food, utensils, and, a little bit more, your life.
But before you tidy up and clean, apply our best tricks to clean the kitchen and make it a comfortable, tidy, and healthy space.
1. How to organize your kitchen according to Marie Kondo: what I use and where I store it
This is the basis of the KonMari method in the kitchen: store only what you use and have a specific place for each category of items.
As the professional organizer reminds us in her show ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo,’ if you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, ” it’s impossible to keep it spotless all the time. Approach it calmly, because it will never be perfect.”
2. Organize the kitchen in one day
It’s essential that you do it this way. This will make you more aware of everything you own and the sheer quantity of products, utensils, and food you’ve accumulated. Believe it or not, it will make the task much easier.
Furniture, Voxtorp model, from IKEA. Expo Grey countertop, from Silestone. Stools, from Maisons du Monde. Ceiling lights, from Faro Lighting.
3. Take everything out of the cupboards and drawers
Tupperware, pots, pans, plates, small appliances, and everything in the pantry. “ Go through everything and ask yourself what items you don’t see as part of your life and don’t want to be part of it from now on,” explains the guru.
If your kitchen is small, do it by category: first the utensils, then the food, and finally the cleaning products.
4. Remove duplicate pieces
These could be ladles, can openers, slotted spoons… or bowls and plates you never use. Anything duplicated in your kitchen shouldn’t be there twice: once is enough.
That’s why it’s a good idea to take inventory and get rid of everything you don’t love and everything that doesn’t serve a purpose. Marie Kondo is inflexible on this point of her method.
5. How to apply the KonMari method in the kitchen
Taking everything out of the cupboards means having a clear view of everything you own. This will help you decide what to keep and what to get rid of.
Go through each item and think about how often you use it and whether you really need it. For example, if you’ve only used your blender a couple of times since you bought it, perhaps the best thing to do is sell it, give it away, or donate it.
Broken items or mismatched food containers can be disposed of properly. Fill a bag with everything you don’t want and take it to a recycling center. Faucets by Zuchetti. Tiles by Alteret. Wardrobes, model MH6, by Modulnova.
6. How to organize kitchen cabinets according to Marie Kondo
Use the top cupboards for things you don’t use often, like decorative dishes, those you use for special occasions, or baking molds.
Makes sense, right? On the other hand, keep plates, glasses, cups, and so on within easy reach, so you don’t need a stool to get them.
7. The Tupperware containers, vertically
According to the KonMari method, storing all your food containers vertically will save space and allow you to “see everything you have at a glance,” explains Kondo.
But first, make a selection. Keep only the ones you actually use and that are functional. Put smaller containers inside larger ones to save even more space.
Use a large drawer to store them, or if you don’t have one, keep them in an easily accessible cupboard. She also recommends sticking with square or rectangular containers, which create a greater sense of order and make much better use of space.
8. Use the bag method with the pots
Apply the techniques you’ve learned from Marie Kondo to organize your kitchen. If the tidying guru stores a small bag inside another to save space, you can do the same with your pots and pans.
9. After the utensils, the food
Check the expiration dates of everything in your pantry. Yes, everything. Anything past its expiration date must be thrown away.
Use anything with an upcoming expiration date as soon as possible. And if you know you won’t use it or bought it for a recipe you won’t be making again, see if someone you know would be interested, and if not, throw it away too.
10. How to organize the pantry
The main tip of the KonMari method for keeping your pantry organized is to categorize. Keep beverages in one category, such as coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and so on.
Store cereals and snacks separately from pasta, flour, and other carbohydrates. Do the same with canned goods.
11. Arrange in glass jars
It’s ideal for legumes, rice, or pasta. Even for spices! You’ll be able to identify what’s what at a glance, it will be much more organized, and it offers a visually appealing combination of textures.
A good trick is to put a sticker on each container with the expiration date. This way, you’ll consume more responsibly and won’t have to throw food away.
12. Boxes and baskets for small items
Whether it’s in the pantry or the utensil cupboard, Marie Kondo recommends using baskets and boxes for easier access and better organization. Arranging everything this way makes it easier to know what you have.
13. The countertop is best left clear.
For Marie Kondo, visual decluttering is essential for enjoying your home and being happier. That’s why she recommends removing anything from the countertop and any other kitchen surface that isn’t absolutely necessary.
Keep only what you use frequently. For example, a knife block or a cutting board—both items you use daily for cooking. The organization guru recommends avoiding “just in case” items and prioritizing practicality above all else. Furniture by Santos, designed by Lucía Mariñas.
14. Store the condiments
It’s common in many homes to keep oil, vinegar, and salt on the countertop. You might think, “We use them every day, why shouldn’t I leave them there?” Well, basically because they stain and tend to leave the entire surface greasy. It’s best to store them in a cupboard or drawer.
Remember that, in addition, the fewer things you have on the countertop, the easier it will be to clean.
15. The refrigerator according to Marie Kondo
Follow the same principles as for organizing the rest of the kitchen. Store items you use less frequently on the upper shelves. Organize by category: sauces, vegetables, fruits, cold cuts, etc.
And finally, respect the different temperatures in the refrigerator. Storing items vertically gives you a clear view of everything, which also helps you use food before it spoils.
16. How to store dishcloths according to the KonMari method
If you’re a fan of the KonMari method, we know you already know this: vertical folding! This method is foolproof for seeing all your items at a glance and saving space. Use the same technique as for folding towels.
17. Where are the cleaning products stored?
The organization guru recommends storing them in the drawer under the sink. The detergent, cloths, and sponges you use are within easy reach but out of sight.
Kondo also recommends removing damp cloths and letting them dry in the sun to prevent unpleasant odors in the kitchen.