We’re barely into October, and already Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations fill the shelves of stores in the San Antonio area. While you may not be ready to tackle your holiday gift shopping just yet, it’s NOT too early to start preparing your home for the upcoming holidays.
Now is the perfect time to declutter the room that tends to be the hub of most holiday celebrations: the kitchen. It can get mighty stressful in a cluttered kitchen when you’re churning out tamales or trays of cookies, or when you can’t find a knife to carve that golden, glistening turkey you just pulled from the oven.
Save yourself the stress by tidying up these 9 key areas of your kitchen before you launch into the holidays.
1. YOUR PANTRY
Now is the time to clear out your pantry so you’ll have room for holiday purchases like canned pumpkin puree or sweet potatoes.
First, cull out any expired canned goods, dried goods like rice and pasta, or unopened condiments like mayonnaise. Keep in mind that “Best if Used By” dates mean the food may not be at its best after that date, but it’s still safe to eat, unless the color, texture, or consistency has changed. If so, then toss it. If you’re not sure about an item, get the FoodKeeper App to find out whether you should keep it or get rid of it.
Donate to a local food bank any items that are still fresh, but which you don’t want anymore, like those five cans of hot dog chili you bought when you thought you might have a cookout but didn’t.
Check items for insects, damage, or staleness. Inspect items like flour and cornmeal for signs of insects like weevils, and get rid of them if you find an infestation. Toss those packages of brown or granulated sugar that’ve become rock hard. Throw out opened packages of crackers that are smushed or nuts that might’ve gone stale.
Organize it. This is a great time to install an app to help you inventory, create a shopping list, or plan meals so you’ll stay organized and cut down on food waste. This is also a good time to invest in storage options like the clear plastic containers and baskets that many professional organizers recommend for food storage.
2. YOUR FREEZER
According to the USDA, frozen foods remain safe in the freezer indefinitely, if the temperature is set correctly. However, a lot of foods don’t taste or look great after being frozen too long. Check your frozen items for changes in color, evidence of ice crystals, freezer burn, torn packaging, or bad smells.
Organize it. Once you’ve cleaned out the freezer, organize what remains by using stackable refrigerator and freezer bins.
3. YOUR SPICE RACK
If you’re going to be doing a lot of cooking for the holidays, you want your spices to be as fresh and potent as possible. While spices don’t really go bad, they do go bland over time. Now is the time to check your spices—give them a sniff, taste them, or look for expiration dates—and replace any that aren’t up to scratch.
Organize it. If your spice jars are all mixed up, now is the time to get them in order, whether they’re in a drawer, on a shelf, or on your counter. Amazon offers a lot of options for storing spice jars.
4. YOUR FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS
You know all those plastic containers that don’t have lids anymore, or those containers that partially melted in the microwave? Now is the time to toss them! If you plan on sending leftovers home with guests, buy new containers, foil, plastic wrap, or storage bags for that purpose.
Organize it. To store your own leftovers, invest in sturdy, stackable, BPA-free containers that will last you a long time.
5. YOUR TABLEWARE
Take a look at the dishes, silverware, and glassware you plan to use for holiday meals. Is it time to get rid of chipped plates or cracked glasses? Do you have a set of china or silverware that you never use? What about those reindeer candlesticks you don’t like anymore? Donate those items!
6. YOUR COOKWARE AND BAKEWARE
Inventory what you have in the way of items for cooking and baking. Do you really need that fancy mini-bundt cake pan or that enormous 20” x 14” baking sheet? Have you ever again used that gigantic soup pot you once bought for a party? Pack up any cooking and baking items you never use and donate them.
Organize it. Make your cookware and bakeware accessible by investing in racks that fit inside your cabinets, above your stove, or elsewhere.
7. YOUR SMALL APPLIANCES
Do a reality check on which small appliances you actually use and which are just cluttering your countertop. Is that espresso maker simply gathering dust? Do you even use that rice cooker your mother-in-law gave you? Take items like that to local soup kitchens or meal sites that could use them.
8. YOUR LINENS
Over time, linens like napkins, tablecloths, and tea towels inevitably get stained or worn out. Turn them into dust rags. Take worn towels to a local veterinarian, who can use them in kennels. Or sometimes your style changes, and suddenly you have no use for all those red napkins because you’ve switched to white table décor. See if family members might want them.
Organize it. Instead of stacking your linens willy-nilly, organize them now using these creative storage ideas from HGTV.
9. YOUR CLEANING SUPPLIES
You have to get on your knees to do it, but now’s the perfect time to get down there and see what’s under your kitchen sink. Toss or recycle any empty or expired cleaning products. Get rid of old sponges and rags. Take an inventory of what you need to buy to get through the holiday season: dishwashing liquid, cleaners, trash bags, etc.
Organize it. Tame the mess under your sink once and for all by buying some mats, baskets, hooks, and racks that will make storing—and finding—your supplies a breeze.