When you have a cluttered home, it can put an overwhelming emotional strain on your mindset. You would be surprised how that can have an effect on your mental health. Have you ever had a cluttered and messy home and an unexpected friend dropped in and all you could think was OMG, she can’t see my house like this? Imagine living a life free of those sorts of emotions and be able to be so proud of your home, that you actually invite your friends over because you want them to see how nice and uncluttered everything looks. Sign up and let me help you declutter your home, and create some beautiful living spaces that you didn’t even know you had.
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Decluttering Task #2
The Plastics Drawer/Cupboard in the Kitchen
I used to find that this was one drawer/cupboard that I struggled to keep tidy… the plastics; otherwise known as the Tupperware cupboard. I’ve worked out that when someone’s in a rush and is putting away the clean dishes, some of the items get thrown in the wrong spot, and it becomes a mess and gets out of control.
The key to keeping it organised is to remind yourself that it only takes a few extra seconds to put items in their correct place, which helps the cupboard to stay tidy. However, when you have too many plastic containers, it makes it hard to keep everything organised. Having only necessary containers on hand will help you keep everything tidier, organised, and easier to find and put away the next time.
TODAY’S TASK: PURGE AS MANY PLASTIC CONTAINERS FROM YOUR CUPBOARDS/DRAWERS AS YOU CAN
Note: My definition of a purge – sell, donate, repurpose or throw away items as you see fit!!
- Look at your cupboard and see what storage solutions aren’t working, eg lids all over the place, baking dishes not stacking properly.
- Remove everything from the cupboard and group like-items together. Eg, baking dishes together, lunch boxes together etc.
- Determine what items you haven’t used in over 12 months and consider purging them.
- Add any new and/or your current storage products into your cupboard to help you keep it organised.
- Place items you don’t use often towards the back.
- When placing items back into the cupboard, keep group items together.
- I like to keep lids with the containers.
READ MORE: How to Organise Kitchen Cabinets to see how I organise all my cupboards and drawers.
51 comments
I have already done this last week in my kitchen tidied pan cupboard too made me feel sooo much better even been in spare room and took stuff to the dump it’s amazing what having a clear out can do
I will be doing my pots and pan area as well this week!
nothing like decluttering to make you feel lighter and more organised! 🙂
The fact you’ve left the lids open on the waterbottles is a big one for me – it means they dont get mouldy and the excess condensation evaporates!
subtle!
yes! good eye 😉 especially with those plastic ones its important!
My mom and I cleaned out every cupboard in my kitchen before Christmas (including the plastics cupboard) and it is staying so clean. I only have items in the cupboards that I actually use. I took bags and bags to the Value Village and it feels great:)
Over the holidays I cleaned every draw, every cupboard in the house. It looks amazing & I feel great! I tackled a couple of jobs each day but when I started I couldn’t stop. You feel so much better living in an organised house. Thank you Kat your an inspiration!!
well done Damon, keep up the good work 😀
Last week I decluttered my Pinterest “vision” boards as I do not have a physical one at home. I was able to make more sense of all the boards and pins I have collected. I look forward to decluttering my plastics cupboards this week! Feels so good. And I’m glad I have a whole week to get it done.
ooh thats a great way of still applying the task even though you dont have a physical board, i like that 🙂
OMG this looks fabulous cannot wait to organise my drawer and cupboard !! love the idea for those bottles as well thankyou 🙂
Not to brag or anything, but I didn’t actually have to organise this drawer. I made it a priority to keep it tidy after we renovated the kitchen two years ago, and my husband doesn’t dare mess it up either. ? I still had a good look at everything and decided to get rid of a container we we haven’t used since my 3 year old was a baby. Job done!
(The rest of the house is a mess, but at least my plastic drawer is always under control) ?
lol sounds like you’ve got hubby well trained 😉
I’ve done this one recently but I’ll do it again and also do the “spares….lids and bottoms I keep elsewhere on the off chance that the missing pair will show up. Read set go!
I did this last year with both the plastics cupboard and the kids lunch boxes cupboard and am proud to say they have stayed sorted. I kept spare lids and containers that didnt have lids incase the pair turned up but they havent so I think I will get rid of them this week and maybe check for things we don’t use and get rid of them too! Having the plastics cupboard done has saved so much time and angst when trying to put leftovers away, or make the school lunches and hubby and the kids have been keeping it clean too. Its been one of my best wins. Just need to apply this to the rest of the house!!
well done Deb! Yes I agree, having it all organised makes it so easy to see what you have and find what you need for cleaning up etc 🙂
I don’t have a plastics container drawer, so I decluttered my utensil Drawers & purged heaps of items. Looks great & feels great too. Thank you Kat. Looking forward to the next purge.
well done Lois, you will feel so much better getting rid of those things that are just taking up space!! 🙂
Oh I love this challenge. It’s been a looong time since I’ve cleared out that cupboard. It’s the one I procrastinate on the most.
Where can I get that drink bottle holder please ? My one isn’t working. Thanks ?
They are magazine holders and they work great at keeping bottles upright. I’ve done this to and it really helps. Got my white ones from Kmart.
My plastics drawer has been a nightmare for sooo many years – I’ve scratched my head trying to work out how to organise it & keep it tidy – & acutally did it yesterday – so had a laugh when I saw today’s challenge!! I’ve been using the huge pot drawer under the oven – which invites “tossing” containers in any old how. Because it is so deep – I’m looking for a basket to slide in the top of the drawer to hold the smaller containers. Might have to get one of my boys to weld some brackets to the side of basket to hang over the side of drawer – getting excited!!
This could not be more appropriate timing! The “plastics cupboards” (yes, plural! I have more than one!) is the bain of my life. There is some order to them but having a hubby who just chucks the items in the cupboard regardless doesn’t help. We need a major cull! Can’t wait to do this! Thank you for the tips on how to tackle it, Kat.
Thanks for the inspiration, I’m going to be culling my plastics drawers today! What brand are your containers with the green edged lids?
Thanks l was going to do the plastic container cupboard but with changes l made l cleaned tidied and plurged 3 cupboards
Thanks Kat, great call to do this in week 2!
I was feeling attached to too many so have just added to this week and also used my purged plastic containers in other drawers at home as dividers (I.e. to store batteries etc)
Looking forward to continuing with you this year!
Mine is fairly tidy, already but I did purge about 7-8 things no longer needed and made a little more room for other items I’ve purchased months ago that I can bow fit in the one cupboard, thanks for the challenge!
Loving the daily de-clutter jobs. Over the weekend and yesterday I did a major cull in my wardrobe, linen cupboard & garage…feels great!
On a roll and did the whole kitchen and pantry!! Donated 2 boxes of unused items, and discovered things I had forgotten about!! Very satisfying indeed!!
I’ve been thinking a general kitchen purge is next on the agenda……..will be working on that this week. Thanks Kat
Love the drink bottle storage. Just opened my cupboard what a mess. Can’t wait to do this.
Plastics draw done.
Oh gosh, my worst nightmare! I have so much Tupperware. I’ll just do a little bit each day I think.
Since signing up to your Declutter 52 things two weeks ago, I knew this would be something that I had to do, but hated the thought 🙂 . So today I opened my 2do2day list and happily made a coffee date with a girlfriend, then opened the weekly newsletter to see the dreaded plastics cupboard needed to be sorted this week, grrrrr. Made the decision to “just do it” straight away and managed to sort plastics cupboard and also microwave and saucepan cupboard too….I couldn’t believe i did it immediately as i am the biggest procrastinator in the neighbourhood……Thanks Kat…this might just work for me 🙂 🙂
Well done Michelle!! Well done for not pushing it back, it would have felt so good to get it all done and be able to go on with your day, keep up the good work 🙂
Great idea! I now have a bag of surplus containers to give away. But the best part was discovering the drawer full of ants! Ants, ants as far as the eye could see! I ended up chasing them all over the kitchen cleaning and decluttering as I went. Now I have a beautifully organised pantry free of ants (and weevils, found them too) AND a bonus organised plastics drawer! Expecting a zombie apocalypse with next week’s decluttering challenge.
oh nooooooo!!! LOL that’s not something you want to find, but better to find them than leave them hiding!
I read this Task 2 late yesterday evening when I was doing what I usually do – i.e. wasting time on the internet. I thought to myself, ‘Hmm, I will clear out my plastics cupboard soon..’ and then I thought, ‘No! I will do it now!’. It didn’t take long and I thoroughly enjoyed doing it. It gave me a feeling of satisfaction and I keep opening the cupboard to admire my work. Thanks for the inspiration 🙂 x
Ooh good on you Sarah! Such a good feeling having it all clean, well done! Keep up the good work 🙂
My Tupperware cupboard is in desperate need. i really dread doing this task, it will be a mental struggle to get this one done. On the plus side I have cleaned out my spare/junk room and it is able to be used for guests again – I did it all, inside the cupboard, under the bed, all the shelves, everything. It feels great. Thanks for the motivation.
Its definitely a big job, but you will feel so much better afterwards and will want to keep it clean because of the effort you made! 🙂
Did my plastics clean out .. and almost filled a donation bin at the local good Sammie’s with stuff I found I no longer needed ( including plastics )
Love the challenge ( and it is making me very aware of everything I have stashed and stored for too many years
Thank you
Well done Lorretta!! thats a great achievement, keep it up 🙂
Moving house and dc,uttering same time, is very tiring but so rewarding….amazing how much ‘stuff’ gets collected that I cannot remember using….thanks for the gentle push!
it sure is interesting the things you find! Well done for doing both at the same time, will give you a fresh start in your new place 🙂
I don’t really have a plastics drawer/cupboard fortunately! So as someone else mentioned, I’ve gone through my utensils drawers – I now have a bagful of stuff for the bin – bits of rust showing on some very old stuff!! Not good……Actually have used a plastic container to put all together a couple of old knives and toothbrushes etc for cleaning …… so shoehorned the plastic!
Thanks for the motivation Kat – I’m busy thinking “what next”…….
good job Lesley! funny how much stuff we have that we dont realise until we actually sort through it 🙂
I had sorted out my tupperware/plastic/baking cupboard not too long ago BUT I couldn’t bring myself to part with much at all.
This time I was able to let go of a large (reusable) shopping bag full. Now I can get to what I use without knocking things out of the cupboard.
I also made a start in my craft room… that will take quite a bit of sorting ?
Being on mat leave with my 3wk old im tring to do a small task each day.
I find myself waiting for the next declutter task eagerly. Bring it on. Long way to go but feeling better for everything I get rid of.
I can’t believe mine now looks so good! Photos at https://justanotherflybaby.wordpress.com/2019/01/14/52-things-challenge-2019-task-2/. Thank you!
I do this job fairly regularly… My biggest struggle with this is other people putting away the dishes. It’s a good job for the kids to do, but always ends with an overflowing plastics cupboard. I am going to have another go at this task today and see if I can purge some plastics.
it definitely is one that needs to be maintained, good on you Janine let me know how you go!