Kitchen Countertops Are The Quickest Place To Declutter (And Make The Biggest Difference)

With the kitchen being one of the most high-traffic rooms in the house, it only makes sense for the counters to accumulate the most clutter. Mail, toys, half-eaten granola bars, keys, chapstick, and even last night's manicure supplies can all end up on your kitchen countertops. And once they do, it's easy for them to get stuck there. Over time, the clutter builds and builds to the point where you feel like you have to set aside a good hour or two just to get it under control. And who really has that these days?

Fortunately for us, keeping your kitchen countertops decluttered doesn't have to be complicated. They're actually the quickest place to tidy by setting aside a few minutes at the end of the day to put everything back where it belongs. It's the three "R" approach — remove, return, refresh. Start by grabbing all the out-of-place items, like toys, books, mail, and chargers, and return them to their proper places. You can use a small decorative basket to make this easier, as it allows you to collect everything at once and walk it to where it needs to go. Just don't choose anything too big, because it might become overwhelming or accidentally become an alternative to your junk drawer. Next, place any dirty dishes inside the sink and put away any seldom-used appliances that are still hanging around. Use a simple DIY solution to get your countertops sparkling clean, and — voila! — the area is officially back in order. If you do this every day for just a few minutes, it'll prevent your counters from turning into a chaotic mess and maintain the clear, clean surfaces you need to prep meals, eat food, and take care of so many daily tasks.

Since some parts of the kitchen counter naturally attract clutter faster than others, it helps to use those few minutes you're setting aside to focus on the areas where they'll make the biggest difference. High-traffic drop zones, food prep areas, and the corners where things get pushed "just for now" are usually the first places clutter shows up and builds, so you'll want to tackle those daily. You can also make small changes to how your kitchen is organized so items that tend to pile up on the counters actually have a place to go. 

Start by hanging paper towels on the inside of a cabinet door under the sink, freeing up counter space and hiding them at the same time. Tuck small appliances back into cabinets once you're done using them, and mail can go straight into a holder instead of sitting out and stacking up. Seasonings are also much easier to manage when they're kept in one spot using a genius spice-storage solution. If you need more cabinet space for the overflow from the counter, try to store any rarely used items or small appliances in another closet or cabinet or even the garage. To make life even easier, you could eventually get hanging solutions like utensil racks or magnetic knife strips to put on backsplashes, while other hangers can go inside cupboard doors or on the sides of your cabinets to free up room. The fact is, when countertops stay clear, the kitchen functions better, and you may even feel a little less stress, since clutter will add to it. Food prep also feels easier, cleanup takes less time, and the space feels less overwhelming when it's time to make your next meal.