Declutter kitchen drawers without feeling overwhelmed. Here’s how!
It’s very easy for kitchen drawers to turn into bottomless pits of chaos.
One day, they’re neatly arranged, and the next, you’re digging through a mess of mismatched utensils, containers without lids, expired sauce packets, and random odds and ends that seem to have appeared out of nowhere.
And when you’re in the middle of cooking or preparing a quick snack for the kids, the last thing you want is to be digging through a cluttered drawer trying to find that one tool you need.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to declutter your kitchen drawers all at once! You can do it in just 15 minutes a day.
I know time is precious, and small steps make all the difference.
So, grab a timer, and let’s declutter those kitchen drawers together. One drawer at a time.
Choose your starting point.
Every kitchen is different, and we all have our own biggest clutter culprit.
So instead of following a set order, start with the drawer that frustrates you the most.
Or you may also start with the drawer that feels the easiest to declutter to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
For each drawer, follow these simple steps:
1. Empty it out – Take everything out and place it on your countertop.
2. Sort – Follow these categories:
- Keep (things you actually use and need)
- Trash (broken, expired, or useless items)
- Relocate (items that belong elsewhere in the house)
- Donate (items you don’t need anymore but can still be used by others)
3. Wipe down the drawer – A clean space feels so much better!
4. Put back only what belongs – Use small containers or drawer dividers to keep things neat.
Now let’s enumerate the kitchen drawers. Just pick which one to start with. Or just follow this sequence!
1. Silverware Drawer
Silverware drawers can quickly get messy with loose spoons, forks, and knives tossed in without a second thought.
Check for any duplicate or mismatched pieces. If you have way more utensils than your family uses daily, consider storing extras elsewhere or donating them.
2. Plates & Bowls Drawer
Keep only the plates and bowls you use regularly. If you have a favorite set, keep that as your main collection.
Chipped, cracked, or heavily scratched plates should go. You can repurpose them as plant saucers, mosaic art projects, or even use them in the garden to deter weeds.
Relocate special occasion dishes, like holiday plates if you don’t use them daily. Then donate excess plates or old sets you no longer love.
Stack plates and bowls neatly, keeping the ones you use most often at the front for easy access. If you have deep drawers, consider using plate dividers or a rack to keep them from shifting around.
3. Cooking Utensils Drawer
Whisks, spatulas, ladles – oh my! This drawer tends to overflow with items we use (and some we don’t).
Take a moment to evaluate each item. Do you really need five wooden spoons?
Keep only what you use regularly and store seasonal or rarely used items in a separate space. Use drawer dividers or a small bin to prevent items from shifting around.
4. Plastic Container Drawer
Does your container drawer explode every time you open it? Lids go missing, bottoms don’t match, and somehow, there are always more containers than you need.
Match every container with its lid. Any lidless containers (or container-less lids) should go.
You can repurpose these though. Whenever I find a lidless container in our kitchen, I give it to my boy as he likes playing with containers. Or I use one as an organizer for my little trinkets. And sometimes I use these for feeding our cat, dog and chickens.
Also, say goodbye to any warped, stained, or cracked pieces.
Stack neatly and consider storing lids upright in a small bin for easy access.
5. Spices and Seasonings Drawer
Spices expire faster than we think! If you have a spice drawer (or a spice rack), sort through it too.
Check expiration dates and toss anything that’s old or clumpy. Wipe down the drawer before putting spices back in order, grouping them by type (e.g., baking, savory, frequently used).
If you don’t already have labels, now’s a great time to add them for easy identification!
For more tips on organizing spices, check this out: 10 Smart Ways to Store and Organize Your Spices with Dollar Store Finds
6. Baking Tools Drawer
If you love to bake, chances are you have a drawer (or at least a section) dedicated to measuring cups, rolling pins, pastry brushes, and cookie cutters.
Assess what you actually use. That heart-shaped cookie cutter you’ve never used? Time to let it go.
Neatly arrange the essentials and consider using small bins or drawer dividers for better organization.
7. Foil, Wrap, and Bag Drawer
This drawer can quickly become a mess of half-used rolls, crumpled foil, and torn plastic wrap.
Toss anything that’s almost empty or too damaged to use. Stack remaining items neatly or use a storage organizer for better accessibility.
8. Cutlery and Specialty Tools Drawer
Have you ever found yourself digging through a drawer just to find a bottle opener or garlic press? Time to make this drawer work for you.
Sort out the gadgets you actually use and relocate the ones you don’t need daily. If you have multiple of the same tool, keep the best one and donate the rest.
9. Dish Towel Drawer
Kitchen towels are essential, but they can pile up quickly, especially if you tend to hold on to old, tattered ones.
Keep only the ones in good condition and repurpose old ones as cleaning rags. Fold neatly and stack them in an easy-to-reach spot.
10. Junk Drawer (We all have one!)
Let’s be honest – every kitchen has that one drawer filled with everything. It’s the go-to spot for batteries, rubber bands, takeout menus, mystery keys and other random things.
Take everything out, group like items together, and only keep what belongs in the kitchen. Store everything neatly in containers or drawer dividers.
Review and Adjust
By now, all your drawers should be looking much better! Take a few minutes to go through each one and adjust any storage solutions that aren’t working well.
Make minor tweaks, maybe shift a divider or move an item to a better spot. The goal is to maintain the system you’ve set up.
For more tips and ideas on organizing kitchen drawers, read our related post – How to Organize Kitchen Drawers
Keeping Your Kitchen Drawers Organized
Now that you’ve put in the effort, here are a few ways to keep your drawers neat and organized:
1. Follow the “one in, one out” rule – If you bring in a new gadget or utensil, remove an old one.
2. Use drawer dividers – These are game-changers for keeping everything in its place.
3. Label where things go – It helps family members put things back properly.
4. Declutter regularly – Every few months, do a quick 5-minute check-in to remove anything unnecessary.
Spending just 15 minutes a day to declutter your kitchen drawers is totally doable!
By breaking it down into small, manageable tasks, you’ll avoid the stress of a full-day overhaul.
And trust me, opening a drawer and easily finding what you need? It’s a small but powerful way to make your kitchen feel more peaceful and efficient.
So, are you ready to get started? Which drawer will you tackle first?
Let me know in the comments or in email. I’d love to hear how your kitchen decluttering journey is going!
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