| Arguably, the kitchen is the heart of the | | | | to the counter and put an empty dishpan under |
| home. We cook there, eat there (hopefully as | | | | the sink. You'll see why as we keep going. |
| a family), entertain there, chat at the | | | | |
| table, do homework, and any number of other | | | | 2) Take a look at your countertops. Are they |
| family-related things. A disorganized kitchen | | | | piled high with papers, dishes (dirty), and |
| discourages us from doing the above; we don't | | | | appliances (some you haven't used in weeks or |
| want to cook and eating will likely then take | | | | months)? Are they stained (underneath the |
| place in front of the TV. We don't want to | | | | stuff on them)? Let's clear off one |
| entertain others or sit and chat because the | | | | countertop at a time. Pick your smallest one |
| clutter distracts us and makes us feel | | | | and clear everything off. Put it on a table |
| ashamed of not keeping things in better | | | | or other surface where you can go through the |
| order. So let's get to it! | | | | things. Put the dirty dishes in the |
| | | | dishwasher (or dishpan under your sink), go |
| Please understand that this room CANNOT be | | | | through the papers (junk mail = trash can, |
| done in one day or in one chunk of time. I'm | | | | bills go to the study, etc.). Put the other |
| willing to bet it took more than one day for | | | | miscellaneous things you've found in separate |
| your kitchen to look the way it does-so it | | | | piles to be schlepped to the appropriate |
| will take more than one day to un-do it. Be | | | | rooms where they belong. Then look at the |
| patient and attack these different tasks in | | | | naked countertop. Take a cleaner of your |
| small chunks of time-small steps! You'll find | | | | choice (I love the Lysol disinfecting wipes, |
| that as each one is done that you'll be | | | | but you could use a spray cleaner, a bleach |
| motivated to do another and another. And then | | | | cleaner, or simple window cleaner) and a rag |
| when it's all done, you'll not want to mess | | | | and start wiping from back to front. Sweep |
| it up, and so be motivated to keep it | | | | the crumbs in to the garbage can. Now put |
| organized! Oh happy day! | | | | only the things which are *necessary* back on |
| | | | the counter. That means no excess paperwork, |
| 1) Unload your dishwasher. If your dishwasher | | | | no hair bows, etc. If you need space for a |
| is full of clean dishes and not put away, you | | | | coffee maker or other small appliance, you |
| won't have a place to put your dirty dishes | | | | now have it! |
| as you clean up. If you don't have a | | | | |
| dishwasher, take a look at your sink. If | | | | 3) Move to the next counter and repeat the |
| you've got clean dishes in your dish rack, | | | | same steps as above. |
| put them away now. Then move your dish rack | | | | |