| Today let's discuss the kitchen as a whole, what is it | | | | So in the end, you will be left with only what you |
| used for in your house and what would you like it to | | | | need on the bench. |
| be used for. | | | | - Bread boards |
| - Firstly food preparation and cooking area - Where | | | | - Toaster |
| keys and mail is dropped when walking into the | | | | - Kettle |
| house | | | | - Phone |
| - Where the main phone is for the house | | | | - Maybe a nice dish |
| - Maybe there is a breakfast bar | | | | - Paper towel holder |
| - Possibly there is a laundry cupboard | | | | - Fruit bowl |
| This part is actually really easy. | | | | You may have more things that you want on your |
| All you need to do is work out what part of the | | | | bench, and that's fine, but we just want to get rid of |
| bench you use for what. We all have a part of the | | | | all the bits that creep from other rooms onto the |
| bench that we prefer to chop our vegetables etc on, | | | | bench, i.e., hair clips, small toys, cd's, DVD's, keys, |
| a place where breakfast is normally served, where | | | | glasses... |
| the main phone for the house is (this one, okay | | | | If you are going to have mobile phones in the kitchen |
| some of you out there don't have your main phone | | | | then why not get a flat basket or dish that is |
| in the kitchen but in general, it is the central phone | | | | decorative and useful. So that everyone knows |
| for the house), is there a key hook on the wall, a | | | | where the phones are put. If you don't have a key |
| ledge in the kitchen where you put your mobile | | | | hook then this can also be where the keys live. It |
| phone and wallet(for you men) and ladies where you | | | | makes it so easy when you know where everything |
| drop you bag? | | | | is. |
| The other thing that these days is becoming more | | | | So once you have gotten rid of the don't belongs |
| and more common is that people are having their | | | | and the rubbish, you can start putting everything |
| laundry cupboards in the kitchen (saves space in | | | | back where it belongs. |
| smaller homes) | | | | Breakfast bar wise, it makes it so much easier in the |
| Now is you clear everything that is on your bench | | | | mornings is you have a clear space by the breakfast |
| right now, you can use the kitchen table to put | | | | bar. The tray with all the breakfast condiments can |
| everything on, or on the breakfast bar if you have | | | | be brought out of the pantry and put on the bench, |
| one. The great thing about this is that it clears the | | | | nothing has to be moved. |
| bench. | | | | It also leaves this space free when you are dishing |
| Give the bench a good wipe down and let it dry. It | | | | up dinner and need a space for the plates to be laid |
| will be nice and fresh when you put everything back. | | | | out. And lastly if you have children is a brilliant place |
| Now go through everything. I mean everything! If | | | | for them to do their homework at night, you can be |
| you have some small containers with all in-sundry in | | | | cooking dinner, but still be there to supervise and help |
| them, clean them out to, baskets with bits...you name | | | | with the homework. |
| it, this is a clean start for your kitchen bench so give | | | | Lastly, if your laundry is in the kitchen, hopefully it is |
| it your all. | | | | behind closed doors. Attempt to keep those doors |
| You may want to get a few grocery bags, one for | | | | closed when not in the laundry, and wipe them down |
| Rubbish, one for Belongs in another room in the | | | | from time to time. |
| house, One for storage, and one for charity. | | | | If you don't have doors then a curtain or screen can |
| Now as you are going through things start dividing | | | | be an alternative. Oh and try to keep the laundry |
| them into these bags. If there is something that you | | | | piles inside the laundry cupboard, not spread around |
| come across and it hasn't been used for a long time | | | | the kitchen. |
| ie Months, even a year, and its not sentimental, then | | | | Once again I hope this has helped and given you |
| in the charity bag. | | | | some ideas. |