Kitchen Cupboards...Filing System

Do you know you what you have in your kitchen cupboards, and more importantly exactly where it is all stored? Or do you waste hours a week looking for supplies you know you once bought, but can't find? This means canned foods, cleaning materials, extra utensils, pots, pans, bowls and linens.

If you do have unorganized cupboards and drawers, spend a day reorganizing them, using a kitchen-goods filing system. Again this is not as complicated as it might sound.

If you have enough room, start by taking everything out of the food cupboards. Now sort out the canned goods from those which are in constant use, such as spices, flavorings, flour, sugar, coffee, vinegar, sauces and ketchups. After you have cleaned all shelves, put all your items you use for cooking everyday in the cupboard nearest your oven or work top. Place canned foods in top cupboards, particularly goods you use rarely.

Treat your drawers in the same way. Buy several plastic cutlery trays, use one for cooking utensils such as mixing spoons, cooking knives and forks; separate table flatware and keep it in a tray in another drawer.

Select a drawer for all kitchen linens, such as towels, dishcloths, and glass cloths; another for insulated mittens and cloths you use for removing hot pans from the oven. Make sure these are in handy reach of the oven or open cooking element.

In other words, make your kitchen cupboards work as efficiently as an office filing cabinet. It's also a good idea to make a list of canned goods and pin it onto the inside door of the cupboard. In this way you can tell at a quick glance what you have in stock. As you use items, simply check them off your cupboard listing.