April Challenge: Project "Purge" {Kitchen Purge Part 1}

Last week we started our Project Purge in the living room!  I am going to at some point be updating the title on all of the posts to Project "Purge" vs. 30 Items in 30 days, because I know we all can do better than that.  I will challenge each of you to set your own personal goals based on your spaces.  I found 30+ items in one zone, therefore I needed to re-evaluate the project for myself personally to stay motivated to continue!   

Today marks the beginning of week 2: KITCHEN!

First, let's chat about the benefits of purging in the kitchen!

• Kitchen's are commonly known as the "Heart of the Home".  Keeping it clutter free will allow you to fully enjoy the space with your friends and family.
• Kitchen's are often the most expensive rooms in the home, yet clutter can often take the spotlight over those gorgeous counters or gleaming appliances.
• Today there is a gadget for everything, but really, many of them can be replaced my many simple pieces that are multi-functional.  If one has too many gadgets, one may not be able to actually find the gadget they need in the moment.
• Keeping pantries stocked up well for your family is FANTASTIC, but what about those items that are sitting in there for months to a year, being passed by time and time again?  They are just taking up valuable space and adding confusion when opening up the cupboard to search for a meal.
• What happens when you need a food storage container?  Do they all come tumbling at you when you open the cabinet door?  Oh and where's the matching lid? 
• How many appliances do you currently have upon the counter?  Do you have enough cabinet space to keep the less used ones tucked away?
• How does the space feel with oodles of kid's photographs, schedules and artwork are taking over the front of your fridge?  This can instantly cause your kitchen to feel stuffy.

So I am challenging you today, to pop into your kitchen and start plucking away at the purging process.  You could define the space into small zones and work on each zone each day this week {drawers, cupboards, pantry, fridge etc...}

Some things to consider as you start your purge:

• Do you have kitchen gadgets and utensils that are only used once in a blue moon, or is a duplicate to another item that can function in the same respect?  Do you have excess spatulas and spoons because they came as part of a set?  It's OK to break them apart, keep what you love and donate the rest. 
• How about stacks of magazines with one or two recipes in each?  They should be gone through and the recipes can be clipped and placed into a binder, you can recycle the rest of the magazine.
• Do you keep every plastic margarine and cottage cheese container for food storage?  Can you ever find the matching lid?  Purge and only keep the pieces you find essential.  Then, using different color Sharpie markers to color coordinate the bin to the lid and keep lids corralled together in a single basket or storage bin.
• Do you have a flustered fridge front?  If pictures and schedules and drawings are taking over, hang some pretty frames in the kitchen to display and switch out current art projects, file school papers into mail boxes or a family binder and place photos in frames or albums.
• Do you have an abundance of appliances?  When was the last time you used each one?  How about duplicates?  Only ones used on a daily basis should be left on the counter, do you have room in your cupboards for the rest?
• Do you love to do your dishes?  Why not?  Too much business around the sink get your flustered? Of course, I know no one really loves to do dishes, however, keeping the area neat and tidy and clutter free will make it much more pleasing area to be in while doing chores.  Use a caddy or vase to corral all dish essentials in one place.  Say goodbye to sponges and rags that are falling apart and only keep the tools that you use frequently.
• Can you open/close the linen drawer with ease?  Only keep enough rags to get you through a week and keep them laundered more regularly.  Condense to only your favorite table linens and consider the option of storing all season items away from the kitchen to offer up additional space.
• Could you head straight to the kitchen and prepare a meal without moving things or rearranging the counter-top?  Purge piles and designate a spot for random items.
• Check our your food situation.  Cupboards, Pantry, Fridge & Freezer.  Toss expired items, donate non-perishable items that are still good that you have too many of, or that may not suite your tastes.  Toss out spices that no longer fresh or flavorful.
• Say goodbye to gadget cords that no longer have a match.
• Do you have the space to store all those misc. pots in pans that offer the same function in multiple sizes?  Are they in fair condition?  
• Be tough on pieces of dishware that don't have matches or coordinate with the remaining pieces.

What am I forgetting?  Let's have a purge party!  I would love for you to leave a comment and share additional benefits to having a clutter free kitchen space, or other suggestions on where clutter can be cut!  What did I miss?  Did anyone get started on this, this weekend and if so, what did you say goodbye too?

I decided a little challenge would be fun! This month we are spending the next thirty days saying goodbye to thirty things!  Wanna Join in?  Take photos and blog about your awesomeness as you go!  I am hoping to do a giant, "We did it!" celebratory post where we can all link up our purging success stories at the end of the month!