7 Reasons Your Kitchen Won’t Stay Organized

There’s nothing like the feeling of a tidy, orderly kitchen. Everything is easy to find, there’s no expired food and every item has a dedicated space or container. You probably wish it could stay this way forever. However, if you find your kitchen becomes a disorganized mess not too long after you’ve tidied it up, you might need to make some changes. Fortunately, there are several fixes to this problem—but it helps to know the root. Here are seven reasons why your kitchen won’t stay organized and what you need to do about it, according to pro organizers.

You Have Too Many Things

Do you really need seven spatulas? You could probably par it down to two or three. Rose Pulver, professional organizer and co-founder of The Thoughtful Home tells me a major reason why kitchens don’t stay organized is that there’s simply too much stuff. “Regularly go through your kitchen items and edit down anything you no longer use or need,” she says.

Then, donate or recycle items that are still in good condition or you no longer use (like that veggie spiralizer that takes forever to clean). “You’ll feel lighter and your kitchen will magically feel more organized,” she says.

You Overbuy Food 

With grocery prices getting higher and higher these days, it’s hard to resist a great deal and keep yourself from stocking up. But sometimes we end up overbuying. For example, “You didn’t see the six boxes of mac ‘n cheese in the back of the pantry—so you bought ten more,” Pulver says. 

An easy way to combat this problem is to always check your shelves and make a list before heading to the store. 

And while it might be very tempting, she suggests skipping that trip to your local warehouse store. “Avoid buying items in bulk unless you have a specific storage area for them,” Pulver says. “This will prevent your kitchen from becoming overcrowded with unnecessary items.”

You Purchased Organizers Without Decluttering First

One of the biggest mistakes many people make when it comes to organizing any area of the home is organizing without decluttering first. While it might be tempting to buy risers, Lazy Susans, and other containers without getting rid of the excess first, more likely than not, you’ll still end up with too many things to easily contain. 

Your Kitchen Lacks Zones

Zones are crucial for every room in the home, but especially the kitchen. “If you’re like most people, you moved in and unpacked boxes as quickly as possible—then you never touched it again,” Pulver says.

As a solution, she suggests breaking your kitchen into distinct zones such as food prep, food storage, cooking, and cleaning. “When zoning a kitchen, keep in mind the proximity of items to one another and any kitchen appliances or other equipment,” Pulver says. “For example, keep spices and cooking utensils near the stove so you don’t need to trek across the kitchen while you’re cooking. This helps to create a more intuitive experience in the kitchen, making it easier to find what you need and to put it away in the proper place.”

You Don’t Have a Regular Maintenance Schedule

There isn’t a spot that can stay tidy without a regular maintenance schedule. Pulver tells me this could include daily tasks such as wiping down surfaces and weekly tasks like cleaning out the fridge and pantry. “Find pockets of time in your morning or evening routine to tackle tasks like loading or unloading the dishwasher,” she says. “Doing a few little things consistently every day will keep your kitchen feeling like a well-oiled machine.”

There’s No System to Follow

Kris Hargrove, professional organizer and founder of Organized by Kris tells me a big reason kitchens don’t stay organized is because there’s no system to follow. “Creating a system is helpful when you share your kitchen with family or roommates,” she says. “First, define where items should belong in your kitchen, then label what goes in that area. You can discreetly label the inside of cabinets and drawers so it doesn’t take away from the aesthetics of your home. Every time a drawer or cabinet is opened, there will be a label reminding everyone what should go in that area.”

Your Household Isn’t on the Same Page

You could have the best system in place, but if the rest of the household doesn’t know where things go or how it works, it’s impossible to implement. “Take some time to educate your family members, friends, and domestic helpers about the designated spaces for different items,” Pulver says. “Clear labels can be helpful in ensuring everyone knows where things belong.”