July 13, 2025, 11:03 am | Read time: 5 minutes
The longer you live in an apartment, the more items accumulate in the cabinets and shelves. Eventually, it becomes difficult to manage the clutter and you lose track of what’s there. That’s when it’s time for a thorough decluttering. myHOMEBOOK writer Carolin Chytrek shares tips on how to effectively clear out your kitchen.
Food, dishes, pots, cutlery, bowls, appliances–few rooms hide more diverse treasures in their cabinets than the kitchen. To maintain an overview–especially of perishable supplies–and basic hygiene, it’s advisable to declutter thoroughly at regular intervals. Since this can be quite nerve-wracking, it’s best to approach kitchen decluttering in a structured manner.
Follow myHOMEBOOK on WhatsApp now
Declutter the Kitchen with the Three-Box System
The two goals of thorough decluttering are: taking inventory and creating space. Everything you no longer need can be tossed out during the cleanup. The three-box system has proven effective for this. Before starting, prepare three laundry baskets, folding boxes, or large buckets, each marked with a color or label.
One box gets a green label. This is where you collect all the items that should stay. A yellow-labeled box becomes the collection point for everything that can potentially be sold or given away, and a red-labeled box is for trash and everything that should be permanently disposed of later. As you empty the cabinets or shelves, you can sort items directly into the respective box. This makes it easier to keep track and later redesign the storage spaces.
Hygiene Comes First
Since decluttering involves completely emptying cabinets and shelves, it’s wise to clean everything thoroughly and remove any coarse dirt. Especially on shelves, a large amount of dust and grease particles can accumulate in just a few months.
Because you handle food in the kitchen, you should always maintain basic hygiene. Neglecting cleaning makes it easy for bacteria, viruses, or pests to settle and multiply.
Structured Cleanup
In general, following a clear scheme when decluttering can help you proceed in an orderly manner and not overlook any areas. The following sequence is recommended:
- Food
- Utensils
- Small kitchen tools
- Kitchen electronics
- Decorative items
Food
Start with the food. After thoroughly checking expiration dates and deciding what you want to keep, focus on open packages. These spoil or go rancid faster and also provide a perfect nesting place for pantry moths.
If possible, transfer the contents to a glass container or a sealable storage jar. This creates space and more order in the cabinet. A positive side effect: Once you’ve checked everything, you know what’s missing in your supplies and can immediately make a shopping list. And perhaps the insight will inspire you to cook something unusual again.
Utensils and Small Kitchen Tools
The second step involves utensils, such as plates, cups, cutlery, bowls, and cleaning equipment. Since these are used almost daily, it’s worth checking what you really need and what you don’t.
For example, cups that you haven’t used in years, which are hidden at the back of the cabinet and don’t have emotional value, can possibly be parted with. This creates new space for new beautiful things. You can also check which utensils need to be replaced or repurchased.
The drawer where whisks, ladles, and similar items are stored is often the most chaotic. If you’re up for it, you can sort the cooking and baking tools, saving time at the stove later by eliminating long searches.
Also interesting: Declutter your home with the “Decluttering” method
Kitchen Electronics
Is it really necessary to keep a sandwich maker that hasn’t been used in a year? Or have you even forgotten you own it? Questions like these come to mind when you take stock of electronic kitchen devices. It’s worth keeping only the most important appliances in the kitchen and storing those used less frequently in the basement or storage room.
Decor
Only after all other shelves and cabinets have been reorganized should the less important decorative items be decluttered. This way, you have a good overview of how much space is left to store them anew and where you might need to cut back. The rule here is: Anything broken or heavily worn goes. Feels liberating, doesn’t it?
How to Organize Drawers in 6 Steps
5 Tips for Better Organization in the Workshop
5 Solutions for More Storage Space in the Basement
Proper Disposal
After a thorough decluttering, the three boxes should be roughly equally full. Anything that’s not broken and still in good condition can be given to friends, donated to those in need, or sold on online platforms or at flea markets. If you want to sell, take advantage of the situation by taking photos and listing everything. Otherwise, these tasks tend to be postponed, and the box ends up forgotten in the storage room or basement.
Broken items or electronic devices should be disposed of properly. Important: Porcelain and drinking glasses do not belong in the glass container but in the regular trash. Larger quantities can be taken to the recycling center. The recycling center is also the right place for electronic waste. Food scraps should be disposed of according to their type. Anything plant-based can go on the compost, while the rest (including liquid, packaged food) goes in the regular trash.