OT: What do you keep on your kitchen counters?

[ragtopday]

This is totally off topic, but I need some input! My kitchen counters are driving me CRAZY!!!! They are always covered with "stuff" and it makes me not even want to be in there.

I know there is too much carp on my counters - wondering what you have on yours, and what you do with the stuff I have on mine, that I know a lot of people use regularly!

Right now my counters are holding:

• microwave
• toaster oven
• Keurig and carousel
• knife block
• bowl with garlic
• kitchen scale

Then there is a small section of counter, just as you enter the room, which has become a catch-all. It's where I toss my purse, where kids put papers that need to be signed, library books, mail, pens, photos - it's just a mess!!

Please share your counter organizing successes before I go completely mad!

Oh, and thank you!

 

[Purseval]

Our counters are always uncluttered except for the small appliances and bread box. But we don't have children living with us so it's a lot easier to keep clean.

 

[unlimiteddisney]

I hear ya. We keep minimal stuff on the counters. Coffe maker,toaster , fruit bowl and papertowel holder. I also have that catch all space you talk about. What I do is have one basket for loose change and junk. i go threw it once a week. I only have one kid so she has a pile. If I had multiple I would give each kid a basket,bin,or even a mail stand and each kid had their own slot to put papers etc.. in. A rack on the wall for keys. Also, a basket for mail that I go through weekly. You will still have stuff on the counter but it will be organized at least.

 

[leadfootlevi]

Then there is a small section of counter, just as you enter the room, which has become a catch-all. It's where I toss my purse, where kids put papers that need to be signed, library books, mail, pens, photos - it's just a mess!!

That's what we use our "junk drawer" for.

Sorry, not much help. I have a hook where we hang our coats for my purse and DS's backpack.

 

[kirstenb1]

OP your counter doesn't sound bad. I'll say one of the best things we ever did was swap out our countertop microwave for a built-in one over the stove.

 

[gasperdam]

We have the exact same area in our house, with school projects, paper to be signed , photos, library books, the list goes on- and it's a MESS! I HATE it, but even if we clean it, it just comes back, and this year it's the worst!!! It's a huge pile!

 

[indimom]

The only things we keep on the countertop are those items we use regularly: toaster, can opener, bread basket, coffee maker and toaster oven.

For a while, we had the same issue with the "junk" that wanted to pile up on the counter. I designated one drawer for my husband and one for myself. We keep phone, glasses, coupons, keys, loose change, etc. in storage bins in our drawers. Loose paperwork tends to end up in my drawer and I clear it out when I do the bills Saturday mornings.

I did add a metal in-box (3 shelf) which fits perfectly in an upright position next to the microwave on the micro shelf. I keep the kids papers that we refer to fairly often in there (sports schedules, lunch menus, fundraiser forms, etc.). They each have one space and I use the extra for forms I use on a daily basis for my job.

This method has held up pretty well for us. The mess is out of sight and since the drawers have limited space we are forced to keep on top of it and clear the clutter regularly.

I forgot to add that we put a coat rack on the inside of the stairs door (which is in the kitchen) for DD and I to hang our purses on. I don't like to leave my purse out in the mudroom with shoes and coats, and didn't like it cluttering up the countertop. Worked out fine.

 

[2disneyboys]

I am a clean counter person! DH always tells me to quit hiding/giving away stuff! I grew up in a little house with a lot of people so it seemed like there was clutter EVERYWHERE.. as a result... I hate clutter and am quick to either put it in its place or get rid of it! LOL!

We are not coffee drinkers so there is not the problem of the coffee pot, We keep the toaster in a small cabinet right beside the fridge so it just gets clean up & put back down once we are done with it. The microwave is installed over the stove so that's not on the conter. We have the occasional pile of stuff but that is usually very short lived... on a normal day, the only thing on the counter is the small "crock" with my cooking utensils in it.

we have a hanging basket organizer by the back door and that is where odds and in's go and we "try" and sort through these baskets on a weekly basis..

funny thing is my 10 year old is starting to cook (with us) and he was @ his grandma's last week and was "helping" her make her pies and he told her that if her counters were as clean as his mommy's she would have more room to work on! yikes my MIL was NOT amused

 

[robsmom]

OP your list sounds better than mine. i have recently decided my counters look to cluttered and am trying to move stuff off. I have.

On my main counters:

microwave
counter top oven (which i love and use daily)
mixer (which i have moved to the garage shelf)
knife block
toaster
can opener
2 containers of kitchen tools (must get down to one - have very little drawer space so don't know what i am going to do)

On the island:
i have a banana holder/ fruit basket
glass cake dish and cover (usually has loaf of bread or something)

Butler's pantry (small cabinet area between kitchen and dining room:
keurig
2 k cup holders
regular coffee pot
little silver ice bucket (used for k-cup and equal trash)
silver tray with bowls of equal, cremer, sugar, spoons

Finally I have a desk in the kitchen that is the catch all with 2 charging stations, my purse, school papers etc.

Ok - just typing it out makes we realize that i have way too much.

 

[mhsjax]

I have my knives in their block and my coffee pot. I keep the K-cups in the pantry. I have an over the stove micro wave, and I have never and will never have a toaster oven. I don't like the way they look. I know most people have them and people can't believe that I don't. My mom never did, she couldn't stand having them out either. I do have a small kitchen, but even if it was huge, I still don't like anything out on my counters. I am one of those minimalists types.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

I hate and fear clutter in my home, my dh even more so. I don't know what it is but I cannot relax in my home if it is messy with everything out of place.
With 2 young children we have a system and it works for us. EVERYTHING has an accessible hidden place and when it is taken out it must be put back. My kids have been raised on this system so they don't think anything of it, they just automaticaly put stuff back in its place.
So, for our kitchen we have a drawer by the phone and all bills go in it along with bank, insurance, cc etc. statements. When I pay a bill I throw out last months bill and replace it with the new one. Each of my kids has their own drawer and anything school related goes in it. I keep my counters empty except for some decorative items. My coffeemaker, toaster, blender, etc. are kept in the lower cupboards beside my stove, so very easily accessible. The key is to ALWAYS put items and papers away when not in use, do not let it wait because clutter (especially in the kitchen) has a snowball effect. It takes time and effort to find a system that works for you but once you get used to it life will be just a little bit more simplified. Good luck!

 

[blanq]

I really cannot stand clutter, and my aversion is usually enough to kick me into gear so that my kitchen counters are clean.

On my island I have a vintage wooden bread bowl that houses fresh fruit.

On the counter to the left of my stove are three glass canisters (the kind Ina Garten has) holding cereal and oatmeal, as well as a tool holder for all my wooden spoons, etc.

Directly to the right of my stove I have a small olive wood box where I keep my olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt pig, and salt/pepper grinders. I also have an iron cookbook stand that always has a cookbook on it.

To the left of my sink I have a Caldrea caddy with Caldrea products in it (dish soap, hand soap and lotion) To the far right of my sink I have a plant and a small lamp. I have an integrated furniture-looking hutch in my kitchen cabinetry and on that I have 3 vintage blue Ball jars that have assorted snacks in them. That's the extent of it.

I cannot stand having appliances on my kitchen counters. My toaster is stored in a cabinet and only taken out when we use it, and put back right after, as is my blender and coffee maker. I have a microwave drawer integrated into my kitchen island. I do not have pizza ovens, toaster ovens, etc., and never would. I have a dual fuel stove with convection oven (it has two separate ovens) and warming drawer for everything I cook.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

To the left of my stove I have the Olive oil, Canola oil and electric can opener. Main counter I keep a set of canisters, kitchen tool vase, paper towel holder and coffee pot then a dish rack next to the fridge. I have a bad habit of leaving stuff in front of my canisters like bread, cereal box, seasonings, cocoa powder it's too cluttered!

Then on the island I have a bread box, papers and some groceries that didn't get put away.

Thanks for this post so I can get to cleaning my clutter

 

[JamesMom]

My perimeter countertops are pretty clear: toaster oven, coffee maker, digital picture frame & bananas. Oh and some dishes I need to clean

Now the island. I have a HUGE island - roughly 5 ft x 5 ft with one corner lopped off that faces the living room. THIS is a challenge to keep clean (but perfect space for baking & buffets). Half of this counter is covered in 'stuff' at any given time.
We have our childrens desktop computer, monitor & keyboard - Santa is fixing that problem this christmas with a new laptop that can be folded and put on side when not in use. That will clear up about 25%.
And we have 'stuff'. I have clear document envelopes to store bills, insurance stuff, kids school stuff, cub scout stuff. A spot for current magazines so paper clutter takes up about another 20% of the counter. I think I like the previous posters drawer idea. I have about 5 junk drawers around this island that I need to clear out and make better use of.
The rest of the counter is covered in stuff that belongs elsewhere but I am too lazy to put it back and get it out again since they are used almost daily: library books (kids have reading charts at school so I collect 5 or so to be read x 2 kids and MY books), nintendo ds, radio, remotes, paper towels, tissues, extra printer paper and items I don't want our new puppy to chew up.
Now it also houses our Advent wreath, calendar and book.

So yes my counters look great - the island not so much lol.

BTW I put our knife block in our pantry to keep toddlers hands away and it's been there every since

 

[angierae]

You all would hate my kitchen!

To the right of the sink: spice rack, toaster
To the left of the sink: coffee maker, blender, knife block
on the long counter: any bread products we c urrently have out (bread, buns, whatever) a white bucket full of random odds and ends, my stand mixer, my daughter's asthma nebulizer (she likes to sit at the dining room table while using it), the crock pot, a mug full of pens and a notepad, and usually a huge pile of crap that needs to be sorted through.

 

[Swimalie]

We have very little on our counters. A banana holder (I am always eating bananas), set of canisters, 1 copper vase with our large spoons and spatulas and 1 pile of papers from school. On one side of the sink is a lotion dispenser and a soap dispenser. One the other side is the paper towel holder. That's it. We don't drink coffee, our microwave is above the oven and my husband loaned our toaster over to his mom about 10 years ago and she broke it. We never replaced it. The bread machine is kept in the cabinet as are all other appliances.

This is a great knife holder that you mount under the cabinet and gets it off the counter and keeps them safer from little hands, too http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0V0DVSDVJ003MBRBTASG We've had ours for about 12 years and love it!

 

[momof1princess]

on left side of the counter is the dish draining rack (no dishwasher, except me), the sink, then the space i use to prepare food-my electronic food scale sits here. middle section has my kitchen aid mixer, toaster, GF grill, stovetop with microwave above it, knife block, fruit bowl and cookie jar. right side is where i set my purse and the mail, and our emergency weather radio and kitchen phone are also there. the end of the counter on the left side, next to the draining rack, is our phone charging spot, lol.

 

[sherry7]

My husband and son are constantly leaving food, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, etc on my counters...which drives me nuts!

My microwave is built in above the stove. On my counters I have:

Kitchen Aid stand mixer
small food processor (used to store this away, but use it more often now for baby food)
dish draining rack (my pots and pans are not dishwasher safe)
coffee pot
toaster
set of 4 canisters
cookie jar (with nothing in it at all)
crock pot
Food Saver
cordless phone (I really should hang this on the wall)
large stoneware crock which holds most of my big spoons, spatulas, etc

Now that I've typed it all out, that really seems like a lot. I should probably store my Food Saver and crock pot on a shelf in the basement or laundry room.

 

[pigletto]

I answered this one in my head before I even opened the replies.. "Too Much Crud!!!!"

It is a constant battle of mine to get people (including dh) in my family to put their stuff away and not just drop it on the first available surface. The kitchen counter is not for your homework/cell phones/ keys/ mittens/ artwork/school notes/baseball hat/toys.. etc. etc. etc. Drives Me NUTS. They are much better about it now, but it's been a real chore to break everyone of the habit.

Ideally on my kitchen counter is, 4 canisters, toaster oven, dish drainer when in use and the coffee maker. My whole upstairs is open concept so a messy kitchnen means the entire house looks messy.

 

[pigletto]

Oh and Op I forgot to add, my friend has a file folder type thing that sits in the corner of one of her counters. It holds bills/mail/coupns/permisssion forms/ e.t.c.

I have to get one. It isn't the prettiest thing in the world but can be cleared away easily and keeps all the extra stuff in one place