OT: What do you keep on your kitchen counters?

[CarlisleMom]

Currently we have nothing on our counters...why??? We have no counters and havn't had any since August. The old kitchen was demolished in August..out with the ugly brown panelling and paper ceiling. In with a new wall, new wiring, new drywall, etc... 75% of the Countertops were templated today and should be installed right before christmas. The other 25% we are dealing with design issues and won't be resolved until January.

 

[ctinct]

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!

Well, I think if you get those carp outta there and back into some water, things would be vastly improved. Sorry- I know it's just a typo, but I couldn't resist.

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I too am counter OCD.

I can't stand too much on the counters!

I'm always asking everyone "Do you need this!?" While dangling the offensive thing they left on the counter over the garbage can.


carp. cute. I love typos. (See my screen name!!)

 

[ragtopday]

I too am counter OCD.

I can't stand too much on the counters!

I'm always asking everyone "Do you need this!?" While dangling the offensive thing they left on the counter over the garbage can.


carp. cute. I love typos. (See my screen name!!)

LOL - I typed carp on purpose, because I was afraid crap might be censored - guess we'll see!

You all inspired me - I just went through my junk drawers (yes, plural) and purged a bunch of stuff. I put some things away, and have a pile of stuff that needs to find a new home. And that new home may be the trash for much of it. I'm trying to keep it to just ONE junk drawer!

I'd love to know where you keep your purse when you get home. With kids and dogs I hate to leave it on the floor, but need it to be easily accessible. Storage in my house is seriously lacking!

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I've been wondering where everyone leaves their purse too. I hang mine on the hall closet door handle when I walk in the front door. I don't like the look of it there so now I'm going to make a space IN the closet for it.

 

[windycitymom]

Thank you everyone! You've just inspired me to completely dump one kitchen junk drawer by my kitchen desk. It now holds my papers, coupons, etc. that used to sit on my desk area. It looks so awesome now!

I've really been on a roll ditching clutter and papers that I think I'm going to need. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[2disneyboys]

I've been wondering where everyone leaves their purse too. I hang mine on the hall closet door handle when I walk in the front door. I don't like the look of it there so now I'm going to make a space IN the closet for it.

I have a hook installed inside the hall closet door.. this way its accessable, but it's also out of sight. That works for me.

 

[mamaLori05]

I'm another one who can't stand clutter. On my counters now: In a corner there is a set of knives in a block, in another corner there is a small fish bowl with my kids fish in it. That's it, and we have a larger kitchen with tons of counter space.

I have my own little work triangle set up by our garage door, which is the door we use most often. When we walk in the door, I have a shelf hung with hooks where we place our backpacks, my purse, and our keys to the left of the door. On the shelf there is a small basket where we place the mail for the day until we can go through it (which is usually right away), my dh's wallet, and our cell phones. Under the shelf is a boot mat where our shoes go (one pair per person, otherwise they go in the closet), and then the coat closet is right next to the shelf so we can hang our coats right away and put our extra shoes in there. Then across from the garage door I have a wipe off calendar so that we can write down any important dates right away that come in the mail, out of school bags, ect... If I need to keep the info from the flyer, invite, etc... it gets put behind the corner of the calendar until the date and then thrown away. However most of the time I don't need the info unless it has directions or something specific on it. That really seems to help cut down on any paper clutter, and makes it super easy to take care of right when we walk in the door. Newspapers usually end up in the living room right away.

As for kitchen appliances like the toaster oven, toaster, etc... they all have a home in the pantry and we take them out and put them back when we are done. We don't drink coffee, so we don't use a coffee maker. Microwave is built in above the stove. Bannana stand also has a place in the pantry.

 

[dyna]

I too hate counter clutter, clutter in general drives me nuts but everytime I clear a spot an organize the clutter DH puts more clutter in that spot.

Even better asks me to make a big pot of chili knowing I'm doing this DH will fill the shelf in fridge that I have just cleared for the chili pot with cans of diet coke an bottle water.

This is the man who for 15 yrs has told me he had no junk or clutter. Over the past month he has taken 10 truck loads of junk to the goodwill. Given 5 truck loads and a good sized triler full away. Plus put out the couble amount of garbage weekly if not more.

We are moving to a much smaller house 1000 miles away an DH has kept way way to much junk, some of it for conversation starters in our new home.....Maybe he wants to start a conversation with me about how much I hate junk an clutter in my way. Maybe he wants to take over dusting the house because I refuse to dust anything I don't like.

 

[herdtoDisney]

I try to keep stuff off the counters, although it's an ongoing battle. I did end up getting a nice square basket for papers and stuff, because it does help me keep organized. I have hooks and a basket on teh floor for backpacks, gloves, ect. So mostly on my counter is kitchen stuff like the heavy mixer, coffeepot, microwave (I'm short and don't want it up on a shelf), dish drainer. But I try to keep everything else off.

 

[mhsjax]

LOL - I typed carp on purpose, because I was afraid crap might be censored - guess we'll see!

You all inspired me - I just went through my junk drawers (yes, plural) and purged a bunch of stuff. I put some things away, and have a pile of stuff that needs to find a new home. And that new home may be the trash for much of it. I'm trying to keep it to just ONE junk drawer!

I'd love to know where you keep your purse when you get home. With kids and dogs I hate to leave it on the floor, but need it to be easily accessible. Storage in my house is seriously lacking!

I know what you mean about dogs and purses. Mine is a male, in tact. I never know what he will think is his, if you know what I mean. lol

I usually put min in my room. I remember reading about germs, (I am not a real germaphobe, but I like to keep them in check) anyway, it said the bottom of a woman's purse has tons of germs on it, so I try and never put it on my kitchen counter.

 

[Swimalie]

I have a hook installed inside the hall closet door.. this way its accessable, but it's also out of sight. That works for me.

That's where mine is as well. Not only is it out of sight and easily accessible but also it's a safety thing. No one knows where it really is if they can't see it sitting out. We leave our front door open with the storm door closed. If I left my purse sitting out, they could see it. So I hang it up, hidden.

 

[mafibisha]

Love this thread - so inspirational!

Forgive me if this is hijacking, but what do you have on the top of your bedroom *Dresser*? That is another clutter collector. Just when I clean it off, it gets covered again!

(Should I start another thread about this?)

 

[Teresa Pitman]

I have way too much on my counters too.

On the main counter (where the stove and sink also are):

I have two milk jugs each holding a bunch of wooden spoons, spatulas, scoops, tongs, etc.

Mini food-processor

Toaster

Electric kettle

On the other side (where the fridge is)

Spice rack

But then I also have another counter (actually an old, narrow desk) on the other side of the stove, and lined up on that I have:

Big food processor

Food dehydrator

Kitchen-Aid Mixer

Bread Machine

Toaster Oven

Microwave

Honestly, it looks like I could be running a restaurant here.

Teresa

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

I have a nice sized kitchen, but it lacks storage and counter space. In time we will remodel and add more of both. for now we have added a large Sauder unit in our mudroom, which is adjacent to the kitchen. It serves as the pantry for canned goods, spices and baking supplies, and most of the snacks. The top shelf is used to hold the toaster, Foreman grill, food processor and hand mixer. I just don't have the space to keep more than a knife block (or two), a small canister set and a "picnic" basket to house paper plates and large cooking utensils. All of the paper clutter is on my desk.

 

[ilovejack02]

k cups are kept in pantry , I dont want the stuff on the counter. Just takes an extra step to get to . One of my cousins offered me her holder, but I told her no. Toaster was always kept in cabinet until I got toaster oven. I can't really keep that under counter unfortunately .

Kitchen scale is also kept in cabinet, not heavy, super easy to move so I pull out when needed.

As for those that have can opener on cabinet, I bought a tubberware hand can open, so I didn't need the electric. Works great and fits in the utensil drawer.

 

[charming23]

On our counter we have:

A toaster oven
Kitchen aid mixer
Bread box (which we do not keep bread in but snacks)
Coffee Pot
knife block
canisters with flour and sugar
a cookie jar
a small container with wooden spoons and spatulas near the stove

 

[shortbun]

My toaster, coffee maker, microwave, bowl of fresh fruit, utensil crock, cookie jar and depending on what day it is whatever my husband and son leave there, lol! I gave up keeping my countertops clear years ago. Worrying about other things now.

 

[Planogirl]

I have a microwave, a coffeemaker, a canister set, a wire basket for fruit, an antique teapot and a few decorative canisters thingies on the countertops. I also have a basket in one corner that is the catchall for mail and other papers. Once it reaches a certain height, I go through it.

I never liked putting appliances on the countertops. If the coffeemaker and microwave would fit in a cabinet, I would stuff them in there.

 

[kkmcan]

I really can't stand counters covered with appliances. We have the Senseo coffee machine and my Kitchenaid mixer, which if I could find somewhere to put this giant thing, I would but there's no cabinet that it fits in.

Micro is above the stove and toaster is in a cabinet. We also have the paper pile/keys and junky stuff section of the counter which I absolutely hate. But I've tried file folders, charging stations, etc and nothing lasts. I do go thru the mail everyday and throw out the junk but it's the papers that dh brings home from work, kids school papers, notices etc and all kinds of bank statements, retirement acct updates etc.

Knife block is on the fridge and bread basket in on counter next to fridge. Utensil canister is next to stove.