The kitchen is an area of your home that gets used more often than most other areas. So it stands to reason that if your kitchen were more organized and simple to use, your life would feel easier. Keep your kitchen counter, drawers and cupboards clutter free, with these organizing solutions.

• Clear the counter- reduce the number of items that are kept permanently on the counter. The counter is a primary workspace and needs to be frequently cleaned. Get somewhere else in the kitchen to store items that are not frequently used.
• Toss anything you don’t use- there are items you haven’t used in a long time. Most of us are guilty of storing up things we haven’t used in ages. Pass it along to a friend or relative or better still, donate them to charity. If you get rid of these items, you will not have to go on a hunt to get things that are frequently used in the kitchen and more space will be created. Make sure every item in your kitchen has earned its right to your valuable space.
• Clean up after- this is one tip that has helped me over the years. When you clear out a drawer for example, wipe out any dirt or crumb before replacing the contents. Cleaning a little at a time makes it less of a chore.
• Order of size- sort hand utensils according to size or length. Keeping the small and large utensils separated will speed your search when you need them.
  Under the sink organizer- don’t let the kitchen rags and dishwashing gloves clutter the sink area. Hang them from hooks screwed to the inside of a cabinet door where the item can stay out of sight as they dry.
• Spice displays- store spices or ingredients in plain jars, preferably glass ones and tag the containers with self-adhesive labels or paper gums. That way, you won’t mix up one ingredient with another. Also, keep ingredients of recipes together. For example, keep all Chinese recipe ingredients together in one part and all baking ingredients together in another part of the shelf.
• Cookbooks- all cookbooks should be neatly organized according to sizes and colors for easy access.

Bonus Tip- if you have children, do not forget to install or adjust child proofing, especially on lower cabinets and be sure that knives and cleaning fluids are stored safely.

Image Credit – suburbansimplicity.com

The non-stick cookware is a must-have in every kitchen. When you want to have an amazing cooking experience, a non-stick cookware is the way to go. This quality cooking ware will make your cooking healthier, because you can reduce the amount of oil and fat used in preparing your meals.

Its non-stick quality also makes it very easy to clean. However, improper care can ruin your cookware, destroy its beautiful features and ultimately reduce its lifespan.

Use the tips below to take better care of your cookware;

• Don’t cook on high heat – the non-stick cookware is made of Teflon coating, which gives it its excellent finish. Cooking with the highest heat can warp the pan and cause the Teflon coating to crack and reduce performance when cooking. It will also burn your food. The safest thing to do is to keep the temperature on low to medium heat and you will still have perfectly cooked food that will not get burnt. Doing this will also help reduce the amount of food residue that you have to clean up afterwards.
• Don’t use metal utensils on your non-stick cookware – this is one of the most important rules that you should remember. Metal utensils will easily scratch and ruin the non-stick pan’s surface and once the surface is scarred, the cookware is as good as bad. Use non-stick pan-friendly utensils such as wood, rubber, or plastic that is heat proof.
• Cleaning – the worst thing you can do to your non-stick cookware is wash it with an iron or abrasive sponge. Non-stick cookware surfaces are sensitive to steel wool, metal scouring pads, sharp scrapers and harsh cleaning detergents. If your food is really stuck to your pot, it is best to let it soak for a little while. Lukewarm soapy water and a soft sponge should be perfect for cleaning out your cookware. You can also try this trick; it works for me all the time. After using the pan, fill it up with boiling water; let it simmer on medium heat for a few minutes. Rinse in the sink if necessary using a soft cloth and then dry immediately with a soft cloth or kitchen towel. This will get rid of any oil or residue and keep the non-stick surface scratch free. Do not clean your cookware in the dishwasher. Cleaning by hand is always the best.
• Store your non-stick cookware properly – It’s best to store your pans hanging, with plenty of space between them; but if you must stack them, be sure not to place any sharp metal objects on the non-stick coating.
• Don’t store your food in your non-stick cookware – your pans are not meant for storing food. It’s best to clean them out as soon as you are done cooking. Use Tupperware (plastic containers) to store your food instead.

REPAIR YOUR DAMAGED NON STICK COOKWARE WITH THESE TIPS

Just in case you are new to this information and your non-stick cookware is already damaged, there are tips that can help you repair them.

• Use a paste of equal parts baking soda and water to gently scrub your pan, using a soft sponge. Don’t forget the sides and other areas where oil residue can build up. Rinse well and dry.
• Repair the surfaces by pouring a small amount of vegetable oil in the pan, rubbing it into the pan and wipe off the excess with a paper towel.

IMAGE CREDIT – Goodhousekeeping.com