Our readers out there with children know all too well that kids have a ton of stuff. Toys, strollers, clothes, shoes, diapers, and movies. Well, kid clutter extends into the kitchen, too. Why can’t manufacturers make more collapsible, easily stored, square items? I don’t know, but personally, I find it annoying. Anyway, I’m here to share a few tips on storing bottles, formula, sippy cups, plates, bowls.
Tip number 1: Keep plates, bowls and silverware at toddler height. This limits the “No, I don’t want that one” argument Vincent and I often had. Instead, he can pick out his own bowl/plate/spoon/fork without arguement and he can help empty the dishwasher by putting his items away. We also keep cloth napinks his drawer for easy, eco-friendly cleanup.
Tip number 2: Keep one small cabinet of cups, bottles, formula, and other random kitchen items. Using a small cabinet limits the amount of accumulation, while keeping the ugly out of sight, but close at hand. Store the most often used items on the lower shelves and less often used on the higher shelves.
Tip number 3: Invest in a few “cleaning faces and hands” only rags. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t want to have my face wiped with the same rag used to clean the chicken parmesan mess. Just sayin’.
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Hi,
I love your cleaning and organizing ideas. I, too, love love LOVE organization. We live with our son (1.5 years) in a townhouse that is less than 900 sf, so we have LOTS of organizing challenges. We have one shelf in one cupboard for all of Sam’s kitchen stuff–he has one plate, one bowl, three sippy cups, two bottles–well, you get the idea.
I also got rid of most of our stuff–literally (it’s actually very liberating). And since we have no pantry, no storage in our bathroom, and no closet in our son’s bedroom, etc., organizing things has been…interesting.
So, while I love some of your comments re guests, keeping shelves/closet space empty for them, etc., they are unfortunately not always feasible when one has almost no storage space.
That being said, great ideas and I love, love, LOVE your renovations and wish my hubby (or I) were as handy as your husband!
(and your boys’ room is to die for, simply LOVE it).
ps–If you want to protect the shelves from scratches, markups, etc., I have had great success with the contact brand of sticky yet repositionable shelving paper in clear. You seriously cannot even tell that it is there–I even put in on the top of our new shoe rack, which my dad made out of wood and plywood (and I painted white).
Thanks for a great blog!
Hi Wlima,
Thanks so much for stopping by! I completely understand not having a ton of storage space to devote to guests, even for yourself. Our kitchen doesn’t have a ton of storage space as it currently is, but hopefully when we’re able to renovate, that will remedy the situation.
The trick definitely is to purge unnecessary items. Also, try utilizing wasted spaces like under the bed(s) and high shelves. Moving the standard closet shelf up to add a second closet rod can do wonders.
The contact paper sounds great! I’ll have to pick some up and give it a try.
Thanks again!
Amanda
Hi again, thanks for actually commenting on my comment! I feel so special :). Other ways of organizing I’ve found: for closets that can’t have two rods (ie, that have coats/dresses/other long stuff, add an extra shelf that is slightly less wide above the existing shelf, if you have the space. We’ve been able to stay away from storing under the beds (thus far), as I hate having to move the stuff when vacuuming (and no, I cannot just leave it and do it every so often–it’s a curse (thanks, mom!)) I totally agree on having separte face & hand washing rags–the idea of using the regular kitchen rag–ewwwwwwwwww…other ways of organizing–look up. We hang our bikes in the winter in the basement (no garage, no shed (sigh)) and we have a ton of shelving going up the walls in the basement (thankfully hidden by drapes). I’m sure you know all this already, but I keep picking up little tips, sometimes things I never, ever would have thought of by myself. Right now I’m trying to make my front entrance more user friendly, but all the tips for “small” front entrances don’t take into account my super small front entrance (less than 4 ft by about 6 ft–you can barely turn around in there! …and of course, no closet, and a door to the power room–what a cruddy design). The new shoe rack is helping, but there is not much one can do, especially with all the winter baby gear–hats and mits and scarves and snow pants and winter coats and boots and…sigh…anyway, thanks for the comment!