The cooking zone is near the stove and needs to have easy access to pots, pans, cooking utensils and spices.

Oven

The only things that should be on your stove when it's not in use are a tea kettle and a spoon rest, if you use one. The only thing that should be stored in your oven is space. As tempting as all that "unused" space in the oven can be, it is not a place to keep pots or pans. If you are storing pots and pans in your oven we have to figure out why you don't have room for them in your cabinets. Do you have too many different pots and pans? Are you storing other things in your cabinets that you don't use or need? If your oven and stove top aren't clean and free of clutter, how will you make appetizing meals for your family and friends?

Take the time now to give your stovetop and oven a good scouring. While you are at it, clean out all the breadcrumbs that have accumulated in the toaster and/or toaster oven. Give your microwave a good clean too.

Gizmos & Gadgets

Kitchens attract a ton of seemingly "must have" gadgets and gizmos that are useless. Tune into late night infomercials if you don't believe me! The first step to getting organized is to seriously reduce the amount of food, dishes and appliances in your kitchen. Discard anything that has outlived its usefulness. Do you really use those slow cookers, specialty pots and pans, egg slicers, apple corers and melon ballers? If not, they're just taking up valuable counter or cabinet space. Speaking of which, even if you got it as a Christmas present, that fondue pot needs to go!