The preparation area should be near the sink for quick cleanup. There should also be plenty of free counter space with easy access to knives and cutting boards.

Under-the-Sink

Get under the sink and clear it out. I know it's scary, but pull everything out. The area beneath the sink is good indicator of the status of the rest of your kitchen. Toss out any crumbly, musty sponges, leaky rubber gloves and empty dish soap containers. When was the last time you wiped the whole cabinet clean? If your cleaning supplies' home is disgusting and cluttered, how clean can the rest of your kitchen really be?

Cleaning Supplies

Get rid of all the cleaning products that are old or that you never use. Chances are that you don't need ⅔ of them. Put all your basic cleaning supplies into a cleaning caddy with a handle for easy storage and transport.

Plastic Bags

There is a push afoot to get rid of plastic bags, so either reuse them next time you go shopping, or see if your grocery store will recycle your bags.