The kitchen is often known as the heart of the home. It is the place where we gather to eat, cook, entertain, and spend time with friends and family. As a result, the kitchen can become one of the most difficult rooms to organize and keep clean. Try some of these tips and time savers to organize your kitchen and simplify your life.

Countertops:

* Clean your countertops and remove any item or appliance you do not use at least once a week.

* Keep cookbooks to a minimum and store away the ones you don’t use on a regular basis.

Pots/Pans/Containers:

* Store pots and pans in a cabinet beneath or next to the stove for easy access.

* Place baking sheets, cake pans, pizza pans, etc. in a cabinet beneath or next to the oven. You can use a rack to help arrange baking sheets by size and those used most often.

* Consider suspending pots and pans on a wall or from a ceiling mounted rack to maximize cabinet and storage space.

* Store microwave safe containers in a cabinet near the microwave. Arrange containers by size and stack one inside of the other if possible. Throw away plastic containers that are no longer used.

Pantry:

* Store each item so that it is easily handy and visible.

*Group canned goods together and stack so that their labels can easily be seen. Discard canned goods and jars that have passed their expiration dates or are more than a year old.

* Place pasta, cereal, rice, and other dried foods in labeled plastic storage containers.

* Store gravy packets, seasoning packets, etc. in a small, clear plastic tub for easy access.

* Line up boxes with their 'spines' facing front (like library books).

* If possible, store the most often used items at eye level.

* Choose a lower shelf for paper storage and place all napkins, towels and plates together.

* Store heavy items, such as boxes of soda and juice, on the floor or on a lower shelf.

* If you have extra wall space, consider hanging up storage hooks, a hand vacuum, a bulletin board or other helpful organizing items.

* Purchase handy space saving products such as stacking containers, caddies to store foil and wax paper, and sturdy baskets for onions, garlic and potatoes.

* If you have school-age children, create a snack shelf of parent-approved treats.

Refrigerator:

* Designate certain shelves in your refrigerator for specific items. For example, use your top shelf for beverages, your bottom shelf for leftovers, place produce in its drawer, and place condiments in the door of the refrigerator.

* Delegate one day of the week to tossing out old foods. Consider cleaning out your refrigerator on the same day you go to the grocery store. Since you will be adding new items in your refrigerator it is a great time to toss out old food to make space.

Spices:

* Organize spices on a spice rack and place the ones used most often in the front row.

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