6 Common Kitchen Organizing Problems and the Easiest Ways to Solve Them

It happens to the best of us. Despite efforts to keep a tidy kitchen and pantry, there are organizational headaches we just can't figure out. It could be an overflowing cabinet full of kitchen towels or the dreaded, cluttered junk drawer. We know that these conundrums can be conquered, yet solutions have proven evasive.

But fear not—we spoke with an organizing expert to help us untangle our most common kitchen organizing headaches with practical, easy solutions to keep your kitchen functional.

Problem: Overflowing Pot Lids

Let's face it—pot lids are not the easiest thing to sort. They are rarely stackable, come in different sizes and sometimes slightly different shapes, and never seem to be with their bottom counterpart. "If you haven't established an organization system yet, chances are you have a cabinet or drawer overflowing with lids, scattered haphazardly and prone to tumbling out whenever you reach in to retrieve one," says Rachel Rosenthal, organizational expert and brand ambassador for Post-It.

The Solution: Upright or Over-the-Door Pot Lid Holders

Store those pot lids handily with a dedicated organizer. Depending on the space, you can choose an upright pot lid holder, an over-the-door organizer that works for pantry or cabinet doors, or even a pull-out lid organizer if you have the necessary drawer space. Choosing something like an upright pot lid organizer can also help with other storage issues, as well. "It offers a way to store your lids vertically and is so versatile it can also store items such as pots, pans, baking sheets, cutting boards, and more," says Rosenthal.

Problem: Disorganized Cutting Boards

Cutting boards are not naturally sized to be stored away easily. They can be big and bulky in some cases, which makes it harder to find an appropriate home for them. "Cutting boards are frequently utilized in the kitchen, yet they pose a challenge due to their sizable nature when it comes to storage," says Rosenthal. "Many people face a dilemma regarding whether to store these boards inside a cabinet or keep them out, given their daily usage."

Solution: Hang Them or Use a Tray Divider

If you have the cabinet space and you'd rather conceal your cutting boards, opting for something like a tray divider in a cabinet is a great way to keep them out of view as well as neatly organized. "For those that want to hide the visual clutter, organizing cutting boards in a cabinet that has been divided by more permanent slats or using something like [The Container Store's Design Ideas Tray Divider] is a great option," Rosenthal says.

And if you don't have the cabinet space? You can use the tray divider on your countertop, or better yet, display your cutting boards using a hook or knob, says Rosenthal.

Problem: An Abundance of Spices

Take a look at your pantry—do you have spice bottles in there and don't remember when you purchased them? Unorganized spices often lead to hanging on to expired products that aren't as flavorful. "In numerous households, many kitchen spices aren't used daily, making it challenging to maintain their freshness over time," Rosenthal says. "Additionally, keeping track of them becomes difficult, especially when trying to monitor restocking needs and expiration dates."

The Solution: Decant and Label Spices Into Matching Jars

Matching spice jars make everything uniform, allowing you to neatly organize them either without a dedicated organizer or by utilizing something like a spice riser. "When spice containers share the same shape and size, they fit together more seamlessly, regardless of their storage location," Rosenthal says. "For instance, in a drawer, spices can be neatly arranged in uniform rows, with or without the aid of an organizer." Then, label your jars with the name of the spice and the expiration date so you can clearly see everything when you take stock of your spice inventory.

Problem: Too Many Kitchen Towels

Kitchen towels have a way of accumulating, and if you have limited cabinet space, your towel collection might be overflowing. "They often accumulate without being decluttered, leading many individuals to hold onto more than they actually need or can use," says Rosenthal.

The Solution: Do an Edit of Your Kitchen Towels

First things first—you have to get rid of any kitchen towels that are past their prime. Torn, stained, or any that you just don't use don't need a place in your kitchen. Then, you have a couple of options for storing your remaining towels. "If you prefer folding them in a drawer, consider using a drawer divider to keep the piles upright, and employ a file fold for efficient organization," Rosenthal says. "Alternatively, if you lack drawer space, consider utilizing an under-shelf basket, which can be placed on any shelf in the kitchen or pantry for convenient storage."

Problem: Messy Junk Drawer

Who among us doesn't have a designated catch-all drawer in their kitchen? The problem with these drawers is that they tend to be the Wild West of your kitchen—no rhyme or reason, things strewn and hard to find, and likely a bunch of items you probably don't need. "It often becomes overrun with miscellaneous items that see infrequent use, eventually attracting clutter that transforms into genuine junk," says Rosenthal.

The Solution: Declutter and Use Drawer Dividers

Don't avoid—tackle that junk drawer ASAP. Get rid of things you don't use, label things that you do, and clean the drawer of debris. "Then place drawer organizers inside the drawer to neatly contain and organize each category of remaining items," Rosenthal says. "Once drawer dividers are in place, you will then be able to visually assess what you're working with, and it becomes less challenging to effectively address the clutter."

The Problem: Mismatched Food Storage Containers

It sometimes feels impossible to match a food storage lid to its container counterpart. Whether because you have a stash of differently-sized containers that don't stack neatly or lids that have gone rogue, it's easy to feel like your food storage containers have taken over your kitchen.

The Solution: Purge, Categorize, Nest

Take stock of your food container inventory—you likely have old, possibly broken containers or some that might be missing their lids. Recycle them now. "Take a critical look at the plastic takeout containers you've been saving and recycle those you aren't using. Once you've categorized your containers, separate the lids from the bottoms and nest the containers together to conserve space," Rosenthal says. "Store all lids in an expandable lid organizer, and if you're organizing in a drawer, consider using a pegboard system or a pull-out divider drawer if you have cabinet space."