One thing you can do daily is fight countertop clutter. It is so easy to bring home things and set them all over the countertop; unfortunately, things can pile up quickly and often linger there, making the workspace feel cluttered and claustrophobic. It isn’t inviting to attempt to cook in an area covered with clutter. To fight the likelihood of unwanted items landing on your counters, there should be designated places provided for bags, keys, mail, etc., along the path from the main entry to the kitchen. Most unnecessary items should be dropped off before they reach your kitchen work zone.

Another simple tip that I found to keep my new kitchen running smoothly is to start with a clean sink and an empty dishwasher. If you make a habit of unloading your dishwasher at night and cleaning your sink, then when you begin cooking the next big meal, the cleanup will be much easier. On the flip side of this, if the dishwasher and sink are already full, you’ll only be compounding the problem by dirtying pots and pans on top of a sink full of dirty dishes. Once you make a habit of doing this, it will be gratifying and ultimately save you time while keeping your kitchen clean.