With Thanksgiving approaching, do you feel thankful that your kitchen counters already are open and well organized for food preparation and guest viewing?

If not, clearing counters can be relatively easy by first sizing up the needs and uses around the room.

So, look slowly along countertops: what is there that you use daily? Or only once a week? Rarely? Has one spot become a pile for the daily mail? Find another storage location for it and set another time to open everything and deal with it. Are keys and cell/music player charging units taking up prime space? Consider small wall or under-counter hooks or magnets for keys. For electronics charging, such as cell phones, mp3 players, PDAs, consider a Charging Station. It is one unit mounted on a wall near an outlet. It holds various electronics and base chargers and keeps all cords hidden inside.
		Big items on the counter that are not needed daily? Should your food processor, toaster oven, blender, wok, knife rack be stored in a little-used cabinet? Maybe your coffee maker, if used often, can be mounted under a cabinet or at least tucked in a cabinet near its daily counter spot. Paper towel holders can be located inside cabinet or pantry doors.
		Microwaves can be bracketed neatly under cabinets or placed on a food prep cart or small table. Other ideas: add a spice rack or utensils holder inside a cabinet or along a wall or door grid organizing unit. Cookbooks Galore Put the most-used ones upright inside a cabinet or on a shelf unit elsewhere in the kitchen, inside the pantry or in a nearby closet. Move rarely used books to your library or donate them.
Food Left On Counter Breads: insert into cupboard space with other perishables. It also keeps well frozen until needed. Cereal boxes: group inside a cabinet or pantry. If some boxes are too large for your fixed shelves, measure the space and buy clear plastic containers for the loose cereal. It will stay fresher in sealed plastic; also, the clear containers remind you when to buy more.
		Dish rack too bulky? Buy a foldable model to store below. When you are done, you will get lots of compliments on Thanksgiving: “You are so tidy and organized!” Keep your new system and you will also be happy the rest of the year. Another day, you may be inspired to tackle the cabinets or even the entire kitchen! Our staff is happy to help.