How to Organize Small Kitchen Appliances

Discover genius ways to organize your small appliances! Reclaim kitchen counter space, streamline cooking, and extend appliance life. Get a cute and tidy kitchen with this guide.

We all want a completely organized kitchen (and I have a kitchen organizing guide you’ll love). But one of the biggest obstacles to having a clean and tidy kitchen is trying to figure out what to do with all the small appliances you own.

Small appliances, while essential, can quickly lead to kitchen chaos, making cooking less enjoyable and reducing counter space. They often lack a designated home, leading to clutter and frustration.

Organizing your small appliance collection isn’t just about tidiness; it’s about reclaiming your kitchen, streamlining your cooking process, and extending the life of your appliances. And that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this guide.

From decluttering and assessing needs to smart storage solutions, clever hacks, and maintaining an organized system, this article will transform your kitchen from cluttered to functional and beautiful.

The Essential First Step: Decluttering Your Collection

Before you even look at how to organize them, go through and make sure you use (and love) everything you own. This step can feel kind of overwhelming at first, so I’ll break it down into smaller steps.

Step 1: Gather Everything

Pull out every single small appliance you own from cabinets, pantries, and countertops. And not just the appliances. Pull out all of their chords, parts, and pieces too.

Step 2: The “Keep, Donate, Discard” Method

Then, sort everything into three piles. If you have ever decluttered anything, you already know what the piles are, but here’s a quick refresher.

Keep: Appliances you use regularly (at least once a week/month, depending on the item).
Donate/Sell: Appliances in good working order but rarely used (e.g., bread maker, ice cream maker that’s been used once).
Discard/Recycle: Broken, damaged, or incomplete appliances. Check local recycling options for electronics.

If you’re having a tough time figuring out which pile to put things in, here are a few questions you can ask:

When was the last time I used this? (Be brutally honest!)
Does it serve a unique purpose, or do I have another appliance that does the same thing?
Is it worth the space it takes up?
Is it broken or missing parts?

Step 3: Clean Before You Store

This step will probably take the longest, but it’s very important! Thoroughly clean each appliance you decide to keep. Remove crumbs, grease, and dust. Ensure all parts are dry before storing to prevent mold or damage. Address any sticky residue or lingering odors. Now, you’re ready to organize them.

Assessing Your Kitchen Layout and Storage Potential

Where will you store your kitchen appliances? That depends on how much space you have and how frequently you use them.

First, look at your countertop real estate. This is the most valuable space, so use it wisely. Ask yourself, which appliances truly need to live on the counter for daily use (e.g., coffee maker, toaster)? If you don’t use it every day, consider storing it somewhere else.

Next, consider your cabinet space. The upper cabinets are ideal for lighter, less frequently used items. And the lower cabinets are best for heavier, bulkier appliances.

Do you have a pantry? If you don’t, skip this step. If you do, think about how it can be optimized for appliance storage. Consider shelves, pull-out drawers.

Other spots for your small appliances include under the sink or in a kitchen island. Finally, don’t forget to consider your existing storage solutions. What kind of drawers, shelves, or pull-outs do you already have, and how can they be better utilized?

Smart Storage Solutions for Every Kitchen

Now that you know what you’re storing and how much space you have to keep it all, let’s look at some hacks and solutions that you can use. These are my favorite ways to store small kitchen appliances, no matter the size of your kitchen.

The Dedicated Appliance Cabinet/Pantry Zone

Out of all of the ideas in this list, the dedicated appliance cabinet is my favorite. Basically, you designate a specific cabinet or section of your pantry just for appliances. The best way to achieve this is to use adjustable shelves and pull-out drawers for easy access. Label your shelves if needed. Now you’ll know exactly where things belong!

Vertical Storage Maximization

If you’re short on space, make sure you’re using your vertical storage as much as possible. Use sturdy risers or shelves within cabinets to create vertical layers for smaller appliances (e.g., hand mixer on top of a waffle maker). Or add some over-the-door organizers for lighter items or cords.

Drawer Dividers and Bins

What about all those smaller things that go with your kitchen appliances? Keep attachments (blender blades, food processor discs) organized in dedicated bins or drawer dividers. And don’t just let the cords sit in there and take up the entire drawer. Use Velcro ties or cord wraps for each appliance’s cord before storing.

Rolling Carts/Utility Carts

Store your larger, less frequently used appliances on a rolling or utility cart. That way, they can be rolled out when needed and tucked away. This is also a fantastic way to create a mini prep station with a cart.

Clever Hacks for Cord and Accessory Management

After you decide where to store your kitchen appliances, don’t overlook the smaller parts. Use these hacks and tips so keep your cords, accessories, and parts safe and easy to find.

My favorite hack is to use velcro ties and cable wraps to keep cords in a neat bundle. This isn’t ground-breaking, but it sure is helpful! Do you have a lot of binder clips in your office? Attach these clips to cabinet shelves to hang coiled cords.

Another slightly-obvious solution is to use small bins and bags for the accessories. Keep all attachments (blades, whisks, measuring cups) with their respective appliance in a small, clear bag or bin. I suggest using a clear bin so you can see into it and find what you need quickly. But also remember to label the bins for easy identification.

If you have the space, set aside a dedicated drawer for all the small parts. If you have many tiny attachments, a single drawer with dividers can be a lifesaver.

Organizing for Specific Appliance Types

It’s important to be smart about how you store your appliances. You might have to measure them to make sure they will fit in your pantry or on your carts. Here are some hacks and ideas that you can use for storing specific gadgets.

Blenders & Food Processors: Store pitcher/bowl inverted on base to save space. Keep blades/discs in a small container.
Toasters & Toaster Ovens: If not on counter, consider a deep drawer or a lower cabinet with easy access.
Coffee Makers & Kettles: Create a dedicated “coffee station” with mugs, sugar, and stirrers nearby.
Stand Mixers: Often heavy; consider a mixer lift, a sturdy lower cabinet, or a dedicated spot on a less-used counter corner.
Slow Cookers & Instant Pots: Bulky items best stored in deep lower cabinets or pantries. Stack lids if possible.
Hand Mixers & Immersion Blenders: Smaller, can fit in drawers with accessories or in upper cabinets.
Specialty Appliances (Waffle Makers, Griddles): Store in less accessible spots if used infrequently. Consider vertical storage.

Maintenance for Long-Term Organization

With all the time and work you put into completely cleaning and organizing your small appliances, don’t let it get this bad ever again. Regular maintenance will make it really easy to tidy up your appliances regularly.

First, remember to use the “put away immediately” rule. After each use, clean the appliance and return it to its designated home. Then, give your kitchen a quick scan about once a week. Make sure appliances are in their place and cords are tidy.

Since things break and new things enter the house, re-evaluate your appliance collection a few times a year. Are you still using everything? If you are, then make sure everything has proper labels.

These tips are only effective if you use them. Since your appliance collection and kitchen needs may change, be flexible and adjust your organization system accordingly.

Organize Your Small Appliance Collection Today

There you have it! An organized small appliance collection is about creating a more functional, beautiful, and stress-free kitchen. It’s an investment in your daily cooking experience. It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small, tackle one appliance type at a time, and celebrate your progress. You can do it! A tidy kitchen is a joy to cook in, so it’s worth all the time and stress, I promise!

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