There are several benefits to maintaining a clean and organized house. If you’re anything like me, you’ll have a hard time concentrating when everything is in a jumble or when you sense that something isn’t quite right.
It wasn’t always like that, however. Growing up, I didn’t put much stock in keeping things neat and tidy around the house; I suppose I can credit my mom for that. Now I see how her home might be perfect for a real estate agent’s portfolio.
My mom taught me a lot of useful things, including how to make the most of the little cabinets that are often located above refrigerators in kitchens. Are you familiar with the ones I’m referring to? Keep reading to find out how you can make the most of them if you happen to have any on hand too.
You may not think much of the little cabinets that sit above your fridge at first sight.
It’s not feasible to have plates or cups up there, and they’re not large enough for other items either.
So, how are we to use them?
Here are some handy pointers to help you decide what to do with these cabinets if you’re stuck.
Place to keep kitchen tools that aren’t used too often:
These cabinets aren’t the best choice for items you’ll need twice a day, every day, but that doesn’t mean they can’t store sporadic items. Items such as blenders, food processors, waffle makers, etc.
Provisions for cooking and baking in a can
You can put most canned goods and vegetables up here and forget about them for a while because of how long they last. Alternatively, what about weekend-only baking necessities?
Various recipes
Do you have any unwanted cookbooks laying around? Since I am certain that I have, I put my books at the uppermost shelf of my cabinet.
Photo by Jeff Bukowski / Shutterstock
Spices and other pantry staples
Just like the canned goods we discussed, you probably already have a number of products in your pantry that would be perfect for this kind of cabinet. An alternative would be to invest in a compact spice rack and use it to store all of your seasonings for cooking.
This is a great place to keep kitchen towels and other big household supplies (my wife does this all the time).
Elegant tableware
Have you have any dinnerware that you save for special occasions? It would be more sensible to store them above the refrigerator, where they are less likely to be accessed by your children.
Exercise caution
We know it should go without saying this, but please use caution while opening and shutting those cabinets. Be careful not to lift anything that may be dangerously heavy if you decide to go up there.
Always use a stable stool or stepladder to reach what you’re putting there, and keep in mind that certain things aren’t the best fits for the space below the refrigerator due to the heat it emits.
What exactly do you put these cabinets to use for around the house? Post a comment and tell us.
