Growing up, both my husband and I had cabinets full of plastic cups from the ball field and mismatch “souvenir” coffee cups. I personally didn’t help that situation since I gave my mom some kind of coffee mug for every celebratory occasion!
Before my husband and I got married, we discussed the style of home we wanted to have. During that discussion, we decided it would be ideal to have a one set of matching glasses and one set of matching coffee mugs. I guess that was our way of having a perfectly organized kitchen cabinet.
Well, that’s how it was for a few years.
But somewhere along the way, things started to change.
We needed BIG plastic cups for guys. So gigantic plastic cups entered out cabinet as a matching set. Then a few more random cups that didn’t coordinate showed up.
Then we received 2 coffee mugs as a gift. And then another showed up after a trip. Then another….
And THEN WE HAD KIDS!
Bottles, plastic kiddy cups with lids, sippy cups with straws and other kid paraphernalia made their way into that cabinet.
Our cup, mug, and glass cabinet hit it’s breaking point. It became a big ol’ mess!
So today I’m going to organize mine…and I hope you are too!
Step 16 :: Cups, Mugs, & Glasses
Take 5 minutes…seriously, that’s all it should take…to organize your cup, mug, and glass cabinet.
Get it all out.
Take everything out of your glassware cabinet; even if it’s not a cup. Somehow, knicknacks, vitamins, whatever…end up in the kitchen. If you have something that doesn’t belong in that cabinet, take it out. That way it will be more difficult to put it back!
Next wipe out the cabinet so it looks new again.
Determine if you have the appropriate amount of glasses.
Unless you have an unusually large family or entertain often, there’s a chance you have too many cups in your cabinet And they are taking up valuable space in your kitchen! My rule of thumb is 2 drinking glasses per person. Glasses are one of those things that can be rinsed out easily so pouring a different drink shouldn’t be problematic. But, if one cup is dirty, there’s another to use.
The biggest benefit of this guideline is that you can teach your kids to use their cup longer than 2 seconds. And that means fewer dishes to wash!
It may be tough to pair down initially, but it will be worth it in the end!
Organize your cups, mugs, and glasses.
Place the cups you’ll use back into the cabinet.
I like to categorize glassware by type. By keeping the glasses together and mugs together, it makes the cabinet more visually appealing. Plus it’s obvious to anyone unloading dishes where each item should go.
This should be quick task! And since this isan area of the kitchen that’s used often, it will be noticed!
Clean out your glass cabinet today and let me know your guideline for cups…do they all have to match? Or does each mug have a story behind it?
Make sure to check out the rest of the clean and organize kitchen series!
iDreamOfClean
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
We have mismatched glasses for using throughout the day. Also, mugs with personality for each of us. BUT…..when the table is set for a meal, glasses have to match! Mugs, not so much.
I understand wanting to have matching cups, but sometimes it is fun to have a unique mix…each with their own story and presumably owner. :-)