21 “Big Little Wins” I Do in My Kitchen Every January That Make So Much Sense

Shifrah Combiths

January 25, 2025 at 12:45 p.m.·2 min read

<span> Credit: Joe Lingeman/Apartment Therapy</span> <span class="copyright">Credit: Joe Lingeman/Apartment Therapy</span> — Credit: Joe Lingeman/Apartment Therapy Credit: Joe Lingeman/Apartment Therapy

I love taking advantage of any “fresh start” energy — especially the blank-slate feel that comes with the start of a new year. By the time the holidays have passed, I’m itching to clear things out and clean things up all over the house. It’s a season of purging, organizing, and making space — both literally and figuratively.

As the most heavily used room in the house, the kitchen sees more than its fair share of my new-year, new-start flurry of activities. If your resolution is to be tidier or more organized in 2025, or you just want to cut through the end-of-year clutter for a fresh start, take it from this mom of five: It all starts in the kitchen. You can start small with these little wins I like to do every winter.

Here are 21 small things I do in my kitchen every January that just make sense.

Reorganize the junk drawer.
Get rid of chipped or broken mugs or dishware.
Organize any drawers or shelves that have gotten messy. (Try these drawer organizers!)
Clear out expired items in pantry and fridge.
Clean vent hood filters.
Bleach kitchen sink drain flange.
Get rid of (or repurpose) food storage containers with no lid or lids with no container.
Put away all holiday decor.
Donate servingware that’s never been used.
Go through your old snack stash and toss what’s gone bad.
Clean trash and recycling bins.
Wipe down kitchen cabinet fronts.
Go through water bottles and get rid of any that are unused or have missing/broken parts.
Deep-clean water bottles (take them completely apart and clean gaskets).
Deep-clean and polish the sink.
Deep-clean the air fryer (and all its parts).
Reorganize cabinet contents and wipe down interiors. (Try these cabinet organizers!)
Make it a point to finish up any containers with small amounts of soap, detergent, etc.
Wipe down light fixtures.
Toss or upcycle torn or heavily stained dish towels.
Deep-clean the drying rack.

And here are a few tasks I never do in winter.

Purchase new dishware or servingware. (I’m too busy going through what I already have.)
Purchase any cleaning supplies without making sure I don’t already have backstock.
Wash windows or window tracks. (It’s too cold!)
Replenish pantry staples. (I’m in use-up-what-I-have mode.)

And just like that! How does that feel? For more fresh-space inspiration, check out Apartment Therapy’s January Cure.

I bought this LifeStraw water filter bottle to prevent traveller's diarrhea — here's my honest review

21 “Big Little Wins” I Do in My Kitchen Every January That Make So Much Sense

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