How to Declutter the Kitchen One Week Before Thanksgiving
Your kitchen is a war zone.
Thanksgiving is a week away, and you’re already losing the battle to clutter. Cabinets stuffed with mystery Tupperware. Counters buried under appliances you don’t use but can’t let go of. And that junk drawer? Don’t even look.
If you want to survive this holiday, you need space. Space for prepping. Space for cooking. Space for sanity.
It’s time to declutter. Not someday. Not after the holidays. Now.
One week isn’t a lot of time, but it’s enough to make some progress. This plan breaks it all down into daily tasks, so you won’t spend hours buried in clutter. You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to get started and go from there. Don’t let clutter take over your life and mental health.
Table of Contents
Day 1: Clear the Counters (30 Minutes)
Your counters are prime real estate. Today, they get a complete makeover.
Take everything off. Yes, everything. Wipe down the counters while they’re empty—it’s probably been a while. Now, only put back the essentials. Think coffee maker, cutting board, maybe one or two tools you’ll actually use this week.
Everything else? Find it a home elsewhere. Mail goes to the office, random gadgets go in a drawer, and that bread maker you haven’t used in months? Store it or donate it. By the end of today, your counters should look clean, open, and ready for action.
Day 2: Declutter the Fridge (30 Minutes)
You’ll need space for the turkey, pies, and all the sides. Today, it’s time to clear out the fridge.
Start by tossing expired condiments, mystery leftovers, and anything else that’s overstayed its welcome. Then wipe down the shelves and drawers. You want a fresh, clean canvas for Thanksgiving.
Finally, organize what’s left. Create a dedicated space for Thanksgiving ingredients. Group like items together—think dairy on one shelf, veggies in the crisper, and beverages in the door. Consider using lazy susan turntables and containers that can be stacked to save space. By the end of today, your fridge will be ready for the big haul.
Day 3: Tackle the Pantry (20 Minutes to 1 Hour)
The pantry can be a black hole of forgotten food. Not today. Decluttering the pantry is possible.
Don’t get overwhelmed. Just start. Set a timer for 25 minutes. Once you reach that goal, decide if you have the motivation to continue. If not, come back later in the evening and do another 25 minutes.
Start by pulling everything out shelf by shelf. Toss anything expired or stale. Donate unopened items you’ll never use—there’s still time to do some good before the holiday.
Once you’ve cleared the excess, organize what’s left. Group similar items together—cans with cans, baking supplies with baking supplies. Create a section just for Thanksgiving ingredients so you can grab what you need without digging.
Try storing groups of food together in baskets and labeling everything to help you know what you have from a glance. Once it’s organized, keep it that way.
Day 4: Simplify the Cabinets (25 Minutes)
Cabinets are where clutter goes to hide. Not this week.
Take a quick inventory of your plates, bowls, and serving dishes. Only keep out what you’ll actually use on Thanksgiving. Store extras in another room for now.
Do the same for cookware. Keep your roasting pan, baking sheets, and one or two pots handy. If it’s not essential for the big day, it doesn’t need to take up space in the kitchen.
Day 5: Declutter the Junk Drawer (15 Minutes)
The junk drawer isn’t just annoying—it’s a time-waster. Today, you fix that.
Dump everything out onto the counter. Toss the broken pens, random twist ties, and whatever else has no purpose. Organize the rest with drawer dividers or small containers.
This isn’t just about tidying—it’s about making your kitchen work for you. By the end of today, your junk drawer should be functional, not chaotic.
Day 6: Pre-set Your Cooking Station (20 Minutes)
Thanksgiving is almost here, and you’ll want a game plan for cooking. Today, you set the stage.
Choose one area of the kitchen as your prep station. Stock it with your sharpest knives, cutting boards, mixing bowls, and any other essentials. This is your command center for Thanksgiving cooking.
Clear the surrounding area of any clutter. The less you have to move around or search for tools, the smoother your day will go.
Day 7: Final Reset (15 to 30 Minutes)
Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and your kitchen is nearly there. Today, it’s all about the finishing touches.
Spend 15 to 30 minutes doing a quick reset. Put away anything that’s crept back onto the counters. Make sure your fridge and pantry are still organized. Double-check your cooking station.
By the end of today, your kitchen will feel calm, clean, and ready for action. And you? You’ll be one step closer to actually enjoying Thanksgiving.
Theresa Bedford is a lifestyle and relationship writer with a passion for self-development and to live life to the fullest. She writes about relationships, mindfulness, and simple living. Her work has been seen on the AP newswire, MSN, Wealth of Geeks, Media Decision, and more.
