

Raquel says anything like steel wool pads, a basket for your kitchen sponge and scrubbing brush, and your dishwashing liquid are okay to leave out. Raquel Kahler says cleaning items are the best items to leave on the kitchen counter, and havinga clean microfiber cloth, at Amazon, within reach is a handy reminder to wipe down surfaces after doing pretty much anything in the kitchen. What items are fine to leave out on your kitchen counter? Melissa explains that sometimes just moving anything out of the kitchen that doesn't belong there can make things feel much more balanced. 'Is some clutter okay? Clutter is in the eye of the beholder!' says Melissa. 'But I always come back to: if you are feeling overwhelmed, can't find things as fast as you want to, or are getting frustrated with your living mates over clutter, it is time to try some degree of tidying.' We'd also suggest containing items on a terrazzo tray, at Etsy so at least it can be moved around easily and looks intentional. 'I use a pretty ceramic bowl from a local artisan for my fruit, and it is so lovely I don't mind that it uses up counter space.' 'A final tip is that if you need to take up valuable real estate on the counter, make it beautiful,' says Melissa Gugni. 'However, it's important to keep in mind that everyone's kitchen needs are different, so what works for one person may not work for another.' 8.

'The rule of having nothing around the sink is a good one to follow as it keeps the area around the sink clear and easy to clean,' says Artem. The counters around the kitchen sink are the first to get cluttered, so focus on this area and aim for Marie Kondo levels of tidy.

Marie Kondo goes as far as saying nothing should be stored around the kitchen sink or the stove, so no dish soap or sponge, and no olive oil ready for frying onions.
