Have you ever wondered why the silverware container and utensil drawer are always dirty? You are only putting away clean items and yet you discover crumbs at the bottom when you empty it out.
With a number of guests last week at our house, we went through a lot of silverware. Sure enough as the usable silverware was getting low, emptying out the container, I noticed a dirty bin full of crumbs and lint leftover. Usually, when this happens (with a minimal amount of clean utensils), I wash out the container. I stick my plastic white bin, that I use for everyday silverware, in the dishwasher to wash.
My "special event" silverware are placed in a velvet wooded box. Even this gets dirty and I find myself taking the lint roller to wipe it down. If you have a drawer full of serving spoons, spatulas, and miscellaneous kitchen utensils, you will notice the same effect.
Why is this? You got me. Perhaps people are in a hurry to unload the dishwasher and do not notice a piece of food dried onto the fork or knife as they unload. Or then maybe you spill some crumbs when you open the drawer on your way to the table since the other hand is full of a plate of food. For whatever reason, this is certainly disgusting! Yuck!
This is why I try to keep up on cleaning out my drawers and containers periodically. Just think these crumbs could be going into your mouth but thankfully fall out in the "putting away" process.
With any new set of kitchen cupboards, I line the bottom with either contact paper or cupboard liners. The contact paper is good for a permanent kitchen situation to wipe down. The liners can also be cut to the size of the shelf to protect the wood and hide the crumbs that fall from the dishes. Tack the liners down with thumb tacks and remove to shake out the crumbs and wipe down the shelf.
Use water proof and rust resistant containers and organizers for easy cleaning. Most of these items are dishwasher safe. Wipe them down when you notice a shortage of the item it holds, making clean up minimal.
And above all else, be careful of putting away dirty dishes. Establish a communication system for "done" and "undone" cycles on the dishwasher so your loved ones do not unload dirty dishes. Wipe down the inside and outside (which has a lot of food and germs from hands) of cupboards and kitchen shelves periodically, being sure to get all cracks and crevices.
You will be surprised what you find inside your kitchen cupboards. Good luck attacking this dirt magnet!
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