We don't have a lot of counter space, and it has much of what you all have on it - toaster, fruit bowl, cookie jar, holder for a few cooking utensils used all the time - plus a breadbox (which holds more than bread) and a spice rack that is running out of room - I'll have to reorganize it).

Normally I don't personally have a problem with counters. And I do turn my dishes over if they have drained on one side and not on the other in the drying rack. They are put away promptly.

I'm both training DS more thoroughly in kitchen skills, I hold him responsible for cleaning up any mess his friends make. He has learned to bring mugs from the family room into the kitchen, and they do sit on the counter until dealt with (often by me, but that will soon change, too). I've also taught DS how to soak plates that have certain kinds of mess on them, such as bits of cheese that hardened and must now be removed before the plates can be washed or put into the dishwasher. But I still have to get after him, after they've soaked a while, to wipe them off and either put them in the dishwasher (which is the usual procedure) or wash them by hand and put them in the drainer. He forgets about them, and I don't like looking at them, and the cats could knock them down . . .

In general, it seems it takes a long time for "kids" to learn to ETE and PUPA. Just yesterday I moved DS's sneakers from near the front door where he'd taken them off, to by his bedroom door so he can put them in his room.

Bless, if DD is responsible for any of the counter stuff, be sure to call it to her attention. Ditto for other readers whose kids probably play a role in the clutter.

Maureen, great going with the before and after areas!

I will join you. I have been much better but fell off the wagon 2 weeks ago when cleaning the other room and didn't fix it yet.

My counter is also the first thing I hit when I walk in the house.

I don't have ANY appliances on my counters so I really have no excuses!

All that should be on them......

Near the door I have a bowl I got for rescuing 2 horses when I was vacationing in WV a few years ago. Not the idea place for it but I haven't found different place, and it's blue and I like it.

On the counter near the stove I have a cast iron holder for cooking utensils. And a coffee mug for pens/pencils/scissors (which can be put in a drawer)

That is supposed to be IT!

I cleared the counters and wiped them down after I did the dishes this evening.

Just need to make sure I do this every night.

One plastic container was sitting out on the counter after I had put away the rest of the washed dishes this morning! I think I know of another reason why that is happening - the time factor. It barely takes me any time to put away the plates, glasses, bowls, etc., but, putting away the containers involve nesting them to make them sit properly in the dish pan in which I keep them. That takes a little time and usually, by the time I put the other things away, the milk for coffee is starting to boil! So, I leave the containers to be put away later and they sit out on the counter.

But I am home today (had to call the plumber to fix the toilets), so, I took the time to put away the one container and lid.

Good for you Bless!

Oh please ladies let me be unbearable here, BECAUSE I can brag brag brag here. I have a toaster in one corner my KEURIG coffee pot on another corner and at the end of the day I spray with a tiny bit of bleach and a lot of water and if nothing else is done. This always is.I had some major moving around to get this way and bought a couple of cupbards making extra storage because I can not get down to my lazy susan any more. It is not a big kitchen and if I start seeing stuff on my counter I get very down. I am not really bragging but it really is top of my list. (plus there are only 2 of us here so it should be clear. )Ann 39.

Ann I feel the same way! However my ex had to have everything at his fingertips. Even if it was something he only used once a week - it had to be out! Drove me bonkers.

Today I spent 30 minutes in there. I emptied the sink and put away all the clean dishes. Started up the dishwasher again.

Wiped down the stove, changed the clocks on the toaster and microwave.

Moved all recyclables and empty bottles to the back room.

The counter is not perfect but almost there.

And I think it's time to move my boot tray back to the back room since it's not so cold anymore!

Okay Ann, so what is my excuse??? I am the only one here and the counte still has too much stuff on it. I have enough space to get things cut up and handled, but have promised myself to take some time.

My personal goal is to have the whole house in good shape by my next birthday in 2 months.....don't know if I can do it...but it is a good goal, I think.

I know I don't use the inside of my cupboards very efficiently. Even after bleaching them out I still cringe to use them. I only recently have been using my drawers since one tiny little mouse paraded through them.

Dds make their own breakfast/lunch/snacks and so sometimes it gets a little wonky. They're 5&6 so their clean up efforts haven't been mastered yet. And when I have the toddler things can quickly get out of hand. He comes with a lot of food/drink paraphenilia which ends up on the counter encouraging others to dump stuff too.

I find a DW waiting to be emptied a logjam. Esp if its in the a.m. I really try to hold off running it until we've added our breakfast dishes. The girls' bedroom door is right off the kitchen (to the left of the sink) and we have a central heat vent which isn't any where near their room so their door needs to be open at night. As a result I don't always get the dishes done at night if I didn't get them done before they go to bed. and If I have to drive DD to school on the a.m.s that I babysit I don't get as much done.

Today when I left for my appt I had only my latest CC bill, waiting to check an item with Dh; 2 small bowls ~ one with cereal, one with oranges in them

I decided I didn't feel like telling you what was on them now so I went and put everything away. Except the primrose I bought today.

I was thinking it would be funny and revealing to have a camera recording the life of a kitchen counter and then watch it at high speed.

Sometimes it is hard to use the insides of cupboards efficiently. The doors to mine are so thin that if I put in nails or screws, they would come out the other side. So I have to use other things.

Some of you may have an under-the-sink shelf, which I got from a catalog. It's plastic, with sort of a frame made of tubes, and removable/repositionable plastic pieces, which side by side are big enough to put things on. They form a shelf, but the shelf is usually divided by the pipes/garbage disposal. But at least it's an additional surface for storage. I keep miscellaneous things on mine, such as baking soda, rubbing alcohol, silver polish, a couple of jars to use for disposing of grease, sponges, and so on.