Summer is drawing to a close, the kids are headed back to school and we will soon be welcoming the fall season, or at least dreaming of it in warm, sunny, Los Angeles.

Much like spring cleaning, the end of summer is a great time to tackle some of those messy spots around the house that may be hiding in closets or behind closed drawers.

How about that kitchen utensil drawer?  Do you frequently curse to yourself as you are fumbling to find the tongs or wooden spatula?  Even if you only have 15 minutes, you’d be surprised how quickly you can organize a small space. Well, fret no more, here’s how:

Utensil Drawer before

Invest in an inexpensive drawer divider.  Empty out the utensil drawer and go through each item.  Toss out anything that is rusty, worn out or wooden spoons with cracks (a natural breeding ground for bacteria).  Donate items you no longer use or want.

Next, wipe down the drawer so it’s nice and clean and ready to be organized.

Organize your utensils in your nifty drawer divider, putting like items together – tongs, graters, ice cream scoopers, etc.  Wasn’t that fast and easy? Now you’re ready to try out that new Giada deLaurentis recipe, (oops, that would be me) but maybe you’ll be inspired to grate some cheese or scoop some ice cream!

Utensil Drawer after

Here are some other areas you can organize in 15 minutes or less:

• Make-up drawer
• Silverware drawer
• Under the kitchen sink
• Drinking glasses and coffee mugs

Simply apply the same principles as the utensil drawer – empty, toss and/or donate, clean and re-organize like items together.

What areas of your home have your organized easily and quickly? I’d love to hear your stories and inspirations.