10 Items You Need To Purge From Your Kitchen Right Now

Those oven mitts are literally filthy.

Cooking in a pristine kitchen can make anyone look like a star on the Food Network, but in reality, this room often turns into one giant junk drawer. 

Expired spices, old plastic storage containers and dirty oven mitts are just a few of the things that take up much-needed cabinet and counter space. It's time to clear your kitchen of the below 10 items. Not only will you feel like a huge weight has been lifted after cleaning, but your food might even taste better. 

1
A Dirty Sponge
kittijaroon via Getty Images
This cleaning accessory is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Here's a simple trick to clean and deodorize a sponge.
2
That Moldy Dish Rack
Jonathan Kitchen via Getty Images
FYI, you should be cleaning the dish rack before or after cleaning your dishes.
3
Your Scratched Nonstick Pots And Pans
58shadows via Getty Images
Pots and pans with scratched surfaces can be dangerous to cook with. Opt for switching to safer cookware materials like cast iron, stainless steel and ceramic.
4
The Silverware That's Literally Bent Out Of Shape
Katie McAllaster via Getty Images
This is a mouth injury just waiting to happen.
5
Any And All Chipped Glassware
Yuji Kotani via Getty Images
Sipping on chipped glass? No thank you!
6
Burned And Dirty Oven Mitts
Hemera Technologies via Getty Images
What exactly can they do if they aren't fully functional? Absolutely nothing!
7
Expired Spices And Herbs
Ned Frisk/Fuse via Getty Images
8
Plastic Containers That Are Either Years Old, Missing Lids Or Stained
Shutterstock / Africa Studio
These things are the definition of clutter.
9
Cutting Boards That Are Clearly Past Their Prime
hadkhanong_Thailand via Getty Images
Replacing your plastic cutting board will not cost a fortune.
10
Torn Kitchen Runner Rug
Virginia Macdonald Photographer In via Getty Images
Roll it up and throw it in the trash -- people are likely tripping over it day and night!

 

Also On HuffPost:

7 Kitchen Hacks To Maximize Space
Give Every Cabinet Door A Dual Purpose(01 of07)
Open Image Modal
Stick a few adhesive hooks to the inside of each one to hang measuring cups, oven mitts or stand-mixer attachments, like Coordinately Yours blogger Julie Blanner did. You could also add a few adhesive plastic folders—the same kind you'd find at an office-supply store—to hold Tupperware lids, or attach a file organizer to keep cutting boards upright and orderly. (credit:Julie Blanner)
Turn the Side of Your Fridge into a Command Center(02 of07)
Open Image Modal
Charlotte Smith, who runs the lifestyle blog Ciburbanity, created an organizational hub to make getting ready each morning easier. Four sturdy wood pockets organize bills, magazines and other mail, while a dry-erase board lets everyone see upcoming meetings at a glance. A plastic brochure caddy is just the right size for storing grocery-list notepads, and a mason jar attached to the wall means you're never rummaging through a junk drawer for a pen. (credit:Ciburbanity)
Take Out the Trash (Bags)(03 of07)
Open Image Modal
A cardboard box of garbage bags can easily take up half of the under-sink cabinet space. Free up some room by mounting a paper-towel holder to the inside of one cabinet, then use it to hang a roll of trash bags. (credit:Samantha Pregenzer of Simply Organized)
Rethink Even Your Most Awkward Spaces(04 of07)
Open Image Modal
It seems like a magician's trick: Take a six-inch gap between the fridge and the wall, and with a little DIY know-how, double your pantry space. Mallory Nikolaus and Savannah Kokaliares show you how to do exactly that with their step-by-step guide to creating a pull-out shelving unit. It's just the right size for storing canned vegetables, soups, jars of peanut butter and spices. (credit:Classyclutter.net)
Make Cleanup a Little Easier(05 of07)
Open Image Modal
Blanner recommends taking half an hour to sort your supplies into labeled bins: everyday cleaners, dishwashing goods, specialty cleaners and miscellaneous. You can easily pull out the bin you need for the task at hand -- saving time -- and keep tabs on what you actually have, avoiding that whole three-half-empty-bottles-of-Windex thing (and thus saving you money). (credit:Julie Blanner)
Claim New Counter Space(06 of07)
Open Image Modal
No matter the size of your kitchen, you can always use an extra prep area. This cutting board fits right on top of the sink and includes a collapsible colander, so you can chop and rinse vegetables all in one place. (credit:Dexas International, Ltd.)
...And Clear Off Even More(07 of07)
Open Image Modal
Skip the traditional large-knife block and hang a magnetic strip on the wall to store your knives. (If you have tiled walls, consider a compact butcher's block that attaches to the bottom of your upper cabinets.) (credit:Kate Sable of Etch Design Lab)

HuffPost Shopping’s Best Finds

MORE IN LIFE