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Refrigerators

Sorry, but you need to stop putting magnets on your fridge

Free the fridge—take them all down

Credit: Getty Images / pick-uppath

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If you’re a parent, your refrigerator is likely also your home’s art gallery, school calendar, notice board, and shopping list holder. While this can be a heartfelt homage to your family—or just a convenient hub for accessible reminders—for some, it's an epicenter of clutter.

A crowded refrigerator has the ability to change the entire look of your kitchen; even if countertops are clean and polished, your kitchen may not look as clean and sleek as you'd like. If you're the type of person who hates to leave knickknacks on your counter or mementos around your house, it's time to ditch the magnets and papers from your fridge.

But how will you remember the date on that wedding invite or memorialize your kid's precious artwork from school? We have some alternative ideas to keep your home looking tidy.

Get a cleaner kitchen without actually cleaning

1. Create a chalkboard wall

A chalkboard wall in the dining room
Credit: Getty Images / KatarzynaBialesiewicz

Chalkboard surfaces for note-taking can be as large or small as you'd like.

If you're the least bit crafty, it's not that hard. Paint a rectangle on the wall, anywhere the family will see it.

For the less talented, there are chalkboard decals. Once you've got a chalkboard, kids can draw on it, and you can use it track events, compose your shopping list, and write reminders to your spouse.

Product image of Chalkboard Paint Kit
Chalkboard Paint Kit

Paint a section of your wall with chalkboard paint for an easy-to-access canvas.

$17 at Amazon
Product image of Chalkboard Vinyl Contact Paper
Chalkboard Vinyl Contact Paper

Easily stick a chalkboard size of your choice on any surface.

$10 at Amazon

2. Post a magnetic board

Magnetic board on a wall with paper attached
Credit: Umbra

This sleek magnetic board is an easy way to redirect fridge clutter.

Want a magnetic surface? This one will work. Put it up on a wall (preferably one that's not in the kitchen, to maintain that clean look). Stick on magnets and all those papers that used to be on the refrigerator. Done and done.

Product image of Umbra Bulletboard
Umbra Bulletboard

Move all those magnetic accessories outside of the kitchen with board.

$33 at Amazon

3. Hang up a cork board

Sign labeled "feed the fish" nailed to a bulletin board
Credit: Getty Images / a_Taiga

Leave notes on a bulletin board, not the fridge

Yes, it's old school, but that’s no big deal. The challenge is remembering to take things down. On a friend's board, I noticed an invitation to a graduation that took place three years ago, and a wedding announcement from a couple who have by now welcomed their first child. (At least it wasn’t on the fridge!)

Product image of Wall Pops Veranda Printed Cork Board
Wall Pops Veranda Printed Cork Board

This modern and stylish cork board can become an alternative hub for paper reminders and mementos.

$26 at Amazon

Achieve zen

Once you move the papers, photos, notices, and magnets off your fridge, your kitchen will immediately look better organized. Someday, you might organize it. But, for now, the clutter is in a better place. And so are you.

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