Consolidate and declutter bakeware and accessories

This is a project that takes a few minutes and does not need to be done regularly. I do this every couple of years as I seem to accumulate odd cake tins and half used cake decorations so my baking storage area becomes cluttered.

step 1: gather together all bakeware including cake tins, muffin trays, loaf tins, cookie cutters and cooling racks,

cake papers, piping bags, cake decorations, cake bags, sparkles, sprinkles and candles.

step 2: remove mis-matched cake tins, any rusty tins or trays and anything you really never ever use. These items can be recycled or donated. Check that cake decorations and ingredients such as bicarb of soda or raising agents are in date or that they will be used before the best before date. Any old and out of date products should be thrown away and the packaging recycled. Cake papers of a style or colour that you know you won't use can be given away and check that piping bags are clean and ready to use. If you have a container full of candles and candle holders, remove any that are old or no longer suitable and keep only the ones that you are happy to place on top of your wonderful creation.

step 3: stack cake tins according to size and stack muffin tins and cup cake trays with the cooling racks. Return the cake decorations and baking ingredients to the larder or kitchen cupboard along with candles and cake papers. As I don't bake very often (I cannot be trusted to be left in the house alone with a cake!) I buy small packets of flour and sugar which I store in a spice rack along with baking powder and flavourings such as vanilla essence.

step 4: you now have organised bakeware, ready to use and easily accessible.