Kitchen counters are convenient, but some everyday items are better stored somewhere else. Cooking oils are one example. Heat and sunlight can make oils oxidize and develop unpleasant flavors faster, especially when bottles sit beside the stove or near a sunny window. Keep them tightly closed in a cool, dark cabinet instead.

Spices and dried herbs also lose flavor faster when repeatedly exposed to heat, moisture, and sunlight. Another common mistake is leaving potatoes and onions together. Both prefer cool, dry, ventilated storage, but keeping them side by side can encourage faster deterioration. Store them separately, and never refrigerate whole onions unless they’ve been cut.

Medications and supplements shouldn’t live on the kitchen counter either. Temperature and humidity changes can affect some medicines, so follow the storage instructions on the packaging. Cleaning products should also be kept away from food-preparation areas, ideally secured somewhere children and pets cannot reach them.

Then there’s raw meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, and other refrigerated foods. These should never remain on the counter for extended periods. Perishable foods generally shouldn’t stay at room temperature longer than about two hours—or one hour in very hot conditions—because bacteria can multiply rapidly.

Finally, consider removing unnecessary clutter such as piles of mail, reusable grocery bags, and rarely used appliances. Countertops collect food splashes and moisture, and clutter makes thorough cleaning harder.

You don’t need an empty kitchen, but moving a few things into proper storage can help food last longer, reduce contamination risks, and make your counters much easier to keep clean.