When I look under my kitchen sink for that one cleaning spray I use all the time or the heavy-duty garbage bags, it can be hard to find what I’m looking for in that haphazard jumble of supplies. I have a feeling that I’m not alone. For many people, the cabinet under the sink is a disorganized mess.
“Spaces behind closed doors are not immediately visible and therefore not prioritized for organization,” says Virginia-based certified professional organizer Mindy Godding of Abundance Organizing and president of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals. “Under-sink cabinets are uniquely challenging because they are low, dark, and deep; items tend to get lost in the back corners. Additionally, plumbing components can get in the way, limiting storage options.”
Thankfully, Godding shared some quick tips for clearing the clutter and organizing under your kitchen sink.
Step 1: Take Everything Out
Remove everything and start fresh. Start by pulling everything out from under the sink and taking an inventory of what you have. “Once everything is removed, wipe down your cabinet surfaces and measure the width, height, and depth of your cabinet,” Godding suggests. When you know the space you’re dealing with, that can help you with storage ideas.
Next, sort the items into categories like household cleaning supplies, dishwashing aids, trash bags, etc. “Combine any duplicate items where possible. Eliminate excess and anything damaged, obsolete, or non-functional,” says Godding.
She also suggests putting the items you use the most on the side of the cabinet that matches your dominant hand. (If you’re right-handed, put your most-used products on the right side of the cabinet, for example.) “We also can consider adjacency,” she says. “Try to place dishwasher detergent on the side nearest to the dishwasher, etc.”
Simply Recipes / Adobe Stock
Next, toss the original packaging and invest in organizers. It’s easy to toss boxes of sponges or bags of dishwasher tablets under the sink, but it’s smart to remove items from their original containers. “Packaging is usually opaque, making it hard to visually evaluate your inventory,” says Godding.
“Packaging takes up additional space; paper-based packaging can decompose from moisture in under-sink areas; and packaging comes in various shapes and sizes, making it hard to capitalize on available space.”
Instead, use products that make items under your sink easier to spot and grab. “We recommend using durable, transparent, plastic containers where possible,” suggests Godding, who says some of her favorite storage solutions include caddies, stackable drawers and bins, adhesive bins for the back of cabinet doors, glide-out tracks (for trash cans), and adjustable shelves that can be fitted around plumbing.
Step 2: Put Everything Back (With Intention)
As you start putting items back under the sink, take advantage of height. One common mistake many people make is storing everything on the bottom of the cabinet instead of taking advantage of vertical space. Adjustable shelves can help you utilize the height, using every bit of space even fitting around your plumbing.
Finally, be picky about what you store under the sink. Often, people stuff too many things under the sink, and that can make it harder to find what you need (or worse, even damage the plumbing). Other mistakes, Godding points out, include “storing non-kitchen-related items like tools and utility supplies (lightbulbs, batteries) under the sink. And storing kitchen towels or other items under the sink that are susceptible to mildew.”
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