Organization in our home is not just a way to keep things clean; it’s a way of life for me. With all the chaos of five boys, busy schedules, and a million home projects, organization is one of the few ways I stay sane. One of the most reached-for spots I take a lot of pride in keeping clean is under our kitchen sink.
Today on the blog, I’ll be chatting all about under the sink organization that actually works. With a few simple steps, you can keep this often overlooked area in your home nice and tidy.
Why Organize Under The Sink?
When you think of organization, it can often feel like an impractical system you can barely keep up with. Before you automatically group this with organizing skipped places (like under the sink), I want to try and change your mind.
With all the craziness in your home, having the products you need in functional and easy-to-access spaces allows for a little bit of peace. This is the exact reason I fell in love with organization for our home. Under the sink organization doesn’t have to be anything crazy; just a few practical ways to make your go-to products effortless to find.
Yes, in this post I go through a step-by-step guide of how to organize under the sink in the exact way I did it, but you do not have to do it 100% my way. Pick and choose the steps that will work best for you and leave the rest. This is how organization will remain functional for your family’s everyday routine for years to come.
Where Should I Start?
When you’re tackling a space that’s not the most “fun” to organize, it’s all about figuring out a system that will work for you for the long run. Yes, there are a million different organization tools you can purchase, but the goal is to only have to do this complete clean out once, so it lasts for years to come.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration when it comes to home cleaning, check out my FREE Cleaning Checklist. I’ve used and LOVED this routine for years, so I wanted to share it with you in a way that’s easy to implement in your home.
Start by pulling everything out and seeing what you actually have to work with. Do you like all the products underneath your sink? Would you prefer to switch some things out? Now is the time to really get a feel for what you use.
Once you’ve decided the products to keep, toss, or purchase, it’s much easier to see decide what under the sink organization essentials you will need. Here is a list of my favorites that have worked really well…
Under The Sink Organization Essentials:
- Waterproof Mat
- Stackable Clear Storage Drawers
- Clear Drawer Organizer
- Sliding Drawer Storage
- Two-Tier Clear Pull-Out Storage
- Clear Bag Dispenser
- Clear Door Organization Bin
- Clear Cabinet Door Storage
What Should I Do With My Harsher Chemical Products?
When it comes to organizing under the sink, I bet a lot of you tend to keep harsher chemical products in this area. While I’m not in your home, moving these products may be beneficial for some of the members of your family. But, how do you know what to do with these harsher chemical products?
This all depends on the age of the people in your household. Do you have young children or older adults that need supervision? If there’s even a question in your mind if these cleaning products need to be moved – move them up high.
It’s a sad but true story we see on the news every year of a family having an accident due to someone getting into chemical products they should not be near. Be better safe than sorry and keep your harsher chemical products in harder-to-reach places, such as the laundry room or extra storage closets.
How To Organize Under The Sink:
- Empty out under the sink
- Clean!
- Measure and order organization supplies
- Add in a waterproof mat
- Sort like products together
- Add in organization and put everything back together
1. Empty Out Under The Sink
When it comes to organization, your space always has to get worse before it gets better. Spaces, like under the sink, are often missed because of how gross and cluttered they can get. Bite the bullet and pull everything out to see what you have. I will bet there are unopened cleaning supplies you completely forgot about down there.
2. Clean!
Your cabinet under the sink can be one of the grimiest areas in the home. With the disposal, drain, lack of light, and moisture – mold can even find its way down there and make a home. With the space empty, take the time to really disinfect everything and get this space prepped for the new organizational kit you’ve purchased.
3. Measure and Order Organization Supplies
Here’s the fun part – time to organize your space. Organization all revolves around your preferences and the space available. Typically, under the sink organization has a lot of height available, so I like to put in shelves or drawers to make as much use as possible.
Here are my favorite shelves and drawers I use not just under the sink, but throughout our home:
- Stackable Clear Storage Drawers
- Clear Drawer Organizer
- Sliding Drawer Storage
- Two-Tier Clear Pull-Out Storage
- Clear Bag Dispenser
- Clear Door Organization Bin
- Clear Cabinet Door Storage
4. Add A Waterproof Mat
While you’re waiting for your organization tools to arrive, I highly recommend adding a waterproof mat to the bottom of your sink storage space. No matter how much I’d like to hope it never happens, moisture has a pesky way of showing up under the sink. With a waterproof mat, you can fix this issue entirely.
The one I have in our home has a little lip on the sides to make sure no moisture soaks into our shelf, but it’s also a neutral color so it blends in really nicely. If you want to shop my exact one, here is the link to my waterproof mat.
5. Sort Like Products Together
Before you go and put all your kitchen essentials back, take the time to sort your items together. Typically, this is a great time to also stock up on the items you need to create an under the sink system that will remain functional for months.
Here is a list of the cleaning supplies I always like to have on hand:
- Dishwasher pods
- Garbage bags
- Scrub Mommy sponges
- Scrubbing brushes
- Paper towels
- Mrs. Meyer’s kitchen basics set
- Kitchen dishcloths
- Garbage disposal cleaner
- Dishwasher cleaner
- Capri Blue Volcano surface cleaning spray
6. Add In Organization And Put Everything Back Together
The time has come to create your organization system. The easiest way to sort things is by grouping similar products on one side or the other. Typically, I like to keep my dish washing supplies (sponges, dish soap, etc..) on the right or left and cleaning supplies in other. This way, I always reach to the left or right for exactly what I need and never confuse the two.
If you’re trying to maximize space, don’t forget about utilizing the door(s) as well. There are a million ways to make this hanging space optimal, but typically I would go for clear adhesive shelves for sponges and reusable towels.
Under The Sink Organization: Wrap Up
Organization under the sink doesn’t have to be a huge fuss. View it as a way to make your daily life easier. I love keeping spaces that are usually overlooked nice and tidy to help make our home feel more put together. If you have any under the sink organization tips you love, please let me know in the comments below!
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Such great tips for under-the-sink organization! I love the idea of using a waterproof mat – never thought of that. Thanks for sharing!
Yay! So glad that was a helpful tip! I love a good waterproof mat.