How to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink

Does the area under your kitchen sink become your second junk drawer? Guilty. After six months of living in our new home, I was sick of cleaners falling out on me every time I grabbed a new sponge. So I decided to do something about it. If you’re ready for a more functional space, follow along as I walk you through how to organize under the kitchen sink to make it work better for YOU.

How to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink

1. Empty.

Take everything out and place it on your countertop. Too many people skip this necessary step. They want to organize without taking everything out and ultimately, their systems fail. But you’re not going to do that. You want to win at organizing so you will take everything out. Yes, it will look and feel chaotic. But things will only go up from here!

2. Clean.

Now that your sink is all cleared out, it’s a great time to clean it. Vacuum and use a spray cleaner to get every bit of grime and dirt out.

3. Sort.

Sort everything on your countertop into like-items. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

rags
cleaners
dishwasher tablets
sponges
cleaning cloths
Barillo pads
etc

4. Dispose of trash.

Remove all items from boxes and throw away the boxes (!) Yes. Dispose of any other obvious trash. If you’re trying to switch to safer cleaning products, take this time to throw out ones filled with toxic or unsafe chemicals.

But don’t feel like you have to. Another option is to use up those products (you paid money for them after all!) and switch to cleaner brands once they are used up. At the bottom, I’ll list my favorite safer cleaning brands and products.

5. Measure.

Measure your cabinets and take note of where pipes and other obstructions are under the sink. When searching for new organization storage keep these in mind to avoid buying products that won’t fit.

(If you like this article, you’ll also love “3 Tips to Keep Your Home Tidy.”

6. Find temporary storage and put it all back in.

Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but find temporary storage to put the items back in. Shoe boxes work great. Use these while you research organization products or while you wait for them to arrive.

This is the exact storage organization I use under my sink.

It’s not only beautiful but allows me to see and easily access everything I need. If you have the space, this is also a really nice option with a pull-out drawer.

7. Organize.

Now that your storage has come in, it’s time to organize and sort – yay! Obviously, put like items together and place the most-used items where they can easily be accessed.

What should you keep under your sink? Well, here are my favorite multi-purpose cleaning products that allow you to store fewer products under the sink too.

Now that you’re equipped with everything you need, it’s time to organize under the kitchen sink in your house too. Good luck!

Lastly, don’t forget to grab my guide “Minimalism for Beginners” if you’re ready to create and maintain a clutter-free home for good!