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How to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink

ByAbby Lawson

Learn how to organize under the kitchen sink with these simple tips and tricks that will work for any kitchen!

Organized Area Under the Kitchen Sink with Stacked Drawers and Containers and a Cleaning Caddy

It can be tricky to organize under the kitchen sink, right?! The pipes make the space awkward, and typically we need to store a variety of items under there. I recently decluttered and revamped the area under our kitchen sink, and I’m excited to show you the results today!

How to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink Step by Step

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

When we first moved into our house, I basically just took my cleaning caddy and bins that were under the sink in our old house and threw them under our new kitchen sink.

before we organized under the kitchen sink

It wasn’t terrible, but I knew it wasn’t the best configuration, so recently I finally took the time to come up with a better system. And (spoiler alert!) the new version is so much better!

Take Everything Out and Declutter

The first thing I did when I decided to tackle the cabinet under the sink was to take everything out of the space so I had a totally blank slate.

after we took everything out and cleaned under the kitchen sink

From there I was able to get rid of anything we were no longer using and see what I had left so I could decide on a plan for getting it neat and organized. I also consolidated where necessary and made a list of things I needed to replenish.

Clean the Under Sink Cabinet

While I had everything out of the cabinet, I wiped it down and put in some patterned contact paper. Not only does it look pretty, but it also keeps the cabinet itself from getting stained or damaged.

the bottom of the cabinet under the sink that has been lined with patterned contact paper

Separate Items into Categories and Corral Like Items

When I had everything I wanted to store under the kitchen sink, I separated everything out, putting like items together. All of my dish rags were together, all sponges together, all cleaning supplies together, etc.

This kept everything tidy and allowed me to see which types of containment would work best for each category of items.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING UNDER SINK STORAGE

Before heading to the store and buying storage containers, I try to use what I have on hand first. Pantry canisters can work well in this space, as could office organizers or bins from the bathroom vanity!

When I don’t have anything on hand and decide to purchase new containers for the space, I always take careful measurements to make sure they will fit neatly into the cabinets.

Restock the Cabinet Under the Kitchen Sink

When I had all of the items I wanted to store under the sink divided up by category and corralled in bins, it was time to refill my space. Let’s take a look at what I ended up with…

after organizing under the kitchen sink with clear, labeled bins

If you saw my pantry video a few weeks ago, you know that I used a lot of clear containers with aqua labels. To maintain consistency throughout the kitchen, I decided to go with a similar look under the sink as well.

The clear acrylic drawers were originally meant for cosmetics, but they were the perfect size to hold our sponges and cleaning cloths!

close up of stacked clear containers under the sink that have been labeled

Adding Labels to Storage Containers

I cut the labels out of adhesive vinyl using my Silhouette machine, which makes it really easy to figure out what goes where.

TIPS FOR CREATING LABELS

If you don’t own a Silhouette, pretty labels can also be made with a Cricut cutting machine, in Canva, and in Microsoft Word.

I transferred my dish soap into a little oil container and gave it a matching label as well. It’s really easy to grab and dispense any time we need it.

labeled containers and dish soap bottle under the kitchen sink

I used some stackable OXO containers I had to hold some of our under-the-sink essentials. They were a little pricey, but I recently spotted a less expensive version here, and it would be a great option as well.

WHERE TO FIND AFFORDABLE STORAGE CONTAINERS

Dollar Tree has recently stepped up their game when it comes to storage solutions, and Target’s Dollar Spot will often have pretty and affordable storage pieces as well. Home Goods and TJ Maxx are also great places to check for discounted containers and baskets.

clear labeled containers with dish pods, gloves, and cleaning supplies

Dishwasher tabs are a must, of course, and I also keep a few pairs of rubber gloves in one of the bins in case we need them for a messier job. The final bin holds a few random pieces that we need to keep close by, like the stopper for the sink and the allen wrench for the garbage disposal.

I used the super tall container from my set to hold SOS pads, and since we don’t use those very often, I set it in the back out of the way.

close up of the SOS pads stored in a tall container at the back of the cabinet

My cleaning caddy (similar) is actually a utensil holder, meant to hold things like forks, knives, and spoons. But I recently simplified my arsenal of cleaning supplies, so I wanted to get a smaller bin for them. This was the perfect size and holds everything I need.

a white utensil holder filled with cleaning supplies that has been labeled

I have a few multi-purpose cleaners on hand in the front section, along with a homemade glass cleaner in a simple spray bottle. Then I stored a few more cleaning items that I use often in the back of the caddy.

Final Thoughts on Organizing Under the Kitchen Sink

So that’s our organized under-sink cabinet! In the past I’ve always felt like I had this space packed so full of stuff that it was hard to keep organized. When I really took it down to the essentials that we need and actually use, though, I was amazed that I even ended up with some extra space– I’ll never complain about that!

Of course everybody’s needs and setup will be different, but this is working well for us, so I’m going to stick with it for a while!

Organize Under the Kitchen Sink: Frequently Asked Questions

The under-sink area can be an awkward place for organizing because the plumbing runs right down the middle!

Decreasing the clutter helps a ton. Getting rid of items we don’t need helps to clear out the space and keep everything tidy. Along with discarding items, I also try to determine if anything would be better stored elsewhere and relocate those things.

When it comes to maximizing the space under the sink, I love stacking drawers and containers. They really help to utilize the vertical space while keeping items corralled neatly.

Depending on the space you’re working with, there are pull out drawer systems that help to utilize deeper cabinets so there’s not dead space and things aren’t getting lost deep within the cabinet.

Over the door hangers and small hooks can also make the inside of the cabinet doors functional and would make a great spot for items that are used more often, like soap, sponges, and all purpose cleaners.

We’ll only want to store things under the sink that we wouldn’t mind if they got wet! This is mainly because the plumbing runs right into the cabinet. If there’s a leak (or trouble with the garbage disposal) we want to avoid the chance of our supplies getting ruined.

Bins and organizers help protect soap, pods, and cloths (which is another valid reason to use them). It also makes cleaning the cabinet in an emergency quicker and more efficient.

Because of this, I avoid storing any kind of paper products or food in the under-sink area.

Sources

Want to revisit this post later? Be sure to pin the image below so you can find it easily!

The Best Way to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink

[Psssttt… See all of our very best home organization ideas for every room of the house in this post!]

Do you have any tips or tricks for organizing under the kitchen sink? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!

Thanks so much for following along! Happy organizing!

Abby Lawson, Just a Girl and Her Blog

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

35 Comments

  1. Carrie Myers says:

    These were some very good ideas. I forgot all about underneath the sink and how we could make it look organized. I like the idea of putting the SOS pads in a container instead of in the box which always gets yucky after a while.

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      Yes! They really do get gross… this has been working great! Have a wonderful week, Carrie!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply
  2. Sharon Williamson says:

    Where can I find the recipe for your homemade glass cleaner.

    Reply
  3. Randi @ A Fresh-Squeezed Life says:

    Good ideas! I agree that this is a trouble spot for organizing! I recently saw where someone attached the trash can to the inside of one of the cabinet doors and it creates so much more space by doing that.

    Thanks for the tips. I will be using them soon to tackle my own space!

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      Ooo, love that idea! Thanks for sharing, Randi! Have a great week! <3

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  4. What is a cheaper alternative to the silhouette machine? I love the look of the lettering, but it’s really pricey.

    Reply
  5. Charlotte Howard says:

    Awesome post as usual! Organizing and finding the perfect spots for things is really your niche! I love how you incorporated the video as well! Thank you so much for sharing

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      You’re too sweet! Thanks so much, Charlotte! Have a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  6. Hi Abby!

    What a transformation! I love it!

    It sounds like you managed to use containers you already owned… Where do you store them all being so minimalist!

    And say you were doing a re-organising project where you didn’t have matching containers lying around, would you buy several types and then figure out which work best in the space before returning them?

    Trying to get my organising groove on but living in tiny rented London accomodation I’d need them to all fit well!

    Happy Wednesday 🙂

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      Hi, Tori! I have a bin in our basement where I keep my extra organizers so that I can grab them when I need them. If I need to buy new bins, I usually measure the space to figure out what dimensions would work best and look at lots of pictures of other peoples’ organized spaces to get an idea of what would work well and what wouldn’t. Then I choose my pieces accordingly. I don’t usually end up buying a lot of extra items and returning them. I hope this helps!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  7. I enjoyed this post very much. Neat clean lines and no clutter. Made me want to think about under my sink. Thanks so much for sharing Lori

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      So glad it was helpful for you, Lori! Happy Monday! <3

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  8. I wish I had so few cleaning supplies. My DH collects so many separate cleaners for each item we have. I’m trying to show him we basically only need vinegar and water lol.

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      We used to have more too! Definitely needed to purge! 🙂

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  9. This looks great!! I’ve organized mine but not nicely like this. I need those little storage containers so it looks nicer. Great post thank you 🙂

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      I really do love these containers! 🙂 Thank you, Tracie! Have a wonderful week!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply
  10. pkanita jones says:

    Love it! This is a issue in the bathroom also. I will be using this for all around the house.Thank you!!

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      So glad it was helpful for you! Happy organizing! 🙂

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  11. Hi Abby,
    I was interested in checking out the clear acrylic drawers but the link isn’t working( at least not in my iPhone. Can you tell me where you got them and the brand name please? I’ve had a hard time finding good quality drawers that glide easily. Thanks!

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      Hi, Esther! They are from Amazon, and the brand is STORi. Have a great day!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  12. You’ve done it again! Under the sink is one of the worst spots in our home! I love the drawers!! So neat and tidy!!

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      Thanks so much, Amanda! Ours sure needed some work too! 🙂 The drawers are working great! Hope you’re having an awesome week! <3

      ~Abby =)

      Reply
  13. Cindy Goyette says:

    Looking for help w keeping dish scrubber n sponge neat next to the sink

    Reply
    1. justagirlabby says:

      Hi, Cindy! I keep mine on a little cake stand next to the sink. It corrals all of the little items and keeps them tidy and off the countertop. I hope this helps!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

  14. Great idea. It looks like you put a light under the sink to brighten it up. Id also like to see your counter cake stand idea.
    Cathy

    Reply

  15. Hello!

    I recently moved into a home and so excited to organize it from top to bottom. I LOVE this idea for under the sink. I would like to know where you got the clear drawers from?

    Reply

  16. Love it! Do you have a post about how to do the silhouette decals?

    Reply
  17. Nikki Burdick says:

    Hi Abby! Well I did it! I copied your under sink organizing scheme & found I had room to spare (in the back of the cabinet)! I used the BH& G containers from Walmart, and wishing I’d had the good sense to get the Oxo set when they were on special at Costco for $49.99 about 2 months ago!
    Can I post or send a pic? Thanks for all your great ideas – I’ve learned so much from your blog!

    Reply
    1. Abby Lawson says:

      Yes! Shoot us an email at hello {at} justagirlandherblog {dot} com. I would LOVE to see it!

      ~Abby =)

      Reply

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