The Best Way to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink (Without Wasting Space)
If the space under your kitchen sink is a hot mess of cleaning sprays, trash bags, sponges, and who-knows-what hiding in the back, you are definitely going to want to fix that.
The good news is, you don’t need a bunch of fancy organizers to make this awkward space work better. The best way to organize under the kitchen sink is to first decide what actually belongs there, then use the space you have to choose storage that fits.
That’s what we’re going to do here. I’ll walk you through the best things to keep under your sink, what works better stored in another area, and a few of my favorite organizers that can help you use every bit of that tricky cabinet space.
Kitchen organization starts with making the spaces you use every day easier to use, and the cabinet under your sink is a great place to begin.
If you ask me, under any sink especially the one in the kitchen is one of the trickiest spaces to keep neat. Pipes take up valuable room, cleaning supplies seem to multiply overnight, and before you know it, your cabinet becomes a cluttered cave you avoid at all costs.
What is the best way to organize under the kitchen sink?
The best way to organize under the kitchen sink is to keep only the things you use regularly, then choose organizers that work around the pipes and plumbing. The good news is, there are many options for this spot, pullout drawers, small bins, door storage, or even a 2-tier Lazy Susan can work to make everything easy to see and grab.
Before buying anything, measure the cabinet completely and take note of where the pipes sit. Under-sink cabinets can be tricky, and the organizer that looks perfect online isn’t much help if your plumbing is smack-dab in the way.
What Should You Store Under the Kitchen Sink? (And What to Avoid!)
Before we start organizing, let’s talk about what actually belongs under the kitchen sink.
Let’s face it, this is not a huge space, especially once you factor in all those pipes, so our goal is not to waste it storing things we hardly ever use. The most common things to keep under the kitchen sink are cleaning supplies and tools used in the kitchen.
And since this spot can be a little tricky to get to, even when it’s organized well, it’s better for things you use weekly rather than several times a day.
Things that work well under the kitchen sink:
- Everyday cleaning supplies: Dish soap, kitchen cleaners, disinfectant wipes, drain and disposal tablets, and sprays you use regularly.
- Sponges and scrub brushes: Keep the extras here so they’re close when you need them.
- Trash and recycling bags: If your trash can is nearby, this is an easy place to keep refills.
- Cleaning gloves: Hang them on a hook or give them a small spot where they’re easy to grab.
A few things I would store somewhere else:
- Food or pet food
- Paper products
- Expensive or delicate gadgets
- Cleaning products you only use once in a while
Remember, you don’t need to fit every cleaning product you own under the sink. Keep the things you actually use in the kitchen here and let the size of the cabinet help you decide how much will fit.
D/M Pro Tip: Before you start sorting make a quick mental list of what should be stored under your kitchen sink. As you go through what’s there now, use your list to quickly decide what stays and what needs to find a new home.
The Best Way to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink
The best way to organize under the kitchen sink? Start with a clean slate. Empty the cabinet, give it a quick scrub, and take a look at your available space. Then, add a few space specfic organizers to keep everything in it’s place.
You may have to get creative here, and that’s okay…I have plenty of ideas to get you started!
Step 1: Sort and Clean
Start by pulling everything out from under your kitchen sink. Yes, everything. This is one of those times when making a small mess first actually helps.
Use a towel to place things on sorting them into categories as you go. Put cleaners with cleaners, sponges and scrubbers together, trash bags together, and so on. This makes it much easier to see what you have, including those duplicates that somehow keep multiplying when we’re not looking.
Next, check expiration dates and get rid of anything that is empty, damaged, or no longer usable.
Before putting anything back, wipe down the inside of the cabinet and check for any signs of leaks or moisture around the pipes.
Step 2: Decide What STaysNow that everything is out, decide what deserves to go back.
Start with the things you use regularly in your kitchen. If you find something you forgot you had or haven’t used in a long time, ask yourself if it really needs to take up space here.
Remember, you only have so much room under the sink. Let the space set the limit. Keep what you use and move the rest to a better spot in your home.
Once you know what is staying, you can choose organizers that fit both your things and the space you have.
The goal isn’t to fit more under your kitchen sink. It’s to make what you keep there easier to use.
Step 3: Choose the Right Organizers
Once you know what is going back under the sink, you can figure out which organizers will actually help.
And this is important: measure first, shop second. Measure the width, depth, and height of your cabinet, but also pay attention to where your pipes and garbage disposal are. Those are usually the things that mess up our best-laid organizing plans.
You may only need one or two organizers to make the entire cabinet work better.
Best for Using Vertical Space: Pullout Drawers
If you have a lot of open space above your cleaning supplies, a tiered pullout organizer can help you use more of the cabinet without stacking bottles on top of each other.
I especially like this option for smaller supplies, dishwasher pods, sponges, cleaning cloths, and bottles that tend to disappear in the back.
Delamu 2 Pack Under Sink Organizers and Storage, 2 Tier Pull Out Bathroom Cabinet Organizer, L-Shape Black Under Bathroom Kitchen Sink Organizer with Drawer for Under Sink Storage Organizer
REALINN Under Sink Organizer, Pull Out Cabinet Organizer 2 Tier Slide Out Sink Shelf Cabinet Storage Shelves, Storage for Kitchen Bathroom, White, 2 PackDelamu 2 Sets of 2-Tier Multi-Purpose Bathroom Under Sink Organizers and Storage, Stackable Kitchen Pantry Organization, Pull Out Medicine Cabinet Organizer with 8 Movable Dividers
Best for Grouping Smaller Supplies: Clear Bins
Clear bins are an easy way to keep similar things together without taking up much room. Use one for dishwasher supplies, another for sponges and scrubbers, or one for cleaning cloths.
The big advantage here is being able to pull out the entire bin instead of digging around behind the pipes looking for something.
Best for Wasted Cabinet-Door Space: Door Storage
The inside of the cabinet door is space that often gets completely overlooked. A small rack or hanging organizer can work well for lightweight supplies such as sponges, gloves, scrub brushes, or dishwasher tablets.
Just make sure the organizer isn’t so deep that it bumps into the products inside when you close the door. If space is tight, a few command hooks may be all you need.
Best for Spray Bottles: Tension Rod
If you have several spray bottles, a small tension rod can give you another place to store them by hanging the bottles from their triggers.
This works best when your plumbing leaves enough open space across the cabinet. Measure carefully before trying this one because every under-sink setup is different.
Best for Bottles That Get Lost in the Back: Lazy Susan
A Lazy Susan can work really well in a deeper cabinet because you can spin it around instead of reaching behind everything to find the bottle you need.
Look for one with a raised edge so bottles stay put as you turn it.
Step 4: Create a Smart Layout
Now that you have your organizers, let’s decide where everything should go.
The easiest way to do this is to think about how often you use each item. The things you reach for most should be the easiest to grab.
- Weekly cleaning supplies go toward the front where you can easily see and reach them.
- Things you use less often can go toward the back or in harder-to-reach spots.
- Small supplies, such as sponges, scrub brushes, and dishwasher pods, work well grouped together in a bin or caddy.
- Trash bags can be tucked along the side or stored on the cabinet door.
- Add a drip tray or waterproof liner underneath everything to help protect the bottom of the cabinet from leaks and spills.
ARSTPEOE Under Sink Organizer – 2 Pack Multi-Purpose Pull-Out Storage ShelfSIKADEER Waterproof Under Sink Mat 34Vtopmart 4 Pack Large Stackable Storage Drawers, CleariCASA Trash Bag Dispenser Dishwasher Pods Container Under Sink Organizer3 Pack Under Sink Organizer Bathroom and Storage Cabinet (White)YouCopia SinkSuite Under Sink Turntable with Adjustable Dividers, Lazy Susan Organizer for Kitchen or Bathroom Storage, White
Step 5: Keep it Neat With Simple Habits
Once your under-sink cabinet is set up, a few simple habits can keep it from slowly filling up again.
- Use what you have before buying more. Before adding another cleaner, check under the sink first. You may already have a backup hiding in there.
- Show everyone where things go. If other people use the supplies, make sure they know where to put them back.
- Use a grab-and-go caddy. If you have supplies you use together, keep them in a small caddy so you can grab everything at once when it is time to clean your kitchen.
- Do a quick monthly check. Wipe out the cabinet, check for leaks or moisture, and get rid of anything that is empty or no longer usable.
- Check before you shop. Take a quick look under the sink when you’re making your shopping list so you know what actually needs to be restocked.
D/M Pro Tip: If this area starts getting messy again, don’t assume you need to clean it out and start over. Notice what isn’t working and make one small adjustment. Maybe a bin needs to move, or something needs a better spot.
Make Your Kitchen Work Better for You
The space under your kitchen sink may be small, but getting it set up in a way that works can make everyday kitchen cleanup so much easier.
Remember, you don’t need every organizer on this list. Choose the one or two that solve the problems you have, give everything a spot that makes sense, and see how it works.
And if something still feels awkward? Adjust it. Your home should work for the way you’re living today, not the other way around.
Want to keep going?
If your kitchen isn’t the only area that feels like it has too much stuff and not enough room, grab my FREE Right-Sized Living Guide. It will help you look at the spaces in your home differently and start deciding what fits the life you’re living today.
Frequently Asked Questions About Organizing Under the Kitchen Sink
Measure around the disposal before buying any organizers. Look for smaller bins, narrow pullout drawers, or door storage that uses the open areas around it. You don’t have to fill every inch of the cabinet. Work with the usable space you have.
Keep your supplies to a minimum and choose one organizer that solves your biggest problem. A small bin, door organizer, or Lazy Susan may be all you need. Trying to squeeze several organizers into a tiny cabinet can actually make things harder to reach.
A waterproof liner or drip tray can help protect the bottom of your cabinet from small spills and leaks. It also makes cleanup easier since you can remove the liner or tray instead of scrubbing the cabinet itself.