Last week we organized our drawers and this week I thought we should tackle under the kitchen sink. With all the “extra” plumbing that can end up in our cabinets, it can be hard to know where to put your stuff so that you can get to it when you need it. Lots of things have been known to get lost under the kitchen sink!
I recommend adding a slide-out organizer or a couple of plastic totes with dividers. (click on photo to see both) These helpful organizers will hold your various cleaning products and make it easy for you to find and access them. Door mounted racks are a great idea as well if you have enough space for them.
Your first task in organizing this space, however, is to pull everything out from under the sink cabinet. Check each bottle/box to see if it is still a product you use, if there’s anything left in it, and if it’s being stored in the best place. Be sure to dispose of any chemicals safely.
Once you have all the products that you want to store under your sink, you’ll have a better idea of the sizes of storage containers you need to house them. Be sure to measure your space before you buy so that your filled storage bins will fit easily around and under your pipes.
If you have young children in your home, be sure you have safety locks on any cupboard that contains harmful chemicals or poisons. Better yet, switch to environmentally and kid friendly products.
An hour spent under your sink getting it organized will save you many hours of time through the week. Be sure to let me know if you take this spring organizing challenge!
1. Hey, that IS a great idea! These drawers have so many uses. Thanks for the comment on Clutter Control Freak.
by Eva — 5/19/09 at 1:23 pm #
2. Looks great how do you put a container for the garbage there as well tis true it would save hours of hunting for the much used and needed cleaning items we use
great work
by norma — 5/20/09 at 1:08 pm #
3. Hi Norma:
If you need to have under-the-sink garbage disposal consider a door-mounted option (Simple Human has a great one that also stores the garbage bags) to leave space in your cupboard.
If you want to leave the garbage in a can under the sink, consider a door-mounted wire shelf to hold dish soap and other items you use on a daily basis.
by Joan — 5/21/09 at 8:55 am #
4. I am new to this blog area and I love reading all the suggestions and comments. I too am a Home Goods fanatic! I love shopping for my home and I actually have a withdrawel attack if I don’t visit a Home Goods store at least once a week. The problem with this is they have such good bargains and new things all the time that my home is becoming clutterd to me. My husband says enough is enough! How do I continue with my HABIT without cluttering up my home. I know I could move things around and put some things away, but I love my things but I want to display them tastefully. Any suggestions or ideas on what others do when you just can’t stay away from Home Goods?
Thanks for any comments or suggestions.
Evelyn
Michigan
by Evelyn — 5/21/09 at 9:32 am #
5. Hi Evelyn:
Great question and as a Home Goods junkie myself so I know just what you mean. So here’s a few ideas to keep your home from looking more like a storage room than a home:
- get in the habit of shopping for consumables like their amazing soaps or unique oils and coffees and drink mixes, notecards or paper napkins etc.
-look for special “EVERYDAY” items to replace the mundane items you already have. For example, replace plain file folders with the beautifully decorative file folders you can find at HG, or choose a decorative broom, or hangers, or hook or bakeware, or ovenmitts — but be sure you donate your old stuff.
- shop for others. See something you can’t resist? Put it away for a birthday or Christmas gift for someone else.
-Shop for seasonal items that can be stored away — it’s fun to change things up for each new season and this will help limit how many items you display at once.
- See something you like better than what you have at home? Buy the new item, but give the old one to charity.
-Check out my post on “A few of my Favorite things” as another approach to organizing you home.
-Hope that helps get you thinking about ways you can still have fun at HG but keep the clutter to a minimum.
by Joan — 5/21/09 at 6:03 pm #
6. hello,
Nice article …I really liked the way you stored everthing under the Kitchen sink, can you please help me find the Plastic totes that you have used.
Thanks in advance
by Greesh — 5/29/09 at 2:18 pm #
7. Thanks Greesh. Happy to share my plastic tote sources with you. The tote on the left is made by Casabella (Dry nesting caddy) and the pull-out plastic drawer on the right is made by SimpleHuman. I picked these up at the Container store — you can order them online from there too.
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog!
by Joan — 6/1/09 at 10:17 pm #