We have been on a decluttering and organizing mission and today I’m going to share with you how I organized the area under my kitchen sink using items I already had. I have to tell you that I have a weird plumbing set up under my sink. Most of the space is taken up with various pipes as you’ll see, so it’s always been hard to find a way to make this area look tidy. But I’ve finally found the solution!
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Here are my 4 tips for maximizing the space under your kitchen sink.
My first tip is to empty the space and have a good look at what you’re storing. That’s what I did! Donate/throw out things that you no longer use.
My second tip is to cut down on your cleaning products!
I have an all purpose cleaner that I make that I use for lots of things and a few store bought natural cleaners that I use. But basically I use vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, dish soap & tea trea oil in my various cleaning concoctions. I also keep the cleaners I use in the bathroom – in the bathrooms.
My third tip is to use the space on your doors! I have wire shelving attached to both of my doors (there are ones that hang over the doors if you didn’t want to screw into your doors). You could also use extra strong command hooks to hang the wire racks. The one on the left side is higher so the door can close with no problem and I keep extra sponges and my knock off Magic Erasers on that shelf. The wire shelf on the left is low so that I can keep my cleaning supplies on the door and there’s more clearance for the door to close on that side.
My fourth tip is to use expandable shelves (locker shelves) and bins. Like I said I have a weird plumbing situation under this sink that gives me very little room to store things! But I found this narrow shelf at Ikea a few years ago and I was using it in an upper cabinet (re-organized those too) and it fits perfectly on that side.
So I can store some things on top and I have room underneath for a small dollar store container that contains extra rubber gloves.
On the other side I’m able to have a larger shelf and a bin (that I was using in my pantry – re-organized that too) that slides partially under it. On top I have a little bin that’s from the Dollar Store which holds my cleaning rags and dusting mitts. I could actually do more with the vertical space on this side if I had to (like get stacking bins or stacking drawers).
Another tip – I covered the bottom of this cabinet a few years ago with some leftover peel and stick tiles. This makes it very easy to clean and if you have a leak your cabinet and floor have a bit of protection.
The thing about organizing under sinks is that everyone has a different set up of pipes and cleaning products (and budget) so you kind of have to asses your own space and then find the items that will help you organize your space.
But generally speaking these 4 tips will help you maximize the space under your kitchen sink no matter what!
Looks great! It is so important to keep things neat under the sink. In our little condo, I have a very similar situation – pipes and not much space. I’m seeing some cute knobs on your cabinet doors too!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia 😉
Hi Sheila! Since we’re getting ready to sell (next week) I’ve been organizing everything. Why I didn’t do it sooner is a mystery because everything is so much nicer this way! I know people are going to be open doors and drawers and I didn’t want things to look messy 🙂
Looks great! Can I ask where you put your garbage can? That takes up so much space under my cabinet. Thanks, Angela
I’m sure it does Angela. That’s one side of my kitchen. The other side is where we keep the garbarge. I’m going to do a tour of the other side soon because I totally re-organzied those cabinets. Can you get a nice garbage can and keep it out? or maybe get a slimmer version of what you have now? Sometimes you just have to work with how your space is set up.
I so look forward to your tour! We recently moved to a house with a third of the storage space so I am really struggling! Did you put your house on the market? Thanks!
Hi Angela! It goes on the market end of next week. We’re about 2 weeks behind because we had a problem with a contractor we hired, had to find a new one and he just started working this week.
I have wire baskets on my kitchen cabinet doors too and have found it the perfect place to keep my sponge and dishwashing liquid but can no longer find the wire baskets. The container store quit carrying them. Where did you find yours?
Well the little one I found at Goodwill. The larger one I think I got at Walmart. Walmart has lots of great organizing items – especially for the kitchen! I’m sure Target probably carries them too.
Love this post and it comes in handy since we are redoing our cabinets and I want to create as much space as I can.
I never would have thought about having wire racks on the doors – brilliant! Can’t wait to try this. 🙂
Love the door tip, Manuela. I don’t know why I never thought of that. It would actually be perfect for sponges and the magic eraser. Ours is a bit strange of a lay-out, too. We have the disposal on one side but there is room in the front and sides there {not for any kind of organizer but for individual items {like my Chlorox wipes container and stainless steel wipes container}. We were able to fit a pull-out on the other side, which is great especially for those smaller bottles {like silver cleaner or Jet Dry}.
Reminds me I need to get mine done. Started the project long ago, got sidetracked and never got back to the chore.
Enjoy your evening.
Those are exactly the kind of wire racks I use on my cabinet doors. I also have my garbage under the sink because I don’t have all the pipe configuration. You must have this cleaner recipe around here someplace…off to check.
Hi Vee,
It’s basically 1 part white vinegar, 1 part water, a squirt of dishsoap and a drop of tree tea oil. Swish the spray bottle each time you use it to keep the ingredients mixed. You can leave out the essential oil but it’s a good disinfectant or you can use lemon oil or some other scent. I soak my citrus peels in vinegar and use that so I don’t use a essential oil for scent. I find it’s best if you spray and let it sit a moment before wiping.
I also have a pinterest board with all kinds of natural cleaning recipes
http://www.pinterest.com/acultivatednest/natural-cleaning-recipes/
I’m a huge advocate of using the same behind the doors whenever possible. Cutting back on cleaning products is a huge tip Manuela! Since we owned a cleaning business, we have tons of products, but once they’re gone, they’re gone. Looking forward to that ;).
This was great!
I did a total clean out of my sink– eliminating all but the best/favorite cleaning supplies. I found bins to fit my space and I had a plastic rectangular serving tray from the dollar store, that I NEVER used and put it under the cabinet to catch any spills. It has worked great!
I just pull out the caddy on the right and the tray on the left and can wipe my sink cupboard clean!
I like your wire baskets on the door. I didn’t have any, but found some wire CD racks heading to the donate box at my daughters house- flipped them on their sides and mounted them! I keep trash bags in one, and Mr. Clean erasers and a feather duster in the other. 🙂
You are right…everybody has a different set up under their sink– but these 4 things will help keep it tidy no matter what.
Pat
Yay Pat! Sounds like you found some great solutions! Brilliant use of the wire CD racks.
Sometimes I open my cabinet doors and just look 🙂 They’re all so nicely organized now – I don’t know why I waited until we were ready to move. Next house I’m starting out organized! I’m tackling my fridge next….