The Complete Guide to Organizing Under Your Kitchen Sink

Open the cabinet doors under your kitchen sink right now. Go ahead, I'll wait. If what you see is a chaotic jumble of cleaning bottles, leaky trash bags, and mystery sponges from 2019, you're not alone. It's one of the most universally neglected spaces in every home.

Learning how to organize under your kitchen sink can transform that dreaded cabinet from a black hole of clutter into a functional, streamlined storage zone. In this guide, I'll walk you through every step of the process — from the full cleanout to the final product placement — so you can reclaim that valuable real estate once and for all.

Why the Space Under Your Kitchen Sink Gets So Messy

Before we dive into solutions, let's talk about why this particular cabinet turns into a disaster zone faster than any other spot in the kitchen. Understanding the problem makes the fix stick.

It's a Dumping Ground

Think about it. Every time you buy a new cleaning product, it gets shoved under the sink. Old sponges, half-used bottles of dish soap, rubber gloves with holes in the fingers — they all end up here because there's no obvious "home" for them.

The Pipes Make It Awkward

Unlike a normal cabinet, the under-sink area has plumbing running through it. Those pipes eat up usable space and create an irregular shape that standard organizers don't always fit. Most people just give up and toss things in around the pipes.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

You open this cabinet for maybe 30 seconds a day. That's not enough time to notice — or care — that things are slowly spiraling into chaos. It's the kitchen equivalent of shoving everything into the closet before company arrives.

What You'll Need Before You Start

Gather these supplies before you begin. Having everything on hand means you won't lose momentum halfway through the project.

• Trash bag for expired or empty products
• All-purpose cleaner and paper towels
• A measuring tape (critical — don't skip this)
• Shelf liner or contact paper
• Your chosen organizers (we'll cover specific picks below)

Budget about 45 minutes to an hour for this project. If your cabinet is particularly rough, give yourself 90 minutes. Put on a podcast, pour some coffee, and let's get to work.

Step 1: Empty Everything Out

This is the part nobody wants to do, but it's non-negotiable. Pull every single item out from under the sink and spread it all on the kitchen floor or counter.

Yes, everything. That includes the crusty bottle of oven cleaner you forgot you owned and the plastic bags stuffed behind the garbage disposal. All of it comes out.

Once the cabinet is completely empty, take a moment to appreciate how much space is actually there. Most people are shocked by how roomy the cabinet looks without the clutter.

Step 2: Clean the Cabinet Thoroughly

With the cabinet empty, now is the perfect time to give it a deep clean. Wipe down every surface — the bottom, the sides, and especially around the base of the pipes where grime tends to collect.

Check for any signs of water damage or leaks while you're at it. Look for warping, discoloration, or soft spots in the cabinet floor. If you've been dealing with a slow drip, catching it now saves you from a much bigger headache later.

Once everything is dry, lay down a sheet of waterproof shelf liner. This protects the cabinet bottom from future spills and makes cleanup a breeze. If you've ever dealt with water damage on surfaces around the house, you know prevention is always easier than repair.

Step 3: Sort and Declutter Ruthlessly

Now turn your attention to that pile of stuff on the floor. Sort everything into four categories:

Keep: Products you use at least once a month. Your daily dish soap, your go-to all-purpose cleaner, sponges, and rubber gloves belong here.

Toss: Anything expired, empty, or nearly empty. That bottle with a quarter inch of glass cleaner left? Toss it. Dried-out sponges? Gone. If you can't remember when you bought it, it's probably time.

Relocate: Items that don't belong under the kitchen sink. Duplicate products can go to a bathroom or utility closet. Tools, batteries, and random hardware should find proper homes elsewhere.

Consolidate: If you have three half-used bottles of the same cleaner, combine them into one. This alone can free up surprising amounts of space.

Be honest with yourself during this step. The goal is to only put back items that genuinely earn their spot in this prime kitchen real estate.

Step 4: Measure Your Space (Seriously, Do This)

Grab that measuring tape. Before you buy a single organizer, you need to know exactly what you're working with.

Measure the width, depth, and height of the cabinet interior. Then measure around the pipes — note how far they stick out from the back wall and how much clearance you have on either side. Write all of this down.

Every under-sink cabinet is different. The U-shaped or P-shaped drain pipe, the garbage disposal (if you have one), the water supply lines — these all create a unique layout. What works in your neighbor's kitchen might not fit in yours, and returning organizers is a hassle nobody needs.

How to Organize Under Your Kitchen Sink: The Best Storage Solutions

Now for the fun part. Here are the products and strategies that actually work in the awkward, pipe-filled space under a kitchen sink.

Tension Rods for Spray Bottles

This is the single best under-sink hack I've ever come across. Install a simple tension rod (the kind you'd use for a curtain) across the upper part of the cabinet. Then hang your spray bottles from it by their triggers.

This lifts bottles off the cabinet floor and takes advantage of vertical space that would otherwise go completely unused. A basic adjustable tension rod costs under ten dollars and takes 30 seconds to install. No tools, no drilling, no excuses.

Stackable Bins and Clear Containers

Group similar items together in small, stackable bins. I like clear containers because you can see exactly what's inside without pulling anything out.

Create categories that make sense for your household: one bin for sponges and scrub brushes, one for trash bags and liners, one for specialty cleaners you use less often. Label each bin if you want to keep things especially tidy. This same zoning strategy works brilliantly in other spaces too—check out how to organize your pantry like a pro using similar grouping principles.

A Small Lazy Susan

A lazy Susan isn't just for spice cabinets. A compact turntable placed under the sink lets you access items at the back of the cabinet without digging. One spin and everything is within reach.

This works best on whichever side of the cabinet has more floor space (usually the side opposite the garbage disposal). Look for a model that's around 10 to 12 inches in diameter — large enough to be useful, small enough to fit around the pipes.

Over-the-Door Organizers

The inside of the cabinet doors is free real estate. An over-the-door organizer or a set of adhesive-mounted baskets can hold smaller items like dish tablets, rubber gloves, and twist ties.

No drilling required for most models. Just make sure the organizer doesn't interfere with the door closing properly — measure the clearance between the door and the pipes before committing.

Expandable Under-Sink Shelving

Tiered, expandable shelves are designed specifically for the weird dimensions under a sink. The best ones have adjustable shelves and cutouts that wrap around pipes.

They essentially double your usable surface area by creating a second level inside the cabinet. These typically run between 15 and 30 dollars and are worth every penny.

Pull-Out Drawers and Sliding Trays

If you want to go the extra mile, a small pull-out drawer or sliding tray makes everything in the back of the cabinet accessible. No more blindly reaching past pipes and hoping you grab the right bottle.

These require a bit more setup than other solutions, but the convenience factor is huge — especially in deeper cabinets.

Tips for Working Around Pipes and Awkward Spaces

The pipes are the main reason under-sink organization feels impossible. Here's how to work with them instead of against them.

Use the pipe as a divider. Think of the drain pipe as a natural partition. Store different categories on each side — cleaning supplies on the left, trash bags and extras on the right.

Go vertical, not horizontal. Stacking bins, tension rods, and tiered shelves all take advantage of the height in the cabinet. Most people only use the bottom surface and ignore the six to ten inches of space above their products.

Don't force it. If a product doesn't fit comfortably in the remaining space, it probably belongs somewhere else. Cramming items in defeats the entire purpose of organizing.

Protect against leaks. Place a small drip tray or waterproof mat directly beneath the pipe connections. This catches any minor drips before they ruin your organizers or the cabinet floor. Speaking of water-related maintenance, keeping your dishwasher clean and running properly also helps prevent unexpected leaks under the sink.

What to Store Under the Kitchen Sink (and What to Move)

Not everything deserves a spot in this cabinet. Here's a quick breakdown.

Good candidates for under-sink storage:

• Dish soap and hand soap refills
• All-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner
• Sponges, scrub brushes, and steel wool
• Rubber gloves
• Trash bags and recycling bags
• Dishwasher pods or tablets
• A small fire extinguisher (highly recommended)

Move these somewhere else:

• Bulk cleaning supplies (store in a utility closet or garage)
• Rarely used specialty cleaners
• Food items of any kind (the area near plumbing is not food-safe)
• Paper towels and napkins in bulk (they absorb moisture)
• Anything flammable near a garbage disposal motor

Maximizing storage in tight spaces is a skill that transfers to other areas of your home. If you're dealing with limited square footage, our guide on bathroom storage ideas for small spaces offers similar smart solutions for organizing in compact areas.

Keeping only the essentials under the sink means you'll actually be able to find what you need when you need it. And with the money you save by not rebuying products you already own but couldn't locate, you can put it toward other household wins — like finding ways to cut your grocery bill in half.

How to Keep It Organized: Maintenance Tips That Actually Work

Getting organized is one thing. Staying organized is the real challenge. Here's how to make it last.

The One-In-One-Out Rule

Every time you bring a new cleaning product home, an old one needs to leave. This prevents the slow creep of accumulation that got you into trouble in the first place.

Monthly Two-Minute Check

Once a month, open the cabinet and do a quick scan. Toss anything empty. Wipe up any drips. Straighten the bins. This takes two minutes and prevents a full-blown reorganization down the road.

Resist the "Just for Now" Trap

The moment you toss something under the sink "just for now," the clock starts ticking on a return to chaos. If an item doesn't have a designated spot in the cabinet, it doesn't go in the cabinet. Period.

Involve the Household

If other people in your home use the under-sink cabinet, show them the new system. Labels help here. When everyone knows where things go, things actually go back where they belong.

Before and After: What to Expect

Before: You open the cabinet and bottles fall out. You can't see what's in the back. There are three bottles of the same product because you kept buying replacements you didn't need. The cabinet floor is sticky and stained. You dread opening those doors.

After: Every item has a designated home. Spray bottles hang neatly from a tension rod. Categorized bins sit on clean shelf liner. You can see everything at a glance, grab what you need in seconds, and actually feel a small hit of satisfaction every time you open the cabinet. It sounds dramatic, but organized spaces genuinely reduce daily friction.

The transformation doesn't require a renovation or a massive budget. A tension rod, a couple of bins, and some shelf liner can get you 80 percent of the way there for under 25 dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I reorganize under my kitchen sink?

A full reorganization shouldn't be needed more than once or twice a year if you keep up with monthly maintenance checks. The initial setup is the heavy lift — after that, it's just quick upkeep to prevent backsliding.

What's the best way to organize under a kitchen sink with a garbage disposal?

Garbage disposals eat up space on one side of the cabinet. Focus your main storage on the opposite side, and use the disposal side for flat or slim items like trash bags, shelf liner refills, or a thin caddy for sponges. An over-the-door organizer is especially helpful here since it adds storage without competing with the disposal for floor space.

How do I prevent mold and mildew under the kitchen sink?

Ventilation and moisture control are key. Avoid storing wet sponges in closed containers — use a small mesh basket instead. Wipe up any standing water immediately and check pipe connections monthly for slow leaks. A moisture-absorbing product like a small dehumidifier pouch can also help in humid climates.

Can I use the space under the sink for storing food?

No. The area around plumbing can harbor moisture and is more prone to temperature fluctuations and potential leaks. It's also near cleaning chemicals, which should never be stored alongside food. Keep all food items in the pantry or designated food storage areas.

What should I do if I find water damage while cleaning out the cabinet?

Don't panic, but don't ignore it either. Minor surface discoloration can be cleaned and sealed with a waterproof liner. If the cabinet floor feels soft, spongy, or warped, you may need to replace the base panel. Check all pipe connections for active leaks and tighten or replace fittings as needed. For significant damage, consult a plumber to rule out an ongoing issue.

Final Thoughts

The space under your kitchen sink doesn't have to be a source of low-grade stress every time you open it. With a solid cleanout, a few affordable organizers, and a simple maintenance routine, you can organize under your kitchen sink into one of the most functional spots in your entire kitchen.

Start this weekend. Block out an hour, pull everything out, and follow the steps above. You'll wonder why you waited so long — and you might just find yourself reorganizing the rest of the kitchen while you're at it.