I’m on a quest to de-clutter, organize, and refresh my entire house starting with my kitchen. I previously shared my refrigerator organization tips, and today I’m sharing under kitchen sink cabinets organization tips. I think the 4 scariest parts of the kitchen are the refrigerator, under-sink cabinet, junk drawer, and the pantry. Organization is important to help keep these areas under control.
My solution to the junk drawer chaos? I got rid of it and turn it into a coffee and tea drawer. A junk drawer just accumulates more junk and I realized we didn’t need it. For the things we needed in or near the kitchen, we moved them to our hallway turned mudroom.
Now on to the scary, dark, under-sink kitchen cabinets….
now I’m thinking wouldn’t it be a good idea to install a light in the cabinet? the kind that turns on when you open the door? future project to add to the list.
The sink area is easy to organize. I try to minimize what sits out on my counters so it doesn’t look cluttered and its easier to clean. I keep hand soap, dish soap, cloth, and a scrubbing brush near my sink. I also love to have fresh flowers to brighten the area – purchasing flowers for myself is one of my favorite things I do for self-care.
I’m a huge fan of Grove Collaborative and choosing products that are better for the environment. Right now, my kitchen is stocked with Mrs. Meyer’s Lemon Verbena – I love its citrusy herbal scent. I keep Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Hand Soap and Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Dish Soap on my counter. Everything is contained on a white cake plate – I like that it is raised up since the sink area can get wet and this minimizes the yuckiness that can build up under things close to the sink.
Step 1: Remove everything – Completely empty everything from under your sink and give it a good scrubbing
Step 2: Add removable shelf liner – Shelf liner adds brightness (and color or pattern depending on your selection) to the dark under sink area. Also easily to wipe clean and replace it when its time.
Step 3: Purchase a few containers and organizing products Select a few containers, and organizing shelves or drawers, that work for your cabinets. Because of the plumbing, this space is often awkward so you have to be creative making things fit.
Step 4: Remove any products you don’t use Store extras in pantry or garage – this space is limited and hard to reach so minimize what you store in this space
Step 5: Fresh towels and cleaning cloths We’re a mostly paper-free kitchen and use cloth for napkins, scrubbing, and dish drying. I keep a basket of cloths and towels under the sink so they’re easy to grab when you need a fresh one. I have a small laundry basket in my pantry for them when they’re soiled. Every once in awhile I treat myself to a set of new kitchen cloths and towels and its a great way to refresh my kitchen.
Step 6: Create a Cleaning caddy I’m a huge fan of caddies because everything is together and it easy to carry around to where you need it. I have a two-story house and have an upstairs cleaning caddy and a downstairs cleaning caddy. This way cleaning supplies are always easily accessible – have you read my post about The BEST Hacks for two-story living?
Because the caddy is for the entire downstairs, it includes cleaning products for the bathroom (except for the toilet brush which is stored in the bathroom since I don’t want that under my sink). My downstairs bathroom does not have cabinets for storage. Also when I clean my downstairs weekly, I clean all the rooms on the same day and carry the caddy from room to room – kitchen, family room, dining room, living room, guest bath, and office. What’s in the caddy:
- Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® Multi-Surface Multi-Surface Cleaner
- Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® Multi-Surface Concentrate
- Glass Cleaner
- Real Simple stainless steel cleaner
- Method wood cleaner
- Caldrea Countertop Spray
- sponges, scrubbing toothbrushes, scraper
- Full Circle duster
- Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® Toilet Bowl Cleaner
- Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® Surface Scrub
- Bar Keeper’s Friend
- Bar Keeper’s Friend Glass-top stove top cleaner
*I’ve updated this list to what I currently use – I’ve found some new favorites since I wrote this post
Step 7: Create a bin for some kitchen essentials Under sink essentials include Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day® Dishwasher Tabs, sponges, paper towels, and garbage bags. We are mostly paper-free there are occasions paper towels are needed. I keep them under the sink, so they’re not the first choice when something needs to be wiped.
Step 8: Make use of vertical space I use a cabinet shelf to create a space for a basket of kitchen cloths and towels under my cleaning caddy. The basket is easy to pull out to grab a cloth, and easy to remove from the cabinet to refill.
Step 9: Make use of the cabinet door space On one side I have a towel rack for a hand-drying towel. On the other side, I have a pair of gloves hanging on a hook.
Step 10: Add color and pattern Color and pattern adds interest to a space. I find it helps me to maintain the space when I’m happy about it. Bring color in with the containers, shelf liner, and towels. Pattern can be brought in with the shelf liner, towels, and labels.
I love washi tape for adding color and pattern and it is easily removable. I used my label maker to print labels on clear tape and then applied the label over a strip of washi tape.
I added a strip to the inside of each cabinet.
Supply list
- Brother One-touch label maker (similar)
- clear one-touch label maker tape
- washi tape (similar)
- cabinet towel hanger (not pictured but the style I have since switched too)
- cleaning caddy (similar)
- cabinet wire add-a-shelf
- rubber gloves
- polka dot vase – Homegoods
- white shelf paper
On an organizing mission? We have been – It feels so satisfying to have a newly organized space. Check out these home organization posts for more inspiration:
- Refrigerator Organization
- Turn a hallway space into a mudroom
- Coffee and Tea drawer organization
- 2 Story Home living hacks
- Cable organization – contain the mess!
- 4 Tips to simplify laundry
Happy Organizing!