Skip to main content

21OAK may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

10 under-sink organization ideas you’ll want immediately

The space under the bathroom and kitchen sinks is notorious for being cramped and crowded. However, it doesn’t have to be that way — indeed, there are many possible storage solutions that can make that space appear neater. Consider implementing a few of these ideas for a more organized under-sink area. Some solutions can be used in conjunction with one another, providing even more additional storage space.

organized and tidy kitchen
Niklas Skur / EyeEm / Getty Images

Storage drawers and shelves

Adding in clear (perhaps acrylic) drawers and shelves add dimension and extra storage. To ensure things stay sorted properly, label drawers with what they will contain. For instance, in the bathroom, drawers could hold medicines, bandages, and toothbrushes. A variety of sizes of shelves let you sort items by size, so that smaller items do not take up too much valuable space. Different materials are appropriate for different situations; in a small cabinet, opaque plastic drawers and shelves might work fine. In a larger space, though, wire or clear plastic organizers allow one to see what is behind them, which may be more ideal since there might be items stored further back in the cabinet.

Hanging cleaning products

Undoubtedly, the area under kitchen sinks is largely taken up by cleaning products. Oftentimes, cleaners are in spray bottles, which do not have to sit on the bottom of a shelf. Instead, place a tension rod close to the top of a cabinet in order to hang spray bottles. With the newly freed area, you might have room for a small recycling bin or other organization solutions that otherwise would not have fit in the cabinet.

The Kitchn suggests this is a great hack to creating a bit more space under the sink. “This is the perfect way to store your spray bottles, dish gloves, and cloths. And if you want to get really crafty, you could even get a few S-hooks to hang a scrub brush or two.”

Organizers on cabinet doors

Many types of caddies exist that can be affixed to the inside of doors for additional storage space. Some are even sold with hooks that easily install over a door, although these might seem unsightly in an otherwise tied-together room design. Keep in mind that if using such an organizer, the area available inside a cabinet might be reduced. Nonetheless, items kept right inside cabinet doors can be quickly accessed, like sponges or cleaning cloths. With some innovative thinking, most small shelves and buckets can be placed inside doors even if not originally intended for hanging. Hiatt-Hardware says over-the-door hooks are organized, purposeful, and easy to put together.

Repurpose other storage items

There is no need to go out and buy entirely new receptacles for reorganizing your under sink area. Search your house for unused or underutilized items that can better be implemented elsewhere. For example, you can place multiple small baskets or shower caddies under a sink to better separate things. Sort items by purpose or type in each basket for simple identification, removal, and transport. For instance, multiple feminine-hygiene items can be kept in the same storage caddy. Stackable bins add vertical space. Smaller foldable shelves or storage cubes are a simple addition that can solve many organization issues.

trash bags under sink
Image Source/Getty Images

Hanging trash bags

A simple and cheap DIY project to eliminate trash bag boxes under the sink is a bag hanger. With a wooden dowel and hooks large enough to hang it from, bags can be hung from a point high in the cabinet, maybe even from the top. This storage solution gets rid of unnecessary boxes and the need to open those boxes each time a new trash bag is needed, as bags can simply be ripped from the hanging roll instead.

Hooks and rods on cabinet walls

Some kitchen products, such as dish brushes, have holes that allow them to be hung. Additionally, some items like dish brushes are difficult to store upright. As an alternative to letting these products take up room, install command hooks or another similar product onto cabinet walls to hang them up.

Other things that can be hung on hooks include dishwashing gloves, dustpan brushes, and lint rollers. Rods can also prove useful in the bathroom, where washcloths and makeup bags can also be hung. Bob Vila gives a few ideas on how simple hooks can create a more organized cabinet.

Lazy susan

Oddly shaped cabinets may not be ideal for fitting square shelves and drawers into. In that case, consider placing a lazy Susan in the cabinet for a spinning-storage solution. Some lazy Susans are even two stories, providing additional area for organization as well as easy access to items. These organizers can eliminate the domino effect that results from many tall cleaning products being next to each other on the bottom of a cabinet. They might save your back, too, if they let you spend less time bending over searching for items.

Sliding organizers

While lazy Susans might alleviate some back pain by reducing how much you need to bend over, an even better storage solution that will truly minimize the need for bending is a sliding organizer. Frequently used items, like recycling bins and dish detergent bottles, can be placed on sliding shelves and slid out whenever needed. Products exist that allow for the entire under-sink storage shelf to be slid out, though such items may get in the way if you need to access a cabinet while standing in front of it.

organized under sink cleaning products

Jars for individually wrapped items

To decrease the number of bulky boxes kept under a sink, remove items from their packages as appropriate and instead keep them in jars. An example of a product that can be stored in a jar are dishwashing pods. If in a clear jar, this organization idea also allows you to see how many of a product are left and if you need to buy more. Of course, be mindful of what kind of jar products are stored in if children are around. Alternatively, you can keep locks on the cabinets and use a simple glass jar.

Hanging shelves

To save room on the bottom of a cabinet, you might affix shelves to the top of a cabinet for a floating storage solution. Sorting items can go even further than being placed on a shelf hanging from the top of a cabinet with the inclusion of baskets. With shelves hanging, there is still enough room in a cabinet for stacked drawers, over-the-door organizers, and hooks or dowels on the walls of the cabinet.

Editors' Recommendations

Deb Goncalves
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Deb's work has appeared on Moms, Babygaga, and WorldAtlas. When she's not working (that's hard to say about a Capricorn), she…
The October home maintenance checklist everyone needs
What to do in the fall to prepare your home for winter
Blue house in autumn

October is the prime time for home maintenance. Fall is the best season to prepare your home and landscape for the upcoming change in weather and ensure your family stays cozy through the colder months. This October home maintenance checklist has all the weekend DIY projects for fall you need to know about, and it will help you focus on the right tasks. Wrap up the gardening and lawn care season so your house can withstand the winter.

Why is October home maintenance important?
Following a fall home maintenance checklist is a proactive defense against a host of potential issues that could arise when the coldest weather hits. These issues could disrupt your home's functionality, safety, and value. By taking proactive steps during this season, you can prevent:

Read more
This is what you should be planting in fall for a beautiful spring garden
Plant these seedlings in the fall and watch them grow in spring
Chair beside blooming flower garden

If you want a beautiful spring garden, it's a good idea to think ahead by getting to work now and planting in the fall. Autumn is the perfect time to clear old flower beds, build garden pathways, add architectural elements to your landscape, and of course, plant. The truth is that fall is the ideal time to install cold-hardy plants, and we'll discuss why. As you plan your garden for the year ahead, consider planting the below seedlings right now. 

Benefits of planting in fall
Overall, planting in fall is ideal for many variations of turf, flowers, shrubs, and trees because pest populations will dwindle soon, letting you sidestep damage from these critters, and plant growth patterns will turn in your favor. The cooler autumn air is much more forgiving, and the still-warm soil offers an ideal environment for deep-root development.

Read more
How to choose the best fall lawn fertilizer for a lush yard in spring
Here are some amazing fertilizer options to use this fall
Fertilizing lawn

When summer comes to a close, it’s time to find the best fall grass fertilizer for your grass to keep your landscape looking healthy and strong come spring. Winter can be harsh on your yard, and the last thing you want is a barren or muddy landscape once spring finally arrives. Thankfully, there are plenty of "winterizing" lawn fertilizers made to treat your grass to ensure it's healthy and lush as the weather starts to warm.

However, while there are many brands to choose from, not all fertilizers are created equal. What fertilizer should you use in the fall? We’ve rounded up our favorite lawn fertilizers to help you control weeds and maintain fresh, green grass throughout spring.

Read more