How to Organize Under the Kitchen Sink (Step-by-Step)

Quick answer: to organise the cabinet under your kitchen sink, take everything out, clean and dry the cabinet, and throw away anything empty or unused. Then measure the space around the pipes, add a shelf liner, use a two-tier pull-out organiser to make use of the height, and put the things you use every day at the front. Hooks on the inside of the door are handy for gloves and cloths.

Why the space under the sink gets messy

The cabinet under a kitchen sink is an awkward shape. The waste pipe and the water supply pipes take up the middle, the space is often deep and dark, and bottles get pushed to the back and forgotten. The aim is to keep everything visible, easy to reach and clear of the pipes.

Step-by-step: how to organize under the kitchen sink

Empty the cabinet. Take everything out and put it on the counter or floor so you can see what you have.
Check the cabinet. With the cabinet empty, look at the pipes and the cabinet floor for drips, damp patches or swelling. If you find a leak, fix it, or get it fixed, before you put anything back.
Clean and dry. Wipe the base and sides of the cabinet and leave the door open so it dries completely.
Sort and declutter. Group what you have: dishwasher and washing-up products, surface cleaners, cloths and sponges, bin bags, and spares. Throw away empty bottles, dried-out sponges and anything you no longer use.
Measure the space. Measure the width, depth and height of the cabinet, and note where the pipes run. Check the size of the door opening too, as it is often smaller than the inside of the cabinet.
Line the base. A liner makes the cabinet floor easier to wipe. A clear drawer and shelf liner roll is non-adhesive and wipe-clean, and a non-slip EVA shelf liner helps stop bottles sliding. Cut either to fit around the pipes with scissors.
Add an organiser. A two-tier pull-out under sink organizer uses the height of the cabinet and slides out, so you can reach items at the back of both shelves. Place it to one side of the pipes, or use two if there is room on both sides.
Use the door. Stick adhesive hooks to the inside of the cabinet door for rubber gloves, cloths or a small brush. Check that the hooks and anything on them clear the pipes and the organiser when the door closes.
Put things back by use. Put everyday items, such as washing-up liquid and dishwasher tablets, at the front or on the top tier. Store spares and things you use less often at the back or the bottom.
Keep a gap around the pipes. Leave the pipes and any shut-off valves easy to see and reach, so you can spot a drip or turn off the water quickly if you need to.

Ideas that make the space work harder

Group small items. Keep sponges, scrubbers and spare cloths together in one shallow box or tray so they do not spread across the cabinet.
Keep bin bags in one place. A roll of bin bags fits neatly at the side of an organiser or in a small box.
Label the shelves. Simple labels help everyone in the house put things back in the same place.
Do a quick check every few months. Throw away empties, wipe the liner and look at the pipes again.
Keep heavy items low. Put larger bottles and refills on the cabinet floor or the bottom tier, where they are easier to lift out, and keep lighter items on top.
Leave room for a bin if you use one. If your kitchen bin lives under the sink, measure it first and plan the organiser around it.

The same steps work for the cabinet under a bathroom sink, where a pull-out organiser can hold toiletries, spare toilet rolls and cleaning products. See more under-sink organizers, such as the sliding under-sink storage rack with a pull-out lower basket, see Kitchen Organization for more kitchen storage (such as stick-on pot lid holders for the inside of a cabinet door, cabinet shelf risers for spices and a heavy-duty rotating turntable for pantry jars or a clear plastic lazy susan turntable (23.6 cm or 27 cm, single layer) for a cabinet, counter or fridge shelf), or browse all drawer and cabinet organization.

More options in the shop: the DEKAVA 2-tier sliding under-sink organizer, 2 pack, the REALINN L-shaped pull-out under-sink organizer (ships to the United States only) and the Simple Houseware expandable under-sink shelf (ships to the United States only).

Frequently asked questions

What should be stored under the kitchen sink?

Most people keep everyday cleaning products, dishwasher and washing-up products, cloths, sponges and bin bags there. Keep the space around the pipes clear, and follow the storage instructions on each product label.

How do I organise around the sink pipes?

Measure the space on each side of the pipes and choose organisers that fit there, rather than one large unit. Cut liners around the pipes, and use the door for hooks so the middle stays clear.

Is it organize or organise?

Both are correct. “Organize” and “organizer” are the US spellings, and “organise” and “organiser” are common in the UK.

How do I stop the cabinet base getting damaged by drips?

Line the base with a wipe-clean liner, wipe up spills straight away, and check the pipes for leaks from time to time. If a pipe is dripping, fix the leak first. For a small drip, self-fusing silicone repair tape can be wrapped around the pipe as a temporary repair until a permanent one is made; see how to fix a leaking pipe with repair tape.

Will a pull-out organiser fit my cabinet?

Measure the width, depth and height of the space next to the pipes, and the door opening, and compare them with the organiser before you buy.