Under Sink Solutions: Type A Tried and True Series
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Let’s talk about one of the most neglected (and often terrifying) spaces in the kitchen: under the sink. It’s the Bermuda Triangle of cabinets—a place where cleaning supplies disappear, plastic bags multiply, and where that thick indescribable mystery goop has collected in the back. You know the goop—the goop that you don’t have the mental capacity to clean but accidentally touch on special occasions when reaching through the jungle of cleaners for that oven cleaner that basically lives in another zip code. Ahh—life.
But, I say it to myself, and I will say it to you: it doesn’t have to be this way! With an hour or two of time and the right organizing strategy, you can turn all that bedlam into something functional that serves you daily and—dare we say—even an aesthetically pleasing space. We are here to dish 🍽️ 😉 all our secrets and go-to products for organizing under a kitchen sink!
Before we get to our Top Picks…
Sometimes we need that refresher on how to begin tackling organizing a space. If you’re new here or need more in-depth info on getting spaces in your house organized, check out our Ultimate Organizing Guide, our Declutter Now Bundle, and Free Printables for more in-depth discourse on where to begin.
Back to the Basics
1. Declutter & Take Inventory
First things first—empty everything out. Toss expired products, consolidate half-empty bottles, and be honest about what you actually use. (Do you really need five different types of stainless steel cleaner?)
Over time, you’ll notice the products you consistently gravitate toward and the ones that actually work best for your cleaning routine. If you always reach for the same all-purpose spray or dish soap, prioritize keeping those front and center while letting go of the rarely used specialty cleaners taking up space.
This is also a great opportunity to streamline your supplies and avoid duplicates. When you intentionally curate what’s under the sink, it’s easier to keep track of what you have and prevent unnecessary clutter. Once you know what’s staying, it’s time to create a system that works.
2. Categorize Your Items
Before you start adding products back in, take a moment to categorize what you have. Grouping things like dish soap, all-purpose cleaners, and sponges together will make it easier to decide which products will work best for each section of your cabinet. We love utilizing our Tape Task Method to make it all the easier!
Some categories you might have could include:
Cleaning sprays and solutions
Scrubbers and brushes
Extra garbage bags or liners
Sponges and cloths
Once you’ve grouped items, consider what categories need extra space, whether it’s for taller items or bulkier items. With your categories in mind, it will be much easier to figure out what products will help you maximize your space under the sink.
If you know that you are pressed for space under the sink, take a moment to consider whether certain categories that don’t need to be under the sink could live instead. We try to always keep our categories limited to what is needed immediately in that space.
3. Maximize Space & Plan for Depth
Before adding storage solutions, take precise measurements of your cabinet’s height, width, and depth. Pay close attention to pipes, the garbage disposal, and any other obstructions—this will determine what types of organizers will fit without wasted space or awkward gaps.
Use the full depth of the cabinet strategically. In deeper areas, opt for bins that allow you to store items efficiently while keeping them accessible. For tighter spots near plumbing, choose shorter or more flexible storage options. Measuring first ensures every inch is optimized, preventing frustration when bins don’t fit as expected.
Contain & Categorize: Our Type A Tried and True Picks
Now that you’ve measured and planned your space, it’s time to focus on products that maximize every inch of available storage. Here are some of our favorite solutions for keeping things organized and accessible.
Bins that Use the Space Effectively
Stak Bins with Wheels
What We Love:
These bins are our #1 champion for under a kitchen sink if they fit in the space. They have two different height options and come in multiple depths and widths, making them highly customizable for your specific cabinet layout. Their deep design means they can hold a large quantity of items while, due to their tiny, cute wheels in the back, they’re easy to pull out when you need to access something even in the back of the cabinet. The best part? They have adjustable dividers to allow for extensive categorization if needed, as well as keeping things snug in their place and not toppling over inside the bin every time you move the bin. (Yeah.. it’s the little things that make a big difference.) 💁♀️😌
5” Height:
9.5” Height:
Deep Drawer Bins
What We Love:
Like the Stak bins, these bins are amazing at using the depth of the space (16”). So, if you are coming up just a bit short of using the Stak bins, this is our runner-up for using the depth of the cabinet. We also love that these bins come in three different widths: 4, 6, and 8”— giving you the opportunity to thoroughly categorize and fit the space based off your spacial needs!
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Everything Organizer Shelf and Cabinet Bins
What We Love:
These bins have become one of our all time favorites. We love that they have removable dividers, offer a luxe acrylic look, and have a great handle that makes maneuvering the bin a breeze! They come in two different depths, and a multitude of widths. They are a real MVP [Trophy emoji] when you don’t have ultra deep cabinets to work with under your sink! We also love using these all over the kitchen, in pantries, cabinets and just about everywhere. We are allllll about keeping things clean, consistent and interchangeable. Be sure to check out our Tried-and-True Kitchen Essentials blog post to see how we use these bins throughout the kitchen!
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Honorable Mentions + Other Favs
Like we’ve mentioned- there is no one size fits all to an under the sink situation. We’ve tried bins in from every store under the sun, in every shape, size and measurement. These are bins are tried and true, durable and get the job done depending on the dimensions you have to work with:
Tiered Storage Solutions
What We Love:
Tiered storage systems can be a total game-changer for really tricky spaces with narrow offerings. By creating multiple levels, you are utilizing your vertical space and not leaving anything to waste. With options like pull-out drawers or shelves, reaching what you need is a breeze—no more knocking over everything to get to the back. We tend to gravitate toward anything that has adjustability within the levels. You can find systems in all shapes, sizes, and dimensions, making it easy to customize for your specific needs, which also brings us to what we don’t love as much…
What we don’t love…
Since these come in so many different shapes and sizes, it makes measuring that much more important. It also can pigeonhole you in what you can store. Taller items, like spray bottles, don’t generally love living in these tiered systems, but if you have other areas of the cabinet to store them, that won’t be an issue!
Here are some of our favorite options we have used over the years:
Door Storage Solutions
When it comes to under-sink organization, don’t forget about door-mounted storage solutions. The inside of the door is often overlooked, but it can be a great place to store smaller items like sponges, brushes, gloves, and even cleaning bottles.
It doesn’t work for every space depending on your obstructions and pipes, but sometimes it can be just the solution to solve all your problems. We also like that it can bring things a little bit higher up if regularly bending all the way down to the bottom of the cabinet for something is difficult.
Command Strip Bottle Holder
What We Love:
This ultimate budget hack is one of the easiest ways to store frequently used cleaning products. They attach securely to the door and hold a lot of weight, plus they don’t leave any holes behind.
I personally use them and they hold pretty heavy brown glass spray bottles filled with cleaners like it’s nothing. I have never had to replace mine and they’ve been up for years!
iDesign Affixx Acrylic Adhesive Organizers
What We Love:
These luxe acrylic organizers are perfect for smaller items like sponges, brushes, or decanted dish pods. These gems are a stylish and functional way to store items out of the way yet still easily accessible. They come in three different sizes, and we use them all depending on the space!
What to be wary of…
These bins stick very well, so be sure to test the placement before you fully commit. Hold them in place, and with any tall items you plan on storing inside of the bin, test first to ensure that door clearance and any potential obstructions won’t interfere with closing the door.
YouCopia DoorStash
What We Love:
These over-the-door organizers come in two different styles: a garbage bag dispenser or dishwasher pod dispenser. We love that these powerhouses keep dishwasher pods, bags, sponges, and brushes within easy reach—typically without blocking your under-sink bins.
We find that other over the door systems that use the entire length of the door often fight with any bins that you end up using within the cabinet. The raised design makes grabbing essentials effortless while leaving room below for larger storage. Plus, the hidden pull-out compartment adds extra space without the visual clutter (and also keeps water from splashing on the pods!).
What to be wary of…
For the garbage bag dispenser, be sure to review the size of roll it can accommodate. It only holds a standard size roll of trash bags— so if you are a mega, club size Costco roll shopper, I would probably pass on it.
Also, As always, be sure to double-check your measurements to avoid any surprises from obstructions when closing the cabinet!
Honorable Mentions + Other Favs
The Odds and Ends
As we’ve already mentioned, not every sink cabinet looks the same. Some can only hold a select few cleaners and scrubbers, and others require a bit more diversity and multi-purpose use. Here are a few of our often-reached-for products for the little things that may have wound up under your sink and need a place as well.
Waterproof & Protect
Leaks happen. The mystery goops happen. And let’s be real—this is one of the messiest cabinets in the house. Protect your cabinet (and make future clean-ups easier) with protective shelf liners.
Here’s a few of our favorites:
A Little Maintenance Goes a Long Way
Once you’ve organized everything, the key to keeping it that way is maintenance. Every few months, do a quick check to make sure products aren’t expired, nothing is leaking, and that your categories still make sense for your routine.
Under the kitchen sink might never be your favorite cabinet, but with the right setup, it can at least stop being the scary one. And who knows—you might even feel a little burst of joy every time you reach for a fresh sponge. 🧽 ✨