How To Organizing Under The Kitchen Sink

My Dutch heritage says to keep the trash underneath the kitchen sink. I have become so accustomed to this, that I am not even sure where else I would keep the trash! Though, don't feel guilty if you stow it away in a different area of your home. Trust me, that is normal too. I can just get stuck in my own ways or in other words, get used to a certain system. The unfortunate thing is that underneath the sink a few years ago, I stored more "trash" than I even care to think about! It has been cluttered with unused cleaner products, scrubbers, and even unused glasses. It was time to get organized!

What are you supposed to keep underneath the sink? It sounds like such a simple and silly question, but this area of our homes can be one of the most junk-ridden places. Of course this is my opinion, but I feel there should be nothing kept under the sink that doesn't have to do with that area or the sink. What does that look like?

Here is what I keep underneath our kitchen sink:

1. Trash - simple, but like you read earlier, I am just used to have our home set up this way.

2. Container with bags - I do not think I have ever bought trash bags (except 1 box of big trash bags, but I used a gift card and couldn't think of anything better). As much as I am all about reusable bags, I do put my groceries in plastic or paper bags at times so that I can use them as trash bags. Call me cheap, but I consider it a great way to be frugal!

3. Cleaning bucket. What do I keep in there? I keep a microfiber cloth, window cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, scrubber, Ajax-type powder, toilet bowl cleaner, dust mitt. That's it. Simple as that.

4. Little bucket with jar scrubber and steel wool

5. That's it!

So, how do you reduce the number of items to only a select few?

Pare down to what you use and let go of the unused. Are you storing cleaners underneath your sink, that you never use? What if you purged of the ones you never use or give them to someone who would appreciate them more? If you haven't used them yet, you probably never will (in reality)

Keep cleaners where you use them the most. I personally store my cleaning bucket underneath our kitchen sink only because I use two of the cleaners more often. Although, about 3/4 of the other supplies, I use in the bathroom. Because I only have one cleaning bucket, I keep all of my cleaners in one place and the bucket is very transferable from room to room.

These are just a few tips and ideas on how to organize underneath the sink.