The $10 Buy That Makes the Cabinet Under My Sink Less Gross
Fun fact: You don’t have to cringe every time you reach for the dishwasher detergent and get a glimpse of what’s going on under your kitchen sink. Just because that’s what happens for most people doesn’t mean that’s the way it has to be for everyone. It’s not how it is for me. I’ve actually got one simple little trick to keep things nice under there.
Here’s my secret to keeping the least sexy part of the kitchen looking spiffy.
I line the area under my sink with a thick, smooth-top plastic liner. While it’s not adhesive, it is slightly tacky so it sits flat and stays in place. However, it’s very easy to pick up and then put back, which means you can easily wash it in the sink (versus having to crawl into the cabinet to wash the shelf on your hands and knees). For regular housekeeping, you can simply wipe up dirt or spills without removing it. The liner comes in a roll that you can cut with a scissors to the size you need.
I love this stuff for a few reasons. For starters, it makes the cabinet look prettier. And perhaps most importantly, the liner inspires me to keep things clean. The space looks so fresh and bright (especially in contrast to my old cabinets) so I’m extra likely to wipe up soapy gunk that may build up in the surface.
If you’re anything like me, once you find out how easy this liner is to use and how much it helps you keep things clean, you’ll find other uses for it. I confess, it’s lining every shelf in my kitchen and even my linen closet. It’s particularly useful for the shelves where I keep my spices and condiments (you know, all those bottles that have a way of getting particularly nasty).
Returning to the area under my sink, I also keep it from turning it into a disaster area by corralling things in clear cheap plastic bins. I have one dedicated to dishwasher detergents and sponges and scrubbers, another to cleaners, and a third to plastic bags that I reuse. Like the liner, they can easily be pulled out and washed when you’re doing a big cleanup. And there’s a lot less rooting around for things like that dishwashing rinse aid that you know is in there somewhere.