4 Easy Steps for Decluttering the Messiest Spot in Everyone’s Kitchen

Shifrah Combiths
Shifrah Combiths
With five children, Shifrah is learning a thing or two about how to keep a fairly organized and pretty clean house with a grateful heart in a way that leaves plenty of time for the people who matter most. Shifrah grew up in San Francisco, but has come to appreciate smaller town…read more
updated Dec 10, 2019
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Credit: Katie Currid

I have areas in my home that feel like such a hopeless mess that I literally close the door on them. I forget about them, if temporarily, in self-preserving denial. Currently, the garage comes to mind. But really, any mess is live-with-able, if it has doors that can close.

However, when that messy spot you shut away is also a hard-working storage space, the consequences are harder to ignore. The cabinet under the kitchen sink is like that: With protruding plumbing and a collection of disparate supplies that you do need to have close at-hand, it’s an awkward — yet important — space to organize.

This weekend, rather than ignoring the jumble of clutter in the under-sink cabinet, we’re going to make it presentable and functional. 

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Prop Stylist: Stephanie Yeh/Kitchn

This Weekend: Organize under your kitchen sink.

Getting the area under your kitchen sink decluttered and streamlined is going to feel so good. Here’s how you can go about it.

1. Empty the cabinet

Take every single thing out from under the sink and set it on the kitchen floor.

2. Declutter and sort

Categorize all the items you’ve taken out from under your sink. As you’re categorizing, think about what you actually need to keep in such a prime spot. Get rid of anything that goes somewhere else (excess vases, too-old sponges, etc.).

Credit: Joe Lingeman/Kitchn; Prop Stylist: Stephanie Yeh/Kitchn

3. Create zones

Before you put items back under your sink, designate specific areas for different kinds of items. For instance, you might store brushes and sponges together, and cleaning products and dish washing soap and detergent in another spot. Because you’ve already sorted your items, putting them where you’ve decided they’ll go should be easy.

4. Consider organizers

While you don’t have to have any fancy organizers to bring order to your under-sink area, they can really help keep everything tidy. This drawer unit makes the most of vertical space. An expandable unit is customizable and works around plumbing. And these multipurpose bins, the solution I personally use, are simple, versatile, and inexpensive.

This post originally ran on Apartment Therapy. See it there: 4 Steps for Decluttering the Messiest Spot in Everyone’s Kitchen