How to Organize Cleaning Supplies Under the Sink

July 24, 2026

The space under the kitchen sink is one of the easiest places to ignore. It is low, dark, awkwardly shaped, and often crowded with pipes, trash bags, sponges, dish soap, spray bottles, and cleaning cloths. In many homes, it becomes the place where cleaning supplies go when there is nowhere else to put them.

But under-sink storage does not need to be complicated. A simple setup can help you see what you have, reach what you use often, and reset the cabinet without pulling everything out.

The goal is not to create a picture-perfect cabinet. The goal is to make everyday cleaning supplies easier to use, especially in a small kitchen, apartment, rental home, or busy household.

Below are practical ways to organize cleaning supplies under the sink without adding more clutter.

1. Take Everything Out First

Before adding bins or organizers, start by emptying the under-sink cabinet. This step may feel small, but it helps you see what is actually stored there.

You may find half-used sprays, old sponges, extra dish soap, trash bags, dishwasher pods, cleaning cloths, or supplies that belong in another room. Group similar items together on the floor or counter so you can see each category clearly.

Common groups include:

Daily dishwashing items
Counter and surface sprays
Trash bags
Sponges and scrub brushes
Cleaning cloths
Dishwasher supplies
Backup bottles
Rarely used cleaning items

Once everything is visible, it becomes easier to decide what should stay under the sink and what should move elsewhere.

2. Keep Only Kitchen-Related Supplies Here

One common reason under-sink storage gets messy is that it becomes a general cleaning cabinet for the whole home. Kitchen spray, bathroom cleaner, laundry products, extra paper goods, pet items, and random tools may all end up in one crowded space.

For a more useful setup, try keeping this cabinet focused on kitchen-related cleaning supplies. That might include dish soap, dishwasher pods, counter spray, scrub brushes, sponges, cleaning cloths, and trash bags.

If you clean several rooms with the same supplies, consider using a portable cleaning caddy for the items you carry around the house. This can help keep the under-sink area lighter and easier to maintain.

The fewer unrelated items you store here, the easier it is to find what you need during a quick kitchen reset.

3. Work Around the Pipes

Under-sink cabinets are not shaped like normal cabinets. Pipes, garbage disposals, and water lines often interrupt the space, so one large bin may not fit well.

Instead of forcing one big organizer into the cabinet, use smaller zones around the plumbing. A narrow pull-out organizer may fit on one side. A small bin may work in the front. Trash bags may fit in a vertical holder or basket. Cleaning cloths may work best in a small open container.

Before choosing any organizer, measure the cabinet width, depth, and height. Also measure the space around the pipes. This can help you avoid buying storage that looks useful online but does not fit your actual cabinet.

A good under-sink setup should respect the awkward shape of the space.

4. Use a Pull-Out Organizer for Daily Items

A pull-out under-sink organizer can be helpful for items you use often. Instead of reaching into the back of the cabinet, you can slide the organizer forward and see what is inside.

This type of organizer works well for dish soap, surface spray, dishwasher pods, scrub brushes, and small backup bottles. A two-tier version may help use vertical space, but only if it clears the plumbing.

If your cabinet is narrow, one pull-out shelf on the side may be enough. You do not need to fill the entire cabinet with organizers. Start with the side that feels hardest to reach.

For renters, check the setup carefully before using any organizer that requires screws or permanent installation. A freestanding pull-out rack can be a practical option when you want more access without changing the cabinet.

5. Use Small Bins for Backup Supplies

Backup supplies can quickly take over under-sink storage. Extra sponges, refill bottles, trash bags, and dish soap often get pushed to the back and forgotten.

A small bin can help give backup items a clear place. You might use one bin for dishwashing backups, one for cleaning cloths, and one for trash bags. If space is limited, keep only one backup of each item under the sink and store the rest in a separate utility area.

Clear bins can make it easier to see what is running low. Open baskets can also work well if you prefer a softer look inside the cabinet.

The main idea is to avoid loose items floating around the cabinet floor. When each category has a home, the space becomes easier to reset.

6. Store Cleaning Cloths So They Stay Easy to Grab

Cleaning cloths often end up in a messy pile under the sink. They may fall behind bottles, get mixed with sponges, or become hard to tell apart from older rags.

Try folding cloths into a small bin, basket, or drawer-style organizer. Keep everyday cloths in the front and store extras farther back. If you use different cloths for different jobs, divide them by category, such as counters, dishes, and general cleaning.

You do not need a complex labeling system. A simple container can be enough to keep cloths from spreading through the cabinet.

The easier cloths are to grab, the more likely you are to use them during quick kitchen resets.

7. Give Trash Bags Their Own Spot

Trash bags are one of the most common under-sink items, but they can make the cabinet feel messy if the roll or box moves around every time you reach for something.

Give trash bags a dedicated spot. This might be a slim bin, a vertical holder, a small basket, or one side of a pull-out organizer. If you use more than one bag size, keep the most-used size in front and store extras behind it.

Try not to stack heavy bottles on top of trash bags. It makes them harder to pull out and can create a messy pile over time.

A clear spot for trash bags makes one of the most frequent kitchen tasks a little easier.

8. Create a Quick-Grab Cleaning Caddy

If you often move from the kitchen to the dining area, bathroom, laundry corner, or entryway while cleaning, a small cleaning caddy may be more useful than storing every bottle loose under the sink.

A caddy can hold a few everyday items: surface spray, cloths, sponge, gloves, and a small brush. You can lift it out, clean the area you need, and return it when you are done.

This setup works especially well for apartments and small homes where cleaning supplies need to move between rooms. It also prevents the under-sink cabinet from becoming too full.

Keep the caddy light. If it becomes too heavy, you may stop using it.

9. Keep Safety and Access in Mind

Under-sink storage often holds cleaning products, so it is important to think about who can access the cabinet. If children or pets live in the home, store products according to the product label directions and use appropriate safety measures for your household.

Avoid mixing products into unlabeled containers. It may look cleaner, but it can make it harder to know what each product is and how it should be used.

Also avoid stacking bottles in unstable piles. Tall items should stand upright, and frequently used items should be easy to remove without knocking everything over.

A practical cabinet should be easier to use and easier to understand.

What to Avoid Under the Sink

Avoid keeping too many duplicates. If you have four open bottles of the same type of cleaner, use one at a time and keep only what fits comfortably.

Avoid storing items that do not belong in the kitchen routine. The under-sink cabinet is usually too small to hold every cleaning product for the whole home.

Avoid buying organizers before measuring. Pipes and cabinet doors can change what actually fits.

Avoid overfilling the cabinet. If every inch is packed, it will be hard to clean, reset, or notice when something spills.

Avoid making the setup too complicated. The best under-sink storage is usually simple, visible, and easy to maintain.

Simple Under-Sink Organization Checklist

Use this checklist to reset the cabinet:

Empty the cabinet
Group similar supplies together
Remove items that do not belong in the kitchen routine
Measure around pipes before adding organizers
Use a pull-out organizer for daily items
Use small bins for backups
Give trash bags one clear spot
Keep cleaning cloths in a simple container
Create a small cleaning caddy if supplies move between rooms
Reset the cabinet once a month

You do not need to organize everything at once. Start with the items you reach for most often, then adjust as your routine changes.

Related Collection Suggestions

For this under-sink cleaning supply setup, the most helpful Liventa collection areas are:

Under Sink Organizers: https://liventahome.com/collections/under-sink-organizers
Cabinet Storage: https://liventahome.com/collections/cabinet-storage

These collections can help you find practical storage ideas for spray bottles, dish soap, trash bags, sponges, cleaning cloths, and small kitchen cabinet routines.

Final Thought

Organizing cleaning supplies under the sink does not have to be a big project. Most cabinets become easier to use when the daily items are visible, backup supplies have a clear place, and the awkward space around the pipes is used realistically.

Start with one small change. Add a bin for backups, create a quick-grab caddy, or move daily sprays into a pull-out organizer. A simple under-sink setup can help make kitchen cleanup feel a little easier to manage.

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