Under-bathroom-sink organizing ideas

Four ideas for the cabinet under a bathroom sink, from a rolling caddy to a pull-out tier, each matched to a problem and the dimensions that fit.

By Molly from Place for It All

The cabinet under a bathroom sink is where good intentions go to hide. Spare toilet cleaner leans against the pipes, a hair dryer sits on top of a pile of toothpaste tubes, and the one thing you need is always at the back, behind everything else. The space itself is awkward: a drain pipe in the middle, a low ceiling, a deep floor you can only see by kneeling. The ideas below each solve one named problem in that cabinet, and each comes with the dimensions that decide whether it fits. Measure your own cabinet first, then pick the one or two that match what is actually going wrong.

Before you buy: three measurements

Take these with a tape measure, with the cabinet emptied:

• Inside depth, from the door opening to the back wall.
• Clear height, from the cabinet floor to the underside of the sink basin, measured at the shortest point.
• Width of the open floor on each side of the pipes.

Write the numbers down. Every product below lists its own footprint, and the comparison takes a minute.

Idea 1: Cleaning supplies keep tipping over, so use a rolling caddy

The problem: spray bottles and cleaners fall against each other, and getting to the ones at the back means pulling everything out. The idea: keep them in one container that rolls out like a drawer. The RollOut® Under Sink Caddy, 8” from YouCopia has two adjustable dividers that hold bottles upright and a hanging basket for small items such as sponges and brushes. Large wheels roll softly and protect the cabinet floor, and sturdy handles let you lift it out and carry it. It holds up to 30 pounds, and there are no tools to set it up: you insert the dividers and load it.

The maker lists the caddy for cleaning supplies in the kitchen and for hair, skin and personal care products in the bathroom, so it can serve either job.

The fit: it measures 7.7 inches (19.6 cm) wide, 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) high and 16.4 inches (41.7 cm) deep, and 21.3 inches (54.1 cm) deep with the basket. A cabinet needs about 16.4 inches (41.7 cm) of free depth for the caddy alone, and the full 21.3 inches (54.1 cm) of room if you want to pull it all the way out with the basket attached. At 7.7 inches (19.6 cm) wide, it fits in the gap beside a drain pipe if that gap is at least that wide. The basket hangs from the caddy, so check the clear height too: the caddy is 5.3 inches (13.5 cm) tall before you add bottles, which only matters if your sink basin comes down low.

Idea 2: Half the cabinet is empty air, so add a second level

The problem: items sit on the floor of the cabinet with a tall gap above them going unused. The idea: a small shelf unit with two shelves. The UpSpace® Cabinet Organizer, Small from YouCopia has two shelves that adjust in 1-inch (2.5 cm) increments, so you can set each level to the height of what it holds. Steel wires and sturdy shelves hold up to 20 pounds, and soft, non-slip feet keep it in place. Assembly takes about a minute and needs no tools. It is made from BPA-free recycled plastic and steel wires in speckled white.

The maker says it also works well in the bathroom for extra toothpaste, toiletries and soaps.

The fit: it measures 10.9 inches (27.7 cm) deep, 8.9 inches (22.6 cm) wide and 9.7 inches (24.6 cm) high. That means a cabinet with at least 10 inches (25.4 cm) of clear height can take it standing, and one with about 11 inches (28 cm) of free depth leaves a little room to reach in. Because it is under 9 inches (22.9 cm) wide, you could place one on each side of a center pipe if each side is wide enough.

Idea 3: Bottles hide at the back, so spin the cabinet toward you

The problem: in a deep cabinet, whatever you pushed to the back last month is out of reach. The idea: put the items you reach for on a turntable. The HEXA Turntable Large from Spectrum is a plastic turntable that spins smoothly, so any item in a deep cabinet comes to the front without reaching or unstacking. The smooth-spin base is described as sturdy enough to hold full jars, cans and bottles without wobbling, and it wipes clean, and you can spin it again.

The page describes deep cabinets and pantry shelves, not bathrooms, so treat this as a spec-based fit: the same spin that brings a jar forward would bring a bottle of shampoo, a tub of cotton pads or a bottle of cleaner forward under a sink.

The fit: it measures 11 by 11 inches (27.9 by 27.9 cm) and is 1.68 inches (4.3 cm) tall, so it needs a floor space of at least 11 inches (27.9 cm) square, clear of the drain pipe. At 1.68 inches (4.3 cm) tall, it takes up very little of the cabinet’s height.

Idea 4: The pipes are in the way, so work around them with a pull-out

The problem: the drain pipe sits right in the middle and splits the cabinet into awkward halves. The idea: a two-tier organizer with an L-shaped profile that works around plumbing. The 2-Tier Pull Out Under Sink Organizer with Sliding Tracks from Sorbus has a narrow top tier and a wide bottom tier, so it makes room for plumbing and tall bottles. The bottom shelf extends along tracks, so you can reach what is stored at the back. It is made from rust-resistant steel and holds up to 50 pounds. It installs with industrial-strength adhesive tape, with optional suction cups, so there is no drilling.

The maker lists it for under-sink organization in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms, storing cleaning supplies, toiletries and more.

The fit: the bottom tier measures about 14.25 inches (36.2 cm) long, 11.25 inches (28.6 cm) wide and 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) high. The top tier is about 13.75 inches (34.9 cm) long, 6.25 inches (15.9 cm) wide and 2 inches (5.1 cm) high. Total height is 14.25 inches (36.2 cm), so the cabinet needs at least that much clear height at the spot where it sits. The bottom shelf extends up to 23 inches (58.4 cm) along its tracks, so you need an opening deep enough to pull it out, or at least enough to reach what is behind the door. Because it attaches with adhesive, wipe and dry the cabinet floor first.

Choosing by what is going wrong

These also combine. A rolling caddy on one side of the pipe and a turntable on the other is one pairing to try, and a shelf unit adds a layer where the clear height allows.

Putting it together

Empty the cabinet, wipe the floor and sort what you have into groups: cleaning supplies, daily toiletries, spares and backups. Put the daily items where you can see them without kneeling, the cleaning supplies together in a container that can come out as one piece, and the spares at the back. Keep anything that can leak on a wipeable surface, and check the current price at the retailer before you buy.