Today we are going to be organizing “under the kitchen sink”. This area used to be a hot spot for my family. But, since I have organized and utilized the space more efficiently, it now stays clean.
My challenge for you… Organize under your kitchen sink.
1. Take a picture of the mess! 🙂
2. Take everything out of the cabinet… EVERYTHING! (Are you starting to learn the habit? Thats great!)
3. Wash it down really well & lay some contact paper (if you have some). Its very inexpensive to purchase… under $6.00 at target and well worth every penny.
4. Purge, purge, purge!!! I’m positive that a lot of you have some near empty bottles in there. Throw them out. They are just taking up space.
5. Get your organizing bins and place some of them in this space. They work great here.
6. Now categorize like I did. Like items with like items. Cleaning tools, soaps, rags, etc.
7. That wasn’t hard,was it? You are finished! Now take a picture and hurry back to show us all how hard you worked today. Great job!
My challenge pictures
I wish I would have taken a before picture… but I was on a role and totally forgot to. (I organized this space last month). The main purpose for me to clean & organize this space was to purge all of the un-necessary cleaners, candles, junk, empty bottles, and lots of other surprises that I found. It was a screaming MESS! When we would open the doors, things came falling out (kind of like my linen closet).
After switching to the Get Clean brand, I no longer need or want the old (toxic) cleaners I used to use. That gave room for SPACE! No more bleach, ammonia, or chemical filled bottles under here anymore!
I LOVE the wire door organizers from Walmart. They were only $6.oo for a set of three different sizes. Now its much easier to grab a cleaner, where as before I had to dig to find one. Its a simple fix for a never-ending problem.
This is on my list of things to buy. Isnt it great? You hang it on the cabinet door! (Also found at Walmart).
I put an organizer on the other door too!
On the right side in the cabinet, I keep a metal organizer for my candles and two plastic bins. The first bin holds scrubbing brushes & microfiber cloths. The second bin holds hand soap pumps.
The left side under my sink is where my dish rack lives.
This is my favorite part… I got this cute green contact paper at Target. It was $6.00 and made a world of difference. (A blogger told me yesterday that she found the exact contact paper at the Dollar Tree!) It totally transformed the space. Love it! I also placed the contact paper in all of my kitchen drawers. I still need to buy more for my bathrooms (on my list of things to do).
Im excited to see all of your before and after pictures here! I think this will be a huge transformation for a lot of you (like it was for me).
21 day challenge, Kitchen Posted in 35 comments
35 comments on “Day #5 ~ Getting Organized Challenge (Under the Kitchen Sink)”
YES! This is what I’ve been waiting for! I can’t wait to tackle this project in the morning! I took my “before” picture yesterday, because I figured I would do like you did, just get on a roll and forget to! It’s a mess!
Aside from looking cute, does the contact paper serve any purpose? Just curious. My cabinets are only about 4 years old and have no spill-stains or yucky spots to cover up. I actually keep most of my cleaners in a cabinet that is 100% out of reach from children (just in case) so I actually store my recycling under the sink and my dirty dish cloth hamper is also there. Just wondering about the contact paper if it serves a purpose besides looking cute and covering up stains.
Thank you so much for putting this challenge out there! I have been wanting to become more organized at home. I’ve always wondered why I can be so organized in my classroom but I couldn’t at home. This challenge has made me WANT to do it!! My husband literally gave me 2 thumbs up when I asked him how everything was turning out..hehe.
You ROCK!!
C.C. The contact paper serves to protect your cabinet. Mine is also fairly new, so I dont want to damage it. Also, it looks more attractive if you pick a modern one. 🙂 Of course Its not necessary to use. Thanks for asking.
My husband and I thank you for this challenge! While we have been cleanning and organizing since Christmas, its nive to have the extra motivation and to see all the great ideas! Im so glad that I found your blog!!!
I love the wire door organizers too. I will be going out to get some of those – I actually have been wanting them for a while, & now you have completely inspired me to do so.
Thanks,
DaNita
C.C. I forgot to add… I dont have to worry about putting my cleaners up out of reach from children because they are safe!!! Shaklee is completely non-toxic and my kids even use them to help me clean! 🙂
Thanks for the inspiration to keep going. A sick toddler has sidetracked me!
I’m sick, but still trucking along. Thanks for the challenge, inspiration and encouragement.
Love the contact paper. My undersink is dark wood so this would lighten it up so much.
HAPPY DAY to you missy! I really need to paint the inside of my cabinets. I would help get rid of the whole look of “BLACK HOLE”! I covet your under the sink yumminess! As for my title font… the directions are found on KevinandAmanda.com under tutorials. You’ll love her blog of many wonders! Hope this helps:) SmOochES!
Jennie {Cinnaberry Suite}
Thanks for the extra bit of encouragement! Im having a lot of fun doing this and as long as I take it one day at a time I think it will last! I envy your Kitchen, it seams so bright and happy!
Megan
Thank you Jennie. Now figuring out the code… thats another story! My IT hubbie will do that for me, thankfully.
Toni, this whole challenge has made me get an itch to go buy bins and containers galore! Off to the Dollar Store today! 🙂 Your cabinet looks so bright and pretty! (Never thought you’d hear your kitchen sink cabinet called pretty did you?! )
Yay! Im excited for. Shopping for containers is one of my FAVORITE things to do!
why am I enjoying this sooo much!!! I am loving looking at other people messy under sink cabinets and even more so the after shots!!! Great job to everyone!
What section of Walmart did you find those door hangers? I looked for them and could not find them!
I got my Shaklee order yesterday – YAY ME! I can’t wait to get everything organized…still running a few days behind…
Also, I picked up some really cute contact paper to line the drawers at the Dollar Tree for…a buck! Granted, there isn’t a lot of it (one roll covered two of my big kitchen drawers…but for a buck, it’ll do).
Thanks!
~alicia
YAY! I want to see your “under kitchen sink” after you get everything done. Dont you love the products? The bottles are stylish too. I LOVE them! Wait till you try the dish soap. Divine!
I’m late to the party, but I’m loving it! I’m hoping to get caught up during naptime today and tomorrow. Seriously, SO excited to get organized. 🙂
Thank you for getting my booty in gear! My house is really coming together!!! I love getting up everymorning and not thinking “O look at the mess I have to come home to!” I know think! Sweet this, and this, and this, and that, are clean and organized what do I get to do next?!?! So thank you!!! And in my quest to find even more inspiration I found 2 sites that I thought you might like as well…
http://www.organizedatoz.com/
and
budgetwisehome.com
Thanks again to Toni and everyone else for the inspiration!!!
I stumbled on your blog through my random blog surfing today. I can’t wait to read more of your posts! I was so excited to see you use Shaklee! My mom has been a Shaklee rep for YEARS!
And I want to add… the stuff works like nothing else!
Thanks ladies.. and I will def. check out those blogs! Yes. Shaklee is the best out there! I just wish everyone else knew that. 😉
This is such a great idea, over the weekend I will need to play catch up, but am actually looking forward to it! We have to many cupboards which we dont use as a mountain of ‘stuff’ will fall out!
Fab blog with great ideas, I shall be putting your button on my blog!
Your contact paper is super pretty. I wasn’t looking forward to under the sink but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
I got your button added to my blog at last!
Love that fun paper you put under your sink. I’m really enjoying this challenge-thing.
CAS
I need to finish day 4 and do day 5, we haven’t dropped out, we just had an unexpected hospital stay with our 11 month old…we are back home after a harrowing night in the ER and some more tests today…
*\O/* cheering myself on to be super motivated tomorrow and get 3 days done in one!!!
Jess
When I get the chance, I’m going to buy some contact paper! While cleaning and organizing, I noticed how ancient my house actually looks. I hope to update the look to be more modern 🙂
Thank you for hosting this for us! I am really enjoying myself.
Thanks so much Toni! This one was very do-able, yet crucial. 🙂 It’s going to be a wonderful feeling having all of those safe products under my sink. My girls have known to stay away from cleaners for a LONG time, but I love that I’m working toward a cleaner, greener home! Hugs back atcha. 🙂
Wow…you’ve got a lot of links…great 😉 I added my featured link this time. Hope it helps, fondly, Roberta
Anita, Mine were in the “kitchen section. By the drawer organizers.
I’ve really enjoyed looking through all the links on this challenge! I organized my under sink cabinet a few weeks ago with inspiration from yours and it’s much better now. There is always room for improvement though and there were a lot of great ideas and inspiration in this challenge!
I LOVE that contact paper! I have to check out Target for some because it would really lighted up some spaces and make them cuter 🙂
I’m thinking about getting some of those wire racks you used…now wondering how I’ll convince my husband that installing them is a good idea!
Working hard on completing this challenge! I posted today about Days 5 and 7. I just love how much more peaceful our home seems the more organized it gets. Thank you!
http://neverendingbutterflies.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/21-day-organization-challenge-days-5-and-7/