Let me tell you about the cabinet I avoided opening for six months.
Every time I needed something from under my bathroom sink, I'd crouch down, peer into the dark depths, and play a risky game of "which bottle will topple when I grab this one?" Spare toilet paper rolls would roll forward. Cleaning spray bottles would hide behind each other. And don't even get me started on trying to find the wood cleaner I knew was back there somewhere.
Here's the thing about bathroom under-sink cabinets: they're deep, dark, and awkward. The plumbing pipe takes up prime real estate. The cabinet doors limit your reach. And because you can't see what's back there, you end up buying duplicates of things you already own.
Real talk: I found three bottles of furniture polish under there. Three.
Caption: My organized bathroom under-sink cabinet with clear bins and a lazy susan working around the plumbing pipe
What I Bought (Total: $18.48)
I spent weeks looking at expensive under-sink organizers with complicated drawer systems. Then I realized I was overthinking this. Here's what actually worked:
The Products:
1. Amazon Basics 5-Quart Clear Storage Bins with Lids (2 bins from 10-pack) - Approximately $10.00
Caption: Two Amazon Basics bins on my bathroom counter, ready to corral cleaning supplies and toiletries
These small bins are perfect for under-sink storage. They're clear (so you can see what's inside), stackable (for vertical storage), and the lids keep dust and moisture out. Each bin measures about 9 inches long, which fits perfectly in a standard 24-inch bathroom vanity cabinet.
I only needed 2 bins for my bathroom cabinet, but the 10-pack gives me extras for other organizing projects around the house. Emma immediately claimed one for her craft supplies.
2. 10-Inch Lazy Susan Turntable (1 from 4-pack) - Approximately $8.48
Caption: The lazy susan turntable ready to go under the sink, with non-slip surface visible
This was my secret weapon. A simple rotating turntable transforms that awkward space around the plumbing pipe into usable storage. No more reaching blindly into the dark corners—just spin it and grab what you need.
The 10-inch size is perfect for a bathroom vanity cabinet. It fits around the plumbing pipe and still leaves room for the storage bins on either side.
Total investment: $18.48
Yes, I bought these items in multi-packs, but I'm using the extras in other cabinets and my pantry. If you calculated just the cost of what I used in this specific cabinet, it's even less.
How I Set It All Up (Took About 20 Minutes)
Step 1: Empty Everything Out
I pulled everything out from under the sink and grouped items into categories on my bathroom floor:
- Cleaning supplies (sprays, wood polish, bathroom cleaner)
- Extra toiletries (backup shampoo, soap refills)
- First aid supplies (Band-Aids, ointments)
- Random stuff that didn't belong there (old hair dryer, Emma's bath toys)
This is when I discovered those three furniture polish bottles. Also found: two dried-out sponges, an empty spray bottle I'd been looking for, and a bottle of kids' bubble bath from 2022.
Step 2: Clean and Assess
I wiped down the inside of the cabinet with a damp microfiber cloth. Under-sink cabinets can get dusty and sometimes damp from plumbing condensation, so it's worth starting with a clean slate.
Then I measured the space around my plumbing pipe. My cabinet is a standard 24-inch bathroom vanity with the plumbing pipe on the left side. This meant I had good space on the right side and in front of the pipe.
Step 3: Place the Lazy Susan
I positioned the lazy susan right in front of the plumbing pipe. This spot is usually wasted space because you can't easily reach behind the pipe. The turntable changed everything.
On the lazy susan, I placed:
- Cleaning spray bottles (bathroom cleaner, wood polish, glass cleaner)
- My furniture polish (just one bottle now—I donated the duplicates)
- Air freshener spray
Now when I need something from the back, I just give it a spin. No more gymnastics required.
Step 4: Add the Storage Bins
I placed one Amazon Basics bin on the right side of the cabinet for extra toiletries (backup shampoo, body wash refills, travel-size items). The clear container makes it easy to see when we're running low.
The second bin went on the left side near the pipe for first aid supplies and medicine. Having a designated bin for these items means we can quickly grab what we need without digging through everything else.
Step 5: Add the Loose Items
I stacked toilet paper rolls in the back right corner—they stay put now instead of rolling forward every time I open the cabinet. Cleaning rags and sponges went in front for easy access.
What Actually Changed (Two Weeks Later)
I've been using this system for two weeks now, and here's what I learned:
The Good:
- I can actually see everything. The combination of clear bins and the lazy susan means nothing hides in the back corners.
- The kids can help. Emma can now grab what she needs without asking me to dig through the cabinet. She even puts things back in the right spots.
- No more duplicate purchases. I can see at a glance what we have and what we're running low on.
- The lazy susan was genius. Seriously, why didn't I do this sooner? That rotating turntable makes the most awkward part of the cabinet the most accessible.
The Honest Truth:
- The lids add height. The storage bins with lids are taller than I expected. If your under-sink cabinet is shallow, you might want to skip the lids or buy shorter bins.
- Not everything fits perfectly. My tall cleaning spray bottles don't fit in the bins, so they stay on the lazy susan. That's fine—it actually works better this way.
- It's not color-coordinated perfection. This isn't one of those Instagram-perfect under-sink setups with matching labels and coordinated bottles. It's real life. My cleaning supplies are in their original bottles, and that's perfectly okay.
What I'd Do Differently
Here's the thing: I almost bought a fancy $30 under-sink organizer with pull-out drawers. I'm so glad I didn't.
The simple approach worked better for my actual life. I learned this when a pipe under the sink developed a small leak a week after I organized. (Murphy's Law, right?) I had to pull everything out so Mike could fix it.
With the simple bins and lazy susan, it took me literally three minutes to remove everything. I just lifted out the two bins and the turntable, and Mike had full access to the plumbing. When he finished, I put everything back in about two minutes.
If I'd installed one of those complicated drawer systems? It would have been a nightmare to remove and reinstall.
Tips If You Try This
Measure your cabinet first. Not all under-sink cabinets are the same size. My 24-inch vanity had plenty of room for this setup, but if you have a smaller cabinet, you might want to use an 8-inch lazy susan instead of 10-inch.
Consider what you actually store. I use this cabinet for cleaning supplies and toiletries. If you're storing hair tools or bulky items, you might need different organizers.
Don't over-organize. I left some open space in the cabinet. This gives me room for oddly shaped items and means the cabinet doesn't look stuffed.
Start with what you have. Before I bought anything, I tried organizing with a shoebox and an old lazy susan from my pantry. This helped me figure out what sizes I actually needed.
The Real Result
Total cost: $18.48 Time to organize: 20 minutes Time I've saved not digging through a chaotic cabinet: Priceless.
Okay, that sounds cheesy, but it's true. I don't avoid opening this cabinet anymore. When Lucas asks for a Band-Aid, I can grab one in about five seconds instead of rummaging through everything.
The best part? This setup works with my real life. Nothing's color-coordinated. The bottles aren't all matching. But everything has a spot, I can see what I have, and I can reach it all easily.
That's what good organization should be: functional for your actual life, not just pretty for photos.
Your Turn
Start small. You don't need to organize every cabinet in your bathroom at once. Pick the one that frustrates you most—probably the one under the sink—and tackle that first.
Get two clear bins and a simple lazy susan. Spend 20 minutes. That's it.
Your future self (the one who needs the first aid kit at 10 PM when the kids have a scraped knee) will thank you.
Let's make your home a haven for less! Got questions about under-sink organization? Drop them in the comments—I'd love to hear what challenges you're facing with your bathroom storage.