I Showed a Pro Organizer My Bathroom Under-Sink Cabinet, and Now the Chaos Is Gone

I renovated my primary bathroom about seven years ago, but I’ve been battling one problem ever since: the space under my sink. During the remodel, my contractor tossed the shelf that was supposed to be installed inside the vanity (he didn’t want to bother cutting around the plumbing),  which left me with an oddly shaped, shelf-less cave to figure out on my own.

At first, I made it work. A couple of plastic bins, a tiny kitchen shelf I repurposed, and a knock-off Caboodle created storage space and kept things somewhat tidy. But over time, the system collapsed. Half-used sunscreen bottles stacked on top of shampoo samples, fancy soaps from boutique shops buried behind drugstore staples, and mini hotel lotions mixed with full-size backups. It turned into a black hole, and I kept forgetting what I had, which meant buying doubles (and sometimes triples). Eventually, the chaos got so overwhelming that I knew I needed help. That’s when I called in Lauren Saltman, professional organizer  and owner of Living. Simplified. Here’s what we did!

When Saltman and I met virtually, I expected her to have seen every bathroom disaster imaginable, but even she seemed impressed by the chaos. “It’s better to start small than not do anything at all,” she says. We began by removing everything item by item. As we went through each product, she coached me on what to toss. I got rid of expired makeup, old medication, and half-full bottles of lotion I hadn’t touched in years. I made a small list of essentials to replace (like the antibiotic ointment that expired in 2018). Anything unopened that I knew I wouldn’t use went into a donation pile for my local Buy Nothing group.

Once everything was emptied out, Saltman asked me to sort the remaining items into broad categories like skincare, hair products, dental items, and first-aid supplies. This step alone was eye-opening. As soon as everything was grouped, I realized I owned three full packs of disposable razors and a brand-new conditioner that I’d forgotten I’d purchased and was about to replace. Seeing everything laid out made it obvious how much I’d lost track of in the clutter.

With my categories sorted, Saltman had me measure the space and shop intentionally for organizers. She recommended clear pull-out drawers from The Container Store (I opted for this two-drawer organizer and this under-sink starter kit). She also encouraged me to label everything once my system was set (even if that meant just a handwritten label on a strip of tape).

Saltman recommended using plastic under the sink because it’s easier to clean and won’t rust if the pipes leak. She also mentioned that adhesive bins and hooks inside the cabinet doors can create bonus storage for small things like hair ties or toothpaste. And because I have a family of six, she reminded me to show everyone where things now belong so the system doesn’t fall apart. If my daughter grabs hair ties or my husband reaches for toothpaste, they’ll know exactly where to return and find everything.

The initial clean-out took about an hour, and sorting everything and putting it away took about another hour (not including time to order and assemble my new organizers). The effort was absolutely worth it. I now have a system I can maintain, which was important to me.