Under sink

The cabinet with a pipe through the middle

Why under-sink storage defeats normal shelving, and what works instead.

By Tycho · Updated 2026-07-23 · 3 min read

Under sink · what the space actually looks like

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Under the sink is the worst cabinet in the house and it is not close. It is deep, it is dark, it is damp, and there is a drain trap sitting exactly where a shelf would go.

Which is why the usual advice fails. Any product that assumes a clear rectangular space assumes a cabinet you do not have.

Work around the pipe, not through it

The trick is to stop treating it as one space. It is two narrow spaces with an obstacle between them, and once you accept that, the answer is a pair of narrow organizers rather than one wide shelf.

The Delamu two-tier organizer is sold as a two-pack for this reason: one either side of the trap, using the vertical space that is genuinely free. The dividers inside move, which matters because the bottles you store under a sink are wildly different heights.

The Madesmart two-tier solves the other half of the problem, which is depth. Its baskets slide out, so the cleaner at the back comes to you instead of you reaching past the plumbing with a torch.

Then get the long handles off the floor

Brooms and mops are the other reason cleaning storage collapses. They do not stand up on their own, so they lean, and the moment you take one out the rest go over.

Vertical is the only real fix. A wall-mounted broom holder grips handles of different widths and adds hooks underneath for cloths and dustpans. If you rent and cannot drill, the inside of a utility cupboard door or the side of a fridge cabinet is usually fair game, and worth checking against your tenancy agreement before you commit.

One thing not to buy

Tension rods get recommended constantly for under-sink storage. They work for hanging spray bottles and nothing else. If you load one, it slips, usually into the bin you just organised. Use them for spray triggers only, and let the tiers do the actual work.

Under-sink options compared
ProductKey specBest for
Delamu 2-Tier2-pack, movable dividersStraddling the drain trap
Madesmart 2-TierSliding basketsReaching the back of a deep cabinet
Reliahom Holder4 racks, 5 hooksBrooms and mops off the floor

Common questions

How do you organize under a sink with pipes in the way?

Treat it as two narrow spaces rather than one wide one. Use a pair of two-tier organizers, one either side of the drain trap, instead of a single shelf that the plumbing will not clear.

Do tension rods work for under-sink storage?

Only for hanging spray bottles by the trigger. Loaded with weight they slip, usually into whatever you have just organised. Use tiers for the actual storage.

Where do you store brooms and mops in a small apartment?

Vertically, on a wall-mounted holder inside a utility cupboard or on the side of a cabinet. Long handles will not stand up on their own, so leaning them in a corner always collapses.

The picks

Delamu 2-Tier Under Sink Organizer

2 tiers · 2-pack · Sliding

A pair, so you can straddle the drain trap. Movable dividers.

See it on Amazon

Madesmart 2-Tier Organizer with Dividers

2 tiers · Sliding drawers · Dividers

Sliding baskets bring the back of the cabinet to you.

See it on Amazon

Reliahom Wall-Mounted Broom Holder

Wall mount · 4 racks · 5 hooks

Grips different handle widths, hooks underneath for cloths.

See it on Amazon
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