Get ready, former procrastinators. We are going under! Draw a deep breath, hold your nose, take the plunge. We’re going to hit some of those places we’d rather not go – under the kitchen sink, oven, bathroom sink, and bed. This is a quick “go there” that rarely causes fear (unless you don’t like mice or spiders). Still, it’s easy to put off maintaining these areas. They become the “yucky under.”
Let’s make these waters less murky. With each, we need to eliminate any expired items or those we simply never reach for. Then a wipe down. When we see what we actually have to work with for space and items, we can find ideas online or elsewhere to maximize them.
Kitchen sink. Safety first, so for little ones, employ a child safety device to keep curious kids away from danger. Maximize space under a sink by using bins or shelves. On one side, I use a low cut cardboard box to hold tall items. Write product names on the tops of containers so they’re easy to spot. To utilize vertical space, try installing a sturdy tension rod from which you can hang spray bottles. Use the inner walls for hooks, even paper towels. Attach magazine holders inside doors.
Under the oven. Here we have a warming oven I’ve used once. Instead, it holds pie pans, cookie sheets, cooling racks, muffin tins, aluminum foil, wax paper, and an assortment of crumbs. Eliminate the seldom used items and then figure out the most efficient way to stack what remains. Consider storing foil, etc. without boxes. Maybe cut down a large plastic bag to hold each roll. Label.
Under the bathroom sink. Again, safety first. Bins and shelves make things easy to find and reach. Try cutting a pocket shoe organizer to fit inside the door. (Ever had a guest who started to reach under the sink? “Oh, don’t go there. I’ll get it.” Is that why they call these “vanities?”) With a pedestal sink and no wee ones, I store cleaning supplies in a basket covered with fabric that matches the valance.
Under the bed. It’s a dream to have beds with nothing under them but floor. In a house built before storage was a consideration, I certainly use this space. Long low boxes (some roll) hold purses, silk flowers, etc. Keep boxes close to the edge so you can reach them without standing on your head. If you (intentionally) keep shoes under the bed, corral them in very low cut cardboard boxes. To avoid smelly or moldy shoes, avoid closing them in plastic where they cannot breathe. Dust cover with a towel or part of an old sheet
No more “yucky under.” You can stand at the edge of these places without “fear” or embarrassment. You might even be tempted to ask a guest to go in and grab something for you. Imagine that!
Which one of these will you jump into this week? Please share ideas!
Leave a Reply