I thought I already knew everything about storing cleaning products. For years, I just stored all of my cleaning products under the kitchen sink. I liked doing this because it’s what my parents had done when I was growing up. Occasionally I’d throw an extra spray bottle into a plastic bin in the laundry room. Yes, I did have a few random bins, and I assumed “that was good enough.” One afternoon after pulling out a bottle of cleaner to clean something, I saw that the bottom shelf was wet. Apparently something had spilled underneath the shelf. Worse yet, the paper towels sitting next to the spill were soggy. I hadn’t noticed anything wrong for days.
After that little incident, I began thinking differently about almost everything. Convenience does not always equate to being either safe or functional. Moisture from pipes collects in under-sink cabinets. Spills can be hidden in bins. Clutter can make it difficult to find what you have. Based on my personal experiences, the best storage system for cleaning products will provide clear visibility of the products themselves. It will also ensure the products remain dry, and make it easy to retrieve them without creating a disaster zone in six months’ time.
WHY UNDER-THE-SINK STORAGE ISN’T AS SAFE AS PEOPLE THINK IT IS
For many years, people automatically chose the space underneath their kitchen sink as the default location for cleaning products due to its seeming convenience. I did the same thing for years. However, as mentioned earlier, under-sink cabinets are typically moist, dark, and not very well ventilated. Even the smallest amount of moisture build-up caused by a pipe leak can damage label information. It can also ruin paper products surrounding the area and produce sticky residue on bottles. I personally experienced slow leaks from certain spray bottles before I recognized them.
Under-sink cabinets can also pose a safety risk. If these cabinets aren’t secured via locks or other methods, children and pets may easily gain access to cleaning products.
Finally, there is another concern related to under-sink storage: visibility. When products are placed in under-sink cabinets, they tend to become buried amongst other clutter. I once located two nearly empty disinfectant sprays in my under-sink cabinet that were literally hidden behind old sponges. This is hardly productive!
If you’ve been asking yourself, “where should I keep my cleaning products?” the typical response will rarely be under the kitchen sink.
STORAGE BINS CAN ACTUALLY WORSEN THE PROBLEM
I went through a period of purchasing identical-looking storage bins online based on their attractive appearance. I believed they would miraculously eliminate my clutter problem. What ended up happening is those bins essentially became chemical-filled junk drawers. Leaks are concealed in bins. Additionally, bins allow cleaning products to accumulate, and clutter becomes exponentially worse when they’re stacked haphazardly. More specifically, half-empty bottles are mixed with bleach sprays, glass cleaners, and random refills. Trust me when I say you shouldn’t be mixing incompatible cleaners without recognizing it.
Furthermore, since bins are generally quite deep, you’ll struggle to locate whatever product you need.
As a result of using deep bins to store cleaning products, I continuously purchased duplicate products. This happened because I couldn’t remember what I had previously purchased.
While aesthetically pleasing organizational systems can appear beautiful, they’re not necessarily effective in actual everyday living situations.
THE ONLY WAY TO STORE CLEANING PRODUCTS CORRECTLY
Ultimately, after testing various ways of setting up my cleaning products storage, I came upon the method that has worked for me. There is a single correct way to organize your cleaning products. The ideal method involves storing cleaning products vertically on shelves which have open ventilation in order to minimize the potential for moisture accumulation. Furthermore, place the vertical shelves within a high cabinet or lockable storage unit.
By implementing the above method, several concerns are addressed simultaneously.
To begin with, adequate air circulation minimizes the possibility of trapped moisture.
Secondly, when products are displayed openly, as opposed to being contained within cluttered bins, spills and leaks are far easier to detect promptly.
Thirdly, you can view your cleaning products clearly rather than having to dig through cluttered bins each weekend.
From my experience, utility closets and laundry room cabinets are both excellent places to house vertical shelving units designed for storing cleaning supplies. If space is at a premium, wall-mounted shelving units are also viable options. The essential factor is to locate your cleaning supplies such that they remain away from sources of heat, light, food storage, and moisture.
Several additional general safety guidelines
Always store cleaning products in their original containers. The labeling on those containers provides valuable information.
Do NOT mix cleaning products with liquids intended for drinking, cooking, or other household uses.
Always store spray bottles upright to reduce the likelihood of leaks occurring.
When feasible, separate bleach, detergent, and disinfectant sprays.
Heavy-duty cleaning product bottles should be stored securely on low shelves so they won’t topple.
Once you implement this method of organizing your cleaning supplies, identifying duplicates becomes infinitely easier.
Honestly, once I transitioned to utilizing ventilated shelving units for my cleaning supplies, cleaning ceased to feel like such a chore.
MISTAKES I STOPPED MAKING AFTER CHANGING MY CLEANING SUPPLY STORAGE
It is amusing that changing my storage system helped me stop making mistakes that weren’t directly related to the initial problem.
Prior to switching to ventilated shelving units, I had continued purchasing duplicate cleaning supplies. This happened because I wasn’t able to determine what supplies I already possessed.
Additionally, prior to changing my storage system, I had kept paper towels adjacent to my cleaning chemicals. This habit still slightly embarrasses me.
I also stopped storing cleaning chemicals close to food storage locations in our cramped kitchen. While it seems obvious now, tight kitchen spaces cause people to place items anywhere they will fit.
One last mistake was completely disregarding expiration dates. Disinfectants lose potency over time, especially when they reside in warm, humid environments for extended periods.
Lastly, this may seem trivial, but I stopped placing large quantities of heavy cleaning supply bottles atop unstable surfaces. Years ago a giant box of laundry detergent nearly landed on my foot while I was attempting to carry it downstairs. I never forgot it.
All in all, smaller adjustments lead to larger improvements in a short span of time.
SIMPLE WAYS TO ORGANIZE CLEANING SUPPLIES WITHOUT USING EXPENSIVE SYSTEMS
You truly do not require costly organizers to manage your cleaning supplies effectively.
Labels alone assist significantly in organizing your cleaning supplies. Prior to adopting this method, I grouped similar-purpose supplies together. For example: bathroom cleaners together, kitchen supplies together, and laundry supplies separately.
Shelves with minimal depth are preferable over deeper storage bins for several reasons: you can clearly view all contents on shallow shelves, daily-use products should be positioned conveniently so you’re not continually moving bottles around, and shallow shelves enable you to identify what supplies you have quickly.
Additionally, I conduct a rapid weekly or monthly examination of all my supplies for signs of leakage, nearly depleted containers, and products no longer needed. This task takes approximately five minutes to complete.
