Items not recommended to store under the sink Store liquid and powder cleaners on higher shelves to help avoid accidents with pets or young children. (Even natural cleaners can be harmful if ingested.)
The less time it takes you to find your cleaning products, the more likely you'll be to use them. As much as possible, store your bathroom cleaning supplies in your bathroom, your kitchen cleaning supplies under the sink etc.
Store products in a cool dry place. Store household cleaning products in the contain- ers in which they were purchased. Don't remove products from their original containers or store them in unlabeled containers that lack the caution statements that appear on the original product labels.
Things we keep under the kitchen sink include: the fire extinguisher, dish soap, dishwashing detergent, rags, sponges, cleaning supplies for the kitchen, paper towels, and the compost bin.
Store in a clean, cool, dry space. Some cleaning chemicals can have hazardous reactions when they experience extreme temperature fluctuations or high levels of humidity. Store in well-ventilated areas, away from HVAC intake vents.
General Storage Requirements
Hazardous chemicals must be stored below eye level. Do not store chemicals on the floor, window ledges, or balconies. Keep containers closed unless you are dispensing a chemical or adding to the container. Use rated storage cabinets or safety cans whenever possible—required for >10 gal.
CDC guidelines do not support the storage of medical or surgical supplies under a sink. Other examples include reagent and chemicals that could have an adverse reaction if exposed to water/sewer/moisture, cleaned patient care equipment, etc.
Typically, essential cleaning supplies, garbage bags, and dish towels are stored here, and it can become cramped and disorganized quickly,” she explains. She advises moving your extra hand soaps, bulk trash bags, and cleaner refills to a location with more storage space.
Onions and potatoes should be kept somewhere dry, dark, and cool. The area under the kitchen sink is too damp for these items. Onions and potatoes are also often kept in bags or containers that allow air circulation, making them vulnerable to leakage that may occur under the sink, says Margarethe A. Cooper, Ph.
Make sure products are kept in a safe location away from heat, light, water and electricity sources. They should be kept in a designated cupboard where possible, or in a storage area with adequate ventilation. If space is not adequately ventilated there is a risk of a build-up of dangerous vapours, or fumes.
Wiping cloths should be stored in fresh sanitizer when they are not in use. Change the cloths and the solution frequently; food debris uses up the sanitizer quickly.
Items not recommended to store under the sink
Harsh chemicals, bug spray, paper towels, waxes, carpet shampoo, drain cleaners, polishes and paints. Even some cleaning products, including dishwasher pods and colorful spray bottles, can be dangerous and entice curiosities for paws or tiny fingers.
Across the board, cleaning supplies should be stored in a cool, dry area with good ventilation. You'll want to keep bottles away from anything hot or potentially flammable. They should never be kept where pets or kids can grab them.
Tip 1: Cleaning materials should always be stored out of the reach of children and pets. Tip 2: Install child-proof latches on under-sink cabinets in the kitchen and bathroom. Even if cleaning materials are no longer stored there, chemical smells may linger and could be dangerous to a child if they play under sinks.
Sink grids raise your dishes off the bottom of the sink allowing for better water flow to the drain. With a sink grid, you won't have to worry about the dirty dishes clogging the drain and creating standing water.
Trap: A P-trap is a two-part pipe under your sink that allows waste and water to pass through. The bend in the pipe prevents sewer gasses from entering. Today, most models are two pieces joined together. Older P-trap systems may be glued in place and should be replaced with an updated two-piece system.
If under your sink remains dry, you can store everyday products there—or in another easy-access spot, says Lubega. (Just make sure that the space is secure if there are children in the house.) Her main tip? Products should stay together.
Most commercial cleaners are designed to be kept in climate-controlled environments with proper ventilation—a combination you won't find under the kitchen sink. If not sealed properly, bottles of bleach and other harsh chemicals (especially undiluted) can leak and cause fumes in this small space.
Hazardous or Flammable Chemicals
Whether it is batteries, household bleach or other dangerous chemicals, or anything flammable, these are items that can spontaneously combust in the wrong conditions, so keep them in a garage, basement or laundry room in cool, dry conditions, where they can only be accessed by adults.
The best location for storing chemical detergents and sanitizers is in a cool, dry place, away from direct light and heat sources. This is largely due to the fact that extreme temperatures and light can degrade the chemical composition of detergents and sanitizers, lessening their effectiveness.
Multi-surface cleaning sprays: Most cleaning sprays will last for 2 years. Dish detergent: About 1 year to 18 months. Laundry detergent: Lasts for 6 months to 1 year after opening. Disinfecting sprays: About 2 years after the manufacture date.
Solid cleaning products, such as bar soaps, toilet bowl cleaners and soap scouring pads, can be safely disposed of in the trash. So can aerosol cans with product left in them. Remember, just as you shouldn't mix cleaning products together when using them, you shouldn't mix unused products during disposal.