Sure, the trash can under the kitchen sink is the end of the line
for your garbage. But what's with all the dried-out sponges and
almost-empty bottles hanging out under there? Are they in, or are
they out? Properly stocked and organized, this dumping ground can
become a staging area that can speed up the cleaning of every room
in the house.
Start by pulling everything out — trash bin and all — and making
three piles: one for items you use every week (like dish
detergent, cleansers, and garbage bags), the second for things you
use every now and then (ant repellent, drain cleaner, paper bags),
and the third for things you can't remember having used or that
are congealed, rusted, or crusted beyond recognition.
Items in the first pile, the things you use every week, are the
only ones that will go back in the cabinet. Move things you use
sporadically to an out-of-the-way shelf in the garage or pantry.
There's no sense cluttering this hardworking space with products
you need only once or twice a year. Throw out items in the third
pile. Wipe down the interior of the cabinet with all-purpose
cleanser and a damp rag. To make cleaning the cabinet easier in
the future, line the floor with heavy-duty ribbed rubber matting
(sold at hardware stores for $3 to $15 a yard), which holds up
well against spills and leaks. (The next time you clean, just pull
the matting up, scrub it with a nylon brush and mild detergent,
and hose it off outdoors.) Corral cleaning products and supplies
on one side of the cabinet in a plastic caddy or bin to keep them
from toppling over or drifting into the dark recesses; put the
trash can on the other side. Items such as plastic wrap, wax
paper, and foil are best kept in a plastic door-mounted organizer.
And shed some light on your tidy, new niche by sticking a
battery-powered fixture to the side of the cabinet (try the
12-inch fluorescent Utility Light by AmerTac, about $10 at Home
Depot stores,
www.homedepot.com).
Naming Your Poison Safety comes first, especially under the sink. Although most cleaning agents have a poison-control-hotline
number on the label, you should always keep additional
poison-control information on hand. The American Association of
Poison Control Centers (800-222-1222,
www.aapcc.org) can link you
to the center in your area, which can provide phone stickers and
pamphlets free or for a nominal fee. You should also keep syrup of
ipecac, which induces vomiting, in your medicine cabinet, though
you should never administer it unless a poison-control center or
doctor tells you to. Animal poison-control information is
available from the ASPCA, at 888-426-4435.
