The Best Organizers for Finally Getting Your Kitchen Sink in Order

Best Over-the-Sink

Food52 Five Two Over-the-Sink Dish Rack

$45 at Food52

If you have a small kitchen, want to maximize counter space, and are maybe even looking for a multifunctional organizer, check out this over-the-sink dish drying rack. The rungs are made from stainless steel covered in silicone, so your favorite dinnerware won’t slip or scratch, and it can hold anything from delicate tea cups to heavy cast iron pans (up to 50 pounds, to be exact). The spaces between the rungs are flexible, so you can store pot lids or thick plates between them, and between those and the perforated edges, all water drains directly into the sink.

And talk about versatility: This rack doubles as a hot pad for steaming casseroles, hot pie plates, and sheet pan dinners, since the silicone is heat-safe up to 550 degrees. Because it’s slotted, it can even be used as a cooling rack for freshly baked cookies. We even used the rack to water plants and the storage caddy—designed for holding and drying flatware—to hose down produce before putting it in the fridge.

When it comes time for cleaning water marks or soap stains, you can either do it quickly by hand with warm, soapy water or toss it in the dishwasher. Then, you can leave it out on your sink (it is quite attractive and comes in multiple colors) or roll it up and store it.

Materials: Silicone, stainless steel | Weight: 2.3 pounds | Dimensions: 12.25 x 20.5 inches (when open)

Best Countertop

KitchenAid Full-Size Dish Rack

$53 at Amazon $70 at Walmart $60 at Wayfair

A good, old-fashioned dish-drying rack is a kitchen organization staple. That said, the typical wire-frame model could be improved a bit, especially if you have heavy pots and pans. We’ve all been there, right? Adding a little too much weight to one side—say, a big ol’ cast iron skillet—and watching the whole thing nearly tip over. Gone are those days; a solution has arrived. When loaded with pots, pans, lids, cutting boards, and dishes galore, the KitchenAid Dish Drying Rack stays completely stable and secure.

Made of durable stainless steel, it has reinforced sides, silicone-tipped cup and mug holders, a utensil caddy, and a removable drip tray. Because the wires are coated, it’s rust-proof, and the sleek design gives it a modern feel, so it will look right at home with any kitchen decor. The legs of the rack are also covered in silicone, so there won’t be any slipping—even on a wet countertop. Thanks to the drip tray that sits beneath the rack, everything dries faster, too.  

We find the middle utensil section works great for larger items, such as a whisk or wooden spoons. You can place plastic lids and cutting boards on the raised, rounded side, and large items fit neatly on the flat side.

Materials: Stainless steel, plastic | Weight: 6.78 pounds | Dimensions: 20 x 14.96 x 7 inches

Best Eco-Friendly

Full Circle Bubble Up & Stash Caddy

$35 at Williams-Sonoma

Many people are making the switch to greener and more eco-friendly kitchen products, and if that’s up your alley (why wouldn’t it be?), consider this minimalist sink caddy. The multi-purpose, compact tool uses recycled materials, featuring a brush made from bamboo and recycled plastic bristles. The caddy itself is made from durable ceramic and also contains recycled plastic. The removable sponge holder promises to make your kitchen sponges last longer so you don’t throw as many away. (You could also opt for reusable “paper” towels to clean your dishes, instead!)

This kit is compact, so it won’t take up much counter space at all. The brush sits in a ceramic bowl that doubles as a soap dispenser, and the vertical sponge holder encourages the sponge to dry faster and drain onto the tray below (you can alternatively use this to hold other tools, such as straw cleaner brushes and food scrapers). We love that the soap dispenser can use either liquid or powdered soap and that the brush is spring-loaded to create extra bubbles, resulting in using less soap overall to clean things. Speaking of cleaning, when your caddy gets cruddy, everything but the brush can be sent through the dishwasher.

Materials: Ceramic, bamboo, recycled plastic | Dimensions: 8 x 4.25 x 4.25 inches | Includes: Sponge caddy, drip tray, scrubbing brush

Best Fast-Drying

Dorai Dish Pad

$90 at Amazon $90 at Williams-Sonoma $90 at Doraihome.com

Standing water can invite bacteria, gross smells, and messes—that’s why drying things off quickly is paramount. This slick little solution features super-absorbent stoneware that wicks away moisture and dries things quickly. Silicone webbing surrounds the stone so dinnerware or glasses won’t scratch while resting on the pads. You can even use it to quick-dry produce.

The drying mat can fold down to a third of its size and save space, making it easy to store, as well. It has an understated and attractive modern design that comes in two colors: sandstone or slate. The drying mat works with dishes, washed fruits, or utensils.

Though pricey, the kitchen drying mat earns major points for being made of recycled paper and diatomaceous earth (fossilized algae). It dries quickly, looks great, saves on space, and is eco-friendly—what’s not to love?

Material: Recycled paper, fossilized algae, woven mesh silicone | Dimensions: 19.1 x 15.2 x 0.52 inches | Dishwasher-Safe: No

Best Compact

FavoThings Over the Sink Caddy

$25 at Amazon

If you live in an apartment or just have a small kitchen, you need every inch of space you can get. If you want to keep the real estate around your sink free for other items or totally vacant altogether, this large-capacity, rust-proof caddy hangs over the sink well and takes up just a fraction of space.

The stainless steel wire construction drips straight into the sink, so it won’t collect dirty water from sponges or scrubbers, and it even expands to fit over larger sinks (or shrinks down for smaller ones). The silicone feet keep the caddy in place and won’t scratch your sink or counter. It’s durable, too, so you don’t have to worry about it bending inward. 

One side of the caddy features a deeper container, ideal for soaps or larger scrub brushes. A wire wrung spans the length of it, as well, so you can hang kitchen towels from it. It’s relatively inexpensive and an editor favorite to boot.

Material: Stainless steel | Size: 14.5 to 22 inches wide fully expanded (smaller 12.25- to 17.25-inch version is also available)

Best Under-the-Sink

SpicyShelf Expandable Under Sink Organizer

View on Amazon

Cabinets beneath the kitchen sink are fantastic for storing dish soaps, detergent pods, rubber gloves, scrubbing brushes, garbage bags, and other kitchen gear. That said, it can be tricky getting everything properly arranged in there while also contending with the sink’s plumbing. That’s where Spicy Shelf comes in. Yep, the Spicy Shelf.

This one-size-fits-all shelf system has an adjustable width, so it fits both small and large spaces, and you can even change the height to accommodate tall items, like spray bottles. The shelf system is U-shaped, so it fits around your plumbing, too. Thanks to the non-slip grip on the shelf surface, you don’t have to worry about even soap-covered bottles slipping off. 

This shelf maximizes under-sink space since you can store items both above and below it. It’s a durable and heavy-duty option that can hold up to 40 pounds at a time.

Material: Plastic | Dimensions: 15.5 x 2.5 x 10 inches

Best Budget

Puiluo Cabinet Basket Organizer

$22 at Amazon

Storage solutions don’t have to break the bank. This two-tiered cabinet is designed to fit beneath your sink (it’s just under a foot tall) and hold all sorts of cleaning materials. There are several hooks on the top tier, where you can hang brushes, kitchen towels, or other gear, and the bottom container slides out like a drawer for better accessibility.

Made of sturdy ABS plastic, this is quick and easy to assemble: Just connect the four support tubes to the baskets. Available in white or black, the brand also sells cabinet organizers in sets of two—try one for your kitchen and the other for your bathroom.

Material: ABS plastic | Dimensions: 8.66 x 15.75 x 11.61

Best Set

The Container Store Stackable Under Sink Organization Storage Kit

$6 at The Container Store

The Container Store is like a candy buffet for people who love organization. In fact, it’s flush with options for kitchen sink organization tools, and the Stackable Under Sink Storage Kit is ideal for those who want to group certain items together in their own containers.

The set comes with a total of 10 pieces, each one a slightly different size and shape, so you can fit all sorts of cleaners, cloths, sponges, soaps, scrubbers, or rubber gloves. The bins are also stackable, so they fit just about any type of under-sink configuration, and several have wheels, making it even easier to pull them out when you need them.

Though the bins look rather plain, it’s nice that they’re see-through so you always know what’s inside and how much you have of each item. If you don’t want the full collection and only need certain containers, you can purchase them individually.

Full Set Includes: Medium bin, small bin with wheels, large bin, medium bin with wheels, long narrow bin with wheels, large bin with wheels, long bin with wheels, long wide bin with wheels, long deep bin with wheels, long wide deep bin with wheels

Best Standing

TOOLKISS Over Sink Dish Drying Rack

$92 at Wayfair $100 at Home Depot View on Bed Bath & Beyond

When cities want to maximize on space, they build up. This standing dish drying rack uses the same idea: the skyscraper of kitchen organization, if you will. The stainless steel rack sits above the sink, taking up vertical space only, steadied by long metal legs with no-slip suction cup grips. It can hold just about every kitchen tool imaginable, with racks for dishes, holders for utensils and knives, a basket for fruits and veggies, deeper containers for soaps, slots for cutting boards, and even several hooks for hanging brushes or washcloths. 

It’s an impressive, multi-functional rack that makes the most out of smaller spaces. Though it does require assembly, the process is pretty straightforward—most of the accessory racks and baskets just snap onto the rods (this takes about 10 minutes). That’s not too shabby for a rack that can hold around 175 pounds of kitchen gear.

Material: Stainless steel | Accessories Included: Dish rack, bowl rack, fruit and vegetable basket, detergent rack, knives holder, utensil holder, cutting board rack, 5 hooks | Dimensions: 21.2 x 41.5 x 12.5 inches

Best Sink Caddy

Kontoyo Kitchen Sink Caddy

$10 at Amazon

Space in and around a sink is a precious commodity—that’s why organizers are so handy. This compact stainless steel caddy is ideal for holding sponges, soaps, and scrubbers. It’s a simple and lightweight solution for keeping things neat. 

What’s extra nice about this caddy is that it comes with a removable plastic drip tray, so you don’t have to worry about sponges sitting in a puddle of standing water. Simply take the tray out, dump it, give it a quick rinse, and replace. It’ll keep things dryer (and free of musty funk). 

The caddy is sleek and modern-looking. It also comes in three potential colors: black, bronze, and silver. There are two sizes available, as well: a small, 7.15-inch caddy and a longer caddy that measures 9.2 inches. 

Materials: Stainless steel, plastic | Weight: 11.3 ounces | Dimensions: 7.15 x 4 x 3.5 inches

Best Storage Caddy

Polder Storage Caddy

$30 at Amazon $35 at The Container Store

If you’re looking for a practical and classic under-sink storage solution, the humble caddy is a great option. This particular model is simple but effective, featuring a segmented tray, a container, two rungs for hanging items, and a tall, easy-to-grip handle. 

It’s deep and wide enough to store larger soap bottles or canisters of wipes. You can fold kitchen towels over the stainless steel rungs. The hanging container is great for holding brushes, laundry detergent pods, or sponges. In all, the caddy is a multipurpose tool that can fit under your sink. 

Material: Polypropylene, stainless steel | Dimensions: 17 x 10.5 x 16.5 inches

Best Rotating

YouCopia Crazy Susan Turntable

$25 at Amazon $25 at Target $25 at The Container Store

Rotating turntables can make grabbing what you need so much easier—no more fumbling for the items in the back, knocking over stuff in the process. This sleek and modern turntable even has removable, clear bins so you can see what’s inside and remove them to clean or fill as you need. The whole thing rotates smoothly on top of ball bearings. All it takes is a light touch to spin.

These bins can store anything from detergents to cleaning wipes to sponges and plenty more. Something like this would even be nice to get your spice cabinet organized. If you want a shallower, opaque version, the brand offers a similar turntable with adjustable dividers. 

Materials: BPA-free plastic | Dimensions: 10.4 x 10.4 x 4.1 inches