Take control of the space under your kitchen sink

Whether you're tidy at heart or a perpetual clutter bug, organising the space under the kitchen sink can be a challenge. With these five ideas, you can turn this valuable storage space into a place that is functional and tidy. Here's how to start:

1. Toss old products out.
Get rid of all stained, encrusted and half-empty bottles of cleaning products. If you haven't used them up by now, chances are you never will. (Besides, chemicals in household cleaners lose their potency over a lengthy period of time.)

2. Pare down what's left.

You can do your basic kitchen cleaning with just 6 products:

Liquid dishwashing detergent: gentle enough not to damage any surfaces, but good enough to get the job done.

All-purpose cleaner: when you need some abrasive power, these products will do the job without harming any surface (except glass).

Glass cleaner

Degreasing cleaner

Vinegar: a mild acid that is effective in many ways. It will get rid of hard water deposits in your kettle.

Oven cleaner or ammonia: Place a cup of ammonia in an unheated oven overnight to help loosen carbon from the walls and make cleaning easier.

You'll also need a few tools for basic cleaning: a bucket, soft cloths, rubber gloves, and a scraping tool for stubborn stains; sometimes the edge of a plastic credit card is enough. For heavy scraping (to remove caked-on food, for example) I like a safety razor: always use it on an angle, and make sure you have a lubricating medium (such as oil or water) underneath.