Hide Toothpaste on Vanity (Slide-Out Tray)
A slide-out tray can keep toothpaste off the vanity top while leaving it easy to reach. First, measure the cabinet opening and check the full tray path against plumbing, wiring, and service points. Choose slides rated for the loaded tray, follow their installation instructions, and use a removable, moisture-resistant tray that you can clean.
A tube beside the faucet can make a small bathroom feel even more crowded. A tray tucked inside the vanity can clear the counter without burying toothpaste at the back of a cabinet. The key is to plan for the cabinet’s contents and service needs, not just the tray’s size.
I start by checking what moves, what must stay reachable, and where water or electrical parts sit. There is no code-set size for a toothpaste tray or required airflow rate for one. The slide maker’s instructions and locally adopted building codes still matter.
Plan the concealed toothpaste storage
A slide-out toothpaste tray is a removable holder mounted on drawer slides inside a vanity. Its size depends on the cabinet opening, the toothpaste package, and the hardware. Treat suggested dimensions as a starting point, not a universal fit or code requirement.
Before buying parts, decide what the tray must hold. A tube may fit lengthwise, while a pump dispenser or several family members’ items may need more room. Measure the tallest item, including its cap, and leave space to lift it out without catching the cabinet top.
A useful design target is a tray envelope about 12–18 inches wide, 6–8 inches deep, and 3–4 inches high. These are planning dimensions, not a standard. Check your actual tube, cabinet opening, hinges, and slide travel before cutting or ordering.
Make a quick inventory:
- Toothpaste tubes, dispensers, and any small items sharing the tray
- The clear opening between cabinet walls, hinges, and door hardware
- The usable depth, including space needed for the tray to slide out
- Any plumbing, shutoffs, cleanouts, receptacles, wiring, or existing shelves
For a cleaner setup, keep toothpaste upright or laid flat in one defined area rather than letting it roll around. A removable tray makes it easier to wipe away dried paste and inspect the cabinet beneath it. Choose a surface that tolerates bathroom moisture and the cleaners you plan to use.
Check tray travel and cabinet clearances
Tray travel means the space the tray and slides occupy from fully closed to fully open. Measure the entire route, not just the cabinet opening. A tray that fits when shut may still hit a pipe, door, hinge, or electrical part as it moves.
Start with the cabinet empty. Find the P-trap, water supply shutoffs, pipe joints, cleanouts, receptacles, and wiring. Then check where the tray’s sides and mounting screws would sit. Do not assume a cabinet back or thin side panel can support slide hardware without checking its material and the slide maker’s fastening directions.
Make a cardboard mock-up close to the planned tray’s outside size. Move it through the intended path with doors open and closed. Check that it does not touch plumbing or wiring, and that it can be pulled out far enough to reach the toothpaste.
Side clearance depends on the slide design. A ⅛-inch (3 mm) gap per side is only a design target when the selected hardware allows it. Use the manufacturer’s required side space, mounting position, and orientation as the controlling dimensions. Some slides need different clearances or a specific cabinet width.
Keep plumbing service points accessible. In places that adopt the International Plumbing Code, IPC §708.1 addresses access to cleanouts. Local code and the actual installation govern. Do not place a tray where it must be dismantled to reach a cleanout, shutoff, trap connection, or other service point.
Choose a tray and slides that fit
A suitable tray is small, removable, wipe-clean, and supported by slides with a published load rating. The rating must cover the tray plus its contents. There is no universal slide capacity, and appearance alone does not show how much weight a slide can carry.
| Part or measurement | Practical starting point | What controls the final choice |
|---|---|---|
| Tray envelope | About 12–18 in. wide × 6–8 in. deep × 3–4 in. high | Actual items, opening, and full travel |
| Side gap | ⅛ in. per side as a design target | Slide maker’s specified side space |
| Slide load | No universal rating | Published rating for the installed orientation |
| Tray surface | Sealed plastic or coated metal are examples | Material and cleaner instructions |
| Airflow | No toothpaste-tray CFM requirement | Keep the bathroom exhaust grille and duct clear |
Check that the slides are designed for the way you will mount them and for the cabinet material you have. Follow the specified screw type, length, and mounting pattern. Do not use fasteners that could reach a pipe, wire, or device behind the cabinet wall.
For the tray itself, a sealed, moisture-resistant surface is a sensible choice. Avoid leaving toothpaste caps or residue on unfinished wood. If you use a coating or cleaning product, follow its label; some finishes may not tolerate certain cleaners or prolonged moisture.
Install the slide-out tray
A careful installation follows the hardware instructions, uses sound mounting material, and leaves service areas open. The steps below are a planning sequence; the selected slide’s instructions take priority where they differ. Stop if you cannot confirm what is behind a surface before drilling.
- Empty and inspect the cabinet. Identify pipes, shutoffs, cleanouts, electrical devices, wiring, and the cabinet material. If a hidden wire or pipe may be in the drill path, do not drill until you can verify the route.
- Mark the tray path. Use the cardboard mock-up to check the closed and open positions. Confirm that the tray clears doors and hinges and does not block access to plumbing or electrical parts.
- Confirm the slide dimensions. Measure the required side space and mounting height from the slide instructions. Recheck the cabinet opening and tray width against those figures before fastening anything.
- Mount the slides as specified. Fasten them to sound cabinet material using the maker’s stated layout and fasteners. Do not attach them to a thin, unsupported back panel unless the material and fasteners are confirmed as suitable.
- Fit the removable tray. Secure it to the slide hardware in the required way. Add a stop only if the slide design calls for one; avoid a setup that could let the tray fall or jam.
- Seal exposed edges and clean up. If installation leaves cut edges, protect them with a suitable finish. Remove sawdust and debris before loading the tray.
A slide can feel smooth when empty but bind under load. Before using it, place the expected toothpaste and other items in the tray, then open and close it through its full range. If it sags, rubs, or shifts, stop and check the mounting and hardware instructions rather than forcing it.
Installation scenarios to plan for
These examples are illustrative planning cases, not records of measured installations. They show how the same tray idea changes with cabinet conditions. In each case, the final measurements and slide selection must come from the actual vanity and product instructions.
Scenario 1: Clear side cabinet. A vanity has an open side bay with enough width for a narrow tray, and its plumbing sits elsewhere. I would measure the opening, confirm slide clearance, and mock up the full travel. If the tray remains removable and does not cover service points, this is the simplest layout.
Scenario 2: Trap in the tray’s path. A P-trap crosses the area where a deeper tray would sit. I would shorten or reposition the tray only if the resulting storage still works and the slides can be installed as designed. I would not route the tray around the pipe in a way that traps the connection or makes it hard to inspect.
Scenario 3: Cleanout behind the proposed tray. A cleanout lies on the back wall at the planned tray location. The tray cannot stay in front of it if access requires taking apart the installation. I would choose a different bay or a layout that leaves the cleanout reachable without dismantling the tray or cabinet.
Verify access, operation, and finish
A successful tray hides toothpaste but does not hide problems. Test the loaded tray, open the vanity doors, and check that plumbing, shutoffs, cleanouts, and electrical devices remain reachable. Confirm that the tray does not block the bathroom exhaust grille or duct.
A small toothpaste tray has no prescribed airflow rate. Bathroom exhaust requirements depend on the locally adopted code and its edition. Where the adopted International Residential Code applies, bathroom exhaust rates are addressed in IRC Table M1505.4.4. Keep the existing grille and duct unobstructed, and do not treat the tray as a reason to change ventilation.
Before calling the job done, check these points:
- The tray opens and closes without rubbing, binding, or hitting a pipe.
- The slides remain secure with the expected contents in place.
- The tray can be removed for cleaning.
- Toothpaste residue stays off unfinished wood.
- Cleanouts and other service points remain accessible.
- No slide or fastener contacts wiring or an electrical device.
If the tray is damp or toothpaste residue collects beneath it, remove and clean it, then check for leaks or other moisture sources. A storage tray should not conceal a leak. Address the source before returning the tray to service.
Conclusion: keep toothpaste hidden and reachable
A well-planned slide-out tray clears the vanity surface while keeping toothpaste close at hand. Measure the opening and full travel, choose slides by their published rating and installation rules, and protect access to plumbing and electrical parts. Test the loaded tray before relying on it every day.
Use the dimensions in this guide only as planning targets. The actual cabinet, slide specifications, and local code determine what will fit and how it should be installed.
Frequently asked questions
These answers cover common questions about sizing, materials, clearances, and safe use. The main rule is to check the actual cabinet and hardware rather than rely on a standard tray size. Local requirements and the slide manufacturer’s instructions take priority.
How big should a toothpaste slide-out tray be?
A useful starting envelope is 12–18 inches wide, 6–8 inches deep, and 3–4 inches high. Measure your items and cabinet before choosing a final size.
How much space should I leave beside the slides?
Use the slide maker’s specified side clearance. A ⅛-inch gap per side is only a design target when compatible with that hardware.
Can I install slides on the cabinet back?
Only if the panel and fasteners meet the slide maker’s requirements. Do not fasten to thin, unsupported material without confirming that it can carry the load.
How much weight can the tray hold?
There is no universal capacity. Select slides with a published rating that covers the tray and its contents, and install them in the stated orientation.
What material should the toothpaste tray be made from?
Use a moisture-resistant, sealed surface, such as suitable plastic or coated metal. Follow the material and cleaner instructions, and keep residue off unfinished wood.
Can the tray sit in front of the P-trap?
Only if it does not touch or obstruct the trap and leaves needed connections accessible. Do not make plumbing service require dismantling the tray or cabinet.
Can a slide-out tray cover a plumbing cleanout?
No, not if the cleanout becomes difficult to reach. Local plumbing rules apply; IPC §708.1 addresses cleanout access where that code is adopted.
Does a toothpaste tray need ventilation?
There is no prescribed CFM rate for a small toothpaste tray. Do not block the bathroom exhaust grille or duct, and follow local ventilation requirements.
How do I know whether the tray will clear the plumbing?
Mock up its full size and travel inside the cabinet. Check both open and closed positions against pipes, shutoffs, doors, wiring, and electrical devices.
Should I add a stop to the slides?
Add a stop only when the slide design requires one. Follow the hardware instructions so the tray cannot fall or bind.
(This article was written by one of our staff writers, Robert Kensington. Visit our Meet the Team page.)
