If your bathroom is like most, it’s pretty cluttered. There never seems to be enough room in linen closets, medicine cabinets, or under the sink for all the things you need. With a little time and creativity, you can get your bathroom clutter under control.
The Medicine Cabinet:
If you have a medicine cabinet, or a medicine shelf, the first step to organizing it is cleaning it out. Check the expiration dates on any over the counter or prescription medications, and if it’s past the expiration date, throw it out. If you no longer need it, throw it out. If you are not sure how to dispose of a specific medication, call your doctor’s office, your pharmacy, or the customer service number on the packaging. Next check on the other items in your cabinet and see how they are faring. Rusty nail clippers, products that have dried up/separated/evaporated, or items you no longer use can go in the trash. Remember that makeup expires as well (there’s a handy chart here), and be sure to toss anything that looks funny (either in the container or on you), smells funny, or has developed a strange consistency. If it’s not a product you are madly in love with or go through quickly, consider tossing duplicates.
The Shower:
Look in your shower. How many bottles of shampoo are there? How many bars of soap? Do you use all of them regularly? If not, they don’t all need to be in the shower. Get rid of anything that’s empty or anything that’s been sitting there unused since you tried it and didn’t like it, and move duplicates or products you can rotate out to another location. If you share you shower with other people, you may want to invest in a shower organizer or shelves to keep from cluttering up the ledge of the bathtub. You might also want to get a storage bin or bag to corral all those bath toys. (If you do have bath toys, only keep the ones your kids actually play with and are in good shape.)
The Countertop:
Not all countertops are created equal. Some are blessed with a good amount of counter space in the bathroom, others are not. If you have the space to keep things on your countertop, limit what you leave out to daily use items.
Creating Storage Space:
Don’t overlook the back of the door when looking for somewhere to hang your towels. Over the door pocket organizers are also great for storing bottles, hair product, extra washcloths, and brushes.
A cabinet or organizer over the toilet is also a great place to create additional storage. If you have the space, you may even want to put a small cabinet on the floor.
Bathroom organization is a great project for an afternoon or evening – since the space is generally pretty small, the de-cluttering tends to go quickly and the results are easy to see. Take some time to de-clutter and organize your bathroom and you will have less frustration and more efficiency in your everyday routines.
