Do you have half-used bottles of shampoo under the bathroom sink? Or perhaps a cluttered countertop overrun with lotions and potions. What about that really expensive beauty product that you didn’t like but can’t bring yourself to throw away.
Does any of this sound familiar? It’s ok. You are not alone.
Bathroom clutter should be very easy to manage because most of the items are consumables. Yet somehow, linen closets and cabinets are usually filled to the brim. And if you cannot use your toiletries fast enough, they expire, or change composition and thus become unusable.
By keeping all this clutter, you might just be delaying the inevitable and making it really difficult to keep your bathroom clean and organized.
But what if we tried a different approach? What if you could see everything under the bathroom sink? And you had organized drawers and cabinets with the make-up and toiletries you use daily? Think about how much simpler it would be to get ready in the morning. What if you created spa-like feel in your own bathroom?
How would that make you feel when you entered your bathroom every day?
- Clear Mind – Less distracted by chaos and clutter
- Confident – Easy to get ready in the morning and start your day
- Content – Save money keeping and using only the products you love
3 Easy Steps to Create a Clutter-Free and Organized Bathroom
Step 1 – Accept Your Boundaries
Commit to living within the boundaries of the space you have, instead of adding more cabinets or lamenting that you don’t have enough storage in your small bathroom. Make these boundaries work for you by eliminating items you do not use. Look at convenience items and rarely used items with a critical eye.
Our master bathroom has four drawers. One for my lotions and potions, one for my husband’s toiletries, one for towels, and one for toilet paper and tissues. Most importantly, the countertops are empty unless we are in the process of getting ready. Clean counters create a calm environment where you can get ready easily and are also easy to clean!
Step 2 – Declutter and Downsize the Consumables
Toiletries – Remove all the lotions, potions, make-up, saline solution, hairspray, shampoo, etc. Group them by category. Throw out old expired items. If you have large quantity of a particular item such as shampoo, commit to not buying any new shampoo you’ve used everything. Including the travel hotel bottles too. Using your existing inventory of toiletries will save storage space and money. Once you go through the excess, resolve to purchase only the items you love, judiciously, and consider how much storage space you have before you stock up again.
Tissues and Toilet Paper – Just like toiletries, think about where or if you can store 50 rolls of toilet paper before you buy it. Oftentimes, the grocery store brand or sale prices are less expensive than purchasing at a bulk store. And it comes in a more reasonable quantity. I order a box of 48 rolls when we get down the last 5 rolls and immediately distribute them to our bathroom cabinets. Designate the storage space before you buy.
Medicine – Routinely review the medicines in your home and dispose of prescriptions properly. Securely store medicines in boxes like this. Check expiration dates on over-the-counter medications and vitamins. Establish a routine with an alarm on your phone to ensure medicine and vitamins are taken as prescribed.
Step 3 – Assess the Inventory
Hairdryers, curling irons, and other hygiene electronics – Take an inventory and keep only what you use daily or at least weekly. My hairdryer broke five years ago. I opted to not replace it because it’s rarely used. Try experimenting without an item for a few weeks before replacing it. Or box up items to donate and label the box “If unopened, donate these items on this date.” Living without items helps us see there is a true need or if we can use something else in its place. (Experimenting without small kitchen appliances is helpful too.)
Towels – Keep two towels per person plus one for every guest space in your home. We own 4 in our master bath and 4 in the hall bathroom
which serves my son and two guests. There are 2 more towels in our basement bathroom for additional guests. That’s a total of 10 bath towels because we rarely host more than 4 people in our home.
Decorations – Minimal decorations make bathroom clean-up easy. The heat and humidity ruin certain materials, so consider boxing up any extra decorations and see how you like it. Is it easier to clean? Does it feel more like a spa? Do you miss any of the decorations? Or do you enjoy the breathing room instead?
What bathroom clutter is the biggest challenge for you?
Need more inspiration? Here’s a video tour of my master bathroom.
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