Buzz
Image Credit: Hero Images Inc./Getty ImagesFor many, the bathroom becomes a catch-all for personal care products crammed into every nook and cranny. However, this approach can create unnecessary stress and hinder your sense of calm. Like any space, clutter can undermine your peace of mind.
It’s likely that you have items in your bathroom that could be better stored elsewhere. As Monica Friel, CEO of Chaos to Order in Chicago, advises: "Items should be stored according to what you use most and what fits best with your routine." Periodic evaluations ensure your bathroom space is used effectively according to your needs. Below are the top three experts’ tips on what to clear out of your bathroom.
Hotel Toiletries
Why do we always end up taking hotel toiletries with us? "Maybe we think we’ll use them later at home, save them for another trip, or we simply like the brand and want a reminder to buy the full-sized version," explains Nicole Anzia, owner of Neatnik, a Washington, D.C.-based organizing company. "But in most cases, none of these things actually happen." To save both time and space, it’s best not to bring them home at all.
Clothes
Avoid leaving dirty clothes on the bathroom floor or draped over hooks, advises Friel. Not only does it create a mess, but it can also be a slip hazard when they accumulate. Make it a habit to pick up clothes right away, or set aside a designated area outside the bathroom for dirty laundry.
Old Toothbrushes
The American Dental Association recommends changing your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become worn. If you've recently had the flu or another illness, it's also a good time to replace your toothbrush, suggests Ruthann Betz-Essinger, a certified professional organizer with Just Organized, LLC in Birmingham, Alabama.
Too Many Towels
Only keep the towels you are currently using in the bathroom—there's no need to pile up extra towels, especially large bath towels, says Friel. Store the rest in a linen closet, and assess how many towels your family truly needs. Tip: Repurpose older towels as rags and donate the excess.
Kids' Bath Toys
"If your children have outgrown their bath toys, it's time to get rid of them or donate them," advises Betz-Essinger. Only donate toys that are still in good condition and complete. Be sure to wash them with warm soapy water and thoroughly dry them first!
Jewelry
It’s understandable why jewelry often ends up in the bathroom—many of us put on or take off rings, necklaces, and earrings right before or after a shower. However, constant exposure to humidity can damage your jewelry, explains Anzia. It's best to store your jewelry in a dry place—well away from bathroom drains.
Makeup and Lotions
Though high humidity makes bathrooms an unsuitable place for storing makeup and lotions, nearly everyone keeps them there, says Betz-Essinger. If you must store them in the bathroom, regularly check for any changes in appearance or smell. Toss anything that has separated, changed color, or altered in consistency. Also, get rid of products that are more than a year old, she advises.
Expired Medicines
"Some argue that storing medicine in the bathroom is a no-go, but I think it's fine to keep it there," says Anzia. However, she clarifies that this doesn't apply to expired medicine. She suggests reviewing your medicine stash at least twice a year to toss anything that's out of date or no longer necessary. If your medicine cabinet is overflowing with small bottles and first-aid items, free up space by moving things like Band-Aids and sunscreen to another area. And by the way, did you know sunscreen can expire too?
Reading Materials
If you enjoy reading in the bathroom, that’s perfectly fine, but your reading materials don't need to live there. "If you have a magazine you want to read while taking a bath, bring it in—but be sure to take it out when you're done," advises Anzia. This helps keep clutter down and ensures your reading materials don’t get ruined by water.
Old Hair Tools
Hair dryers and similar appliances are acceptable for bathroom storage, but the problem arises when you keep the old ones after buying a new one, says Betz-Essinger. Instead, get rid of the old one or donate it if it still works. If you're holding onto hair tools you no longer like, or ones that damage your hair, or that don’t suit your current hairstyle, it’s time to let them go.
Decor
The fewer unnecessary items in your bathroom, the less cleaning you'll have to do, says Anzia. In other words, empty space on your vanity doesn’t need to be filled. "Yes, it’s nice to have a candle to light during a bath or to mask odors, but that's really all you need," she explains. Skip adding extra baskets, bins, or plants that will just collect dust.
Harsh Cleaning Chemicals
Harsh chemicals have no business being in your bathroom, says Betz-Essinger. "You can clean nearly every surface in the bathroom using a mix of baking soda, water, white vinegar, liquid castile soap, tea tree oil, and other essential oils," she explains. (Consider natural cleaning formulas made from everyday ingredients.)
Friel also advises against keeping any cleaning products in the bathroom, as they can take up valuable cabinet space, and you don’t always need them there every day.
Makeup Bags
While makeup or toiletry bags can be handy for travel, if you have several of them, don't cram them under your sink. Anzia suggests keeping one or two in a drawer or bathroom cabinet, and storing the rest with your luggage or purses.
Extra Anything
Avoid storing extra bottles of shampoo, toothpaste, cosmetics, and the like in your bathroom. There's no reason to hoard five tubes of toothpaste in a drawer, says Friel. "Keep one, use it until it's gone, then replace it. This will open up prime space and keep your bathroom from feeling cluttered." If you buy in bulk, she recommends designating an "extras box" in the linen closet or another nearby storage area.
