Tips for Bathroom Organization

Recently, I asked people on Twitter what sort of organizational help they need. The first responder wanted to know how to improve her bathroom. Whether you have a tiny bathroom with limited space, or a large one with ample room, there are numerous solutions to declutter this area.  Let’s get to work!

First of all, you need to go through all of the items you have in your bathroom and check whether or not they have expired, are of use anymore, or really need to be in the bathroom at all. Keep the essentials and throw out expired sunscreen and any other products that have stayed past their expiration date. Make-up is a problem because a lot of women often have too much of it and hold on to it for too long. Downsize your collection and only keep the make-up you use on a regular basis. In addition to this, most beauty products last one to two years and mascara should be tossed after three months because of the copious amounts of bacteria that build up on it. Anything that you touch consistently with your hands is going to expire much sooner than other items. Among other things that you should remove are hair ties, clips, or any other head gear that is not useful with your current haircut. Also, are you keeping cleaning supplies in your bathroom? These are best to keep in the storage room or the laundry room because they are not things that are used every day. As well, don’t keep all of your towels in the bathroom (unless you have a large bathroom and have the space for this). Towels can be kept in a hall closet, a wardrobe, a spare room, or your bedroom. You even could get a hope chest and keep the towels in there. Bathrooms are usually the smallest rooms in the house, so only the essentials should be kept in them. Don’t use the bathroom as a storage area and purge your heart out.

Secondly, sort your supplies in order to divide them and find “homes” for them later, after you have decided what stays and what goes. Take everything out of the cabinets, drawers, and off any shelves and put them out of the way for the time being. This is a great opportunity to do a thorough cleaning of the bathroom! After you have done this, think about the items that you use regularly and group them together. Then, put all of the less often used items together. This will determine which items stay up high/in front and which ones stay low/in the back. For example, the box of razor blade refills doesn’t need to be front and centre, but your toothbrush can be.

Third, purchase some storage solutions for your stuff. There are a number of options in this case: countertop, drawer, pouch, wall, and shower devices can be of help – these don’t have to be expensive! Some of them are, and if you have the budget for it, great; if you don’t, stress not, as there are plenty of options for someone on a budget. The items below can be found at the websites listed under them.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10032732&N=&Ntt=hanging+toiletry

http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10035686&N=&Ntt=hanging+toiletry

The hanging toiletry, pictured in the above two photos, is a great way to get clutter off of your counters and out of your cabinets. Hang it off of an over-door rack (seen below) or the towel holder. Moreover, when you are going on a trip, all of your toiletries are ready to go.

http://blog.hometalk.com/holiday-everyday-cleaning-tips

The over-door rack, pictured above, can hold the current towel you are using, your hanging toiletry, or anything else that you can think of. I use it to hold hair ties and headbands, my shower cap, hanging toiletry, current towel, housecoat (when in use), and a bag of first aid supplies. For the most part, put things here that you use regularly.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cosmeticsOrganizers/countertop?productId=10036225&N=71792

The above countertop organizer is useful because it contains small items that are easily scattered. I like to stress the importance of each item having a “home.” Always put things back in the same spot, and do so immediately after using them. This will eventually become a habit and you will become more organized.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cosmeticsOrganizers/countertop?productId=10030828&N=71792

This hair styler organizer above is one of my favourites. Safely store your hair dryer, curling iron, and straightener here. It can sit on the counter or can be hung over the towel bar.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cosmeticsOrganizers/countertop?productId=10034550&N=71792

Clear clutter and save space with these stick-on pods. Attach them to the inside of your cabinets to keep small items handy.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cosmeticsOrganizers/drawerOrganizers?productId=10028115&N=71793&Nao=0

Let’s not forget about drawer organization. This stackable organizer, seen above, keeps things in their place. They can also be stacked to save even more space.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cosmeticsOrganizers/drawerOrganizers?productId=10027784&N=71793&Nao=0

Group things together under your sink or in deep drawers. The organizers pictured above keep things from going astray.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/cosmeticsOrganizers/cosmeticBagsPouches?productId=10024888&N=77861&Nao=0

Another trick I find useful is to use little pouches or bags to keep my stuff organized. Like the hanging toiletry, pouches like the one pictured above will be ready to go when you are. Get a clear one so you can find what you are looking for easily.

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/showerBathtubOrganization/showerCaddies?productId=10028555&N=203

http://www.containerstore.com/shop/bath/showerBathtubOrganization/showerCaddies?productId=10015471&N=203

Let’s also not forget about shower storage and organization. I consider organizational devices, like the ones pictured above, essential. Create a home for each item and keep it there! Keep as many things off of shelves and counters as possible.

As you can see, I love thecontainerstore.com. They have products that range greatly in price, but if you are on a really tight budget and have no extra funds, here are some crafty ideas to get yourself organized:

– Take an empty cereal box (or granola box, or gift box, etc.) and cut it in half (or one third, or three quarters, etc.). Make a few different ones, of ranging shapes and sizes. You can keep them unattached, or tape them together, whichever you prefer, and use these as organizational devices. Store them on the counter, under the sink, or on the wall (use strong tape and get vertical!  Tape it to the wall to clear your counter space!). You can even decorate them so they look more aesthetically appealing. To keep them more water-resistant, cover them in thick clear tape after you make them. Use them in the same way as many of the products listed above. The picture shown below is an example of how creative you can get with used boxes.

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=gnHvatdijhE1aM&tbnid=OXPehQQPfiOc2M:&ved=0CAQQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fiheartorganizing.blogspot.com%2F2013%2F01%2Fdiy-cereal-box-drawer-dividers.html&ei=KjrxUrSQHZfkoATr7oL4Cg&bvm=bv.60799247,d.cGU&psig=AFQjCNEeXAHq61I7Cm-OqMZ7SmGC_Gxe_g&ust=1391627169216619

To recap, remember:

1. Keep the essentials.

2. Sort products and find a “home” for them.

3. Purchase or create storage solutions.

Let me know if you tried any of these and how they worked out. Happy organizing!