Top Tips To Organize The Bathroom

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Washing Bathroom Disorganization down the Drain with these Top Tips

For many of us, the day starts in the bathroom. Having a bathroom space that’s in a state of disarray can cause tension and frustration, which is no way to start out the morning! Creating a calming space in which to prepare for the challenges of day is important for any busy person.

Cleaning out clutter from cabinet and drawers.  The stuff that clutters your cabinets and drawers must be dealt with in order to create an organized and serene bathroom. Overstuffed, unorganized storage areas only create frustration and inefficiencies that can slow you down in the morning.

To get started, gather up some boxes and get ready to start emptying out cabinets and drawers—and don’t forget the things on the countertops, either. As you pull things out of the bathroom, organize things into several piles:

• Expired products: Medicines past their expiry dates are likely less effective and could even be dangerous. But don’t just toss them in the garbage or down the toilet—doing so could land all of those chemicals in your local soil and water supplies which is no good for the planet. Instead, collect all expired medicines and take them to your local pharmacy to be properly disposed of. Check expired cosmetics and personal care products—if they have an off smell, dispose of them, otherwise they’re likely okay.
• Unused prescriptions: Got some old doctor-prescribed drugs that you’re not going to use? Even if these are not expired, take them along with the expired meds to your pharmacy for disposal.
• Duplicates: Having more than one container of the same product will use up space, especially if they’re both only partially full. If these products are close in expiry date, combine them in the same container.  If they have no expiry date and both appear fresh and usable, then combining them should be no problem.
• Utensils: Take your brushes, combs, and other cosmetic and personal care tools and clean them thoroughly using mild soaps and warm water. Let them dry completely before replacing them.
• Missing items: During your Makeover March cleaning spree, you’ll want to prepare to stock up for the coming spring and summer activities. To get ready, be sure to make note of essentials you don’t yet have, including sunscreens and Aloe Vera for burns, insect repellents and bite relief, as well as allergy medications. Make a list so you can pick up these items on your next shopping trip.
• Unwanted products: Perhaps you’re no longer into that particular shade of blue eye shadow or you’re done with the lavender-scented bath salts. Regardless of the reason, take those cosmetics, personal care products, and tools that you no longer want or need and set them aside. You’ll need to go through these and either give them away (if sanitary to do so), recycle them, or throw them out.
• Textile care: Go through your towels and cloths and determine which items are no longer suitable for your bathroom (wash these and use as rags or give to a local charity). If you have a shower curtain, remove it from the rack and clean it thoroughly. For sticky plastic shields, soak them in a solution of vinegar and water to remove soap scum and mold.

Once you’ve emptied every space and surface, give your bathroom a thorough cleaning, using green solutions made of natural ingredients. Green sealed certified products are Teresas’s Family Cleanings choice since they’ll protect your family and the planet from harsh chemicals.

 Prep for organization:  Now that you’ve culled the old products and cleaned and scrubbed every nook and cranny, you’ll need to prepare to replace things where they will be most useful. Start by gathering together containers to use for organizing all those items that are so common in our bathroom spaces—use things like decorative boxes, tea tins, and other washable and stackable containers.

 Here are some top tips for making your morning routine as pain-free as possible:

• Begin arranging your items in drawers, shelves, and cabinets so that the most-used items are easily accessible. Place less-used items in lower drawers or at the back of cabinets, but organized neatly. Stack only those items you use infrequently.
• Group items by task (makeup brushes and sponges in one jar, combs and brushes in another).
• When replacing items in drawers, cabinets, and shelves, be sure to replace them so that the most used items are at the front within easy reach.
• If you have too much in your storage spaces, consider storing duplicates in another location in your home.
• For shallow drawers, buy desk drawer organizers to separate small items that would otherwise slide around loose in the drawer.
• To make better use of cabinets without shelves, use old wicker baskets, stacking cubes, hooks, and hangers to make efficient use of every inch of space. Better yet, install a shelf to maximize the use of those areas.
• Add racks and hooks in your shower or bathtub to hold wash cloths, shampoos, razors, and soaps.
• Use the back of the door by installing hooks for hanging towels, bath robes, and other textiles.
• Space permitting, add additional cabinets on the wall or as floor units for towel or cosmetics storage.

Now that you’ve brought order to your once-messy bathroom, add a little personality with some decorative items. If you want to display some of your products on the countertop or a shelf, make sure they match your bathroom’s style, then arrange them in an organized, fashionable manner. You can even use this technique for your most used hand soaps and lotions. 

© 2010 Teresa’s Family Cleaning — All Rights Reserved.Want to use this article in your newsletter, blog or web site? You have my blessing so long as you include the following complete blurb with it (including links).Teresa Ward, President of Teresa’s Family Cleaning and New York State’s Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year is often considered Long Island’s foremost authority on cleaning homes and businesses to create a cleaner and healthier environment for all. Our highly sought after, award winning newsletter provides timely cleaning tips and other important Long Island information and charitable events for homeowners, businesses and not-for-profits. Visit us at www.TeresasFamilyCleaning.com to sign up and receive your copy of our weekly newsletter today!