Want to move towards a more organized home? Start with your bathroom!
The bathroom is a great place to start decluttering since it is smaller than other rooms.
It is simpler to work through your bathroom, clearing away the clutter so you can see the results of your efforts immediately.
Most people don’t tend to keep their most prized possessions in their bathrooms. So, decluttering decisions are often easier to make. Today we will show you how to declutter your bathroom in 6 simple steps.
Decluttering your bathroom makes your bathroom look attractive and also increases its functionality. Neatly arranged cabinets and drawers are always easier to access.
Decluttering requires collecting supplies to begin the process and organizing items by category. It also involves clearing away cabinets, drawers, countertops, vanity, and other parts of the bathroom.
A Step-By-Step Guide to Decluttering Your Bathroom
Assess Your Bathroom Space
Take a good look at your bathroom and assess how much space you have available. Identify the shelves, cabinets, and other storage areas where items might be cluttered. Here are some initial tips for assessing your space:
- Measure the size of your bathroom
- Count the number of storage areas (such as shelves and cabinets)
- Check if there is any unused space that could be utilized for storage
Having a clear understanding of the space you have to work with is essential before you begin decluttering.
Set Decluttering Goals
To make your decluttering process more efficient, it’s important to set clear goals. Here are some common objectives to consider:
- Reduce clutter: Remove unnecessary items and organize what remains
- Improve cleanliness: Keep your bathroom clean and germ-free by eliminating dust and dirt
- Increase functionality: Maximize the usability of the space in your bathroom
By setting clear goals, you’ll know exactly what you’re aiming to achieve and can track your progress.
Prepare for Sort and Remove
Before you start decluttering, you need a plan for sorting and removing items from your bathroom. Use the following guidelines to help you prepare:
- Categorize items: Sort items into categories, such as toiletries, towels, cleaning supplies, etc.
- Identify essentials: Determine which items you use daily or frequently and should keep
- Remove unused items: Get rid of items that are expired, damaged, or no longer needed
- Donate usable items: If you have items in good condition that you don’t need, consider donating them to charities or friends
Having a structured approach for sorting and removing items will make your decluttering process more efficient and less overwhelming.
Here are 6 steps to declutter your bathroom and make it more aesthetic and user-friendly:
Step 1: Gather Decluttering Supplies
Most bathrooms are already relatively small, so you need to keep your organization supplies simple when decluttering.
Just grab a trash can for things you need to toss away.
It would be best if you also had a donation box at hand for items to give away. Keep a basket nearby to toss in items that belong elsewhere in the house.
We suggest placing the trash can in the middle of the bathroom. You should place the donation box and storage basket just outside the bathroom door.
This is to prevent items from being destroyed. It also leaves room for navigating the bathroom mess without creating a bigger one.
Step 2: Declutter By Category
Once you have your supplies at bay, it is time to dive straight away into the process and get decluttering!
The best way to start decluttering your bathroom is by category. Gather up all the items in your bathroom and sort them into categories. Put similar items together.
For example, gather all your nail polishes in one pile and lotions/creams in another.
If you declutter by category, it will make it easier for you to see how many items you have in each category.
This can help you be more callous as you decide what to keep and what to toss.
Makeup and Personal Care Items
First, tackle the personal care and makeup items. There are a few ways to decide what to keep and what to get rid of when decluttering these items in your bathroom.
Personal care items include body care items (lotions, shaving creams, scrubs, gels, wax, etc.) and hair care and shower products. Anything else related to grooming yourself also comes under this category.
You must keep in mind that personal care products and cosmetics have a limited shelf life.
They can lose effectiveness over time. They can also go bad and harbor a lot of bacteria. Now that you know this, begin by tossing out any expired or old products.
Once you have removed the items that are no longer good or suitable for use, sort through the rest and get rid of anything you use or need. Also, keep your eye out for duplicate products.
Keep your favorites and toss the rest into the donation box if you believe they might benefit someone else.
From the items left behind, pull out all the items you regularly use on a daily or weekly basis.
These are the things that you know you have to keep. Find an easy and accessible place in your bathroom for them.
If you have items that you use only on special event days, it is okay to keep them. However, it would help if you kept them separate from your everyday-use products to create distinction.
This makes it easier to use your everyday products without sifting through the rarely-used ones.
Medications
Next, you should tackle the medicine cabinet. Even though we do not recommend keeping medications in the bathroom due to the heat and moisture, many people still prefer to have a medicine cabinet in their bathroom.
Since medications also come under personal care, let’s see how you can organize them.
Begin by sorting through your medications and getting rid of any that are expired. Once you have tossed those away, look for medicines that you no longer use or need.
If you have any new or untouched OTC medicines, consider donating them via an appropriate route.
It is essential to dispose of medications in a safe and proper manner. Many pharmacies accept unneeded, expired, or leftover medications and dispose of them carefully.
Call your neighborhood pharmacy to find out if they offer such services.
Linens and Towels
The third category you must target is linens and towels since they can easily cause your bathroom to clutter. It’s essential to decide how many towels you actually need and use daily.
Do not wander and think about ways you could “maybe” need or use a bunch of extra towels. Remember that your goal is to declutter your bathroom.
Your primary focus should be on keeping what you realistically need and use. Let go of the extra towels you have kept “just in case.”
If you share a bathroom with your family, two towels per person are more than enough. Decide what is enough for your family taking into consideration how often you do laundry.
Repeat the same process with other types of towels, such as guest towels and beach towels.
Appliances
Your hair care appliances can easily take up half the space under your sink if you are not careful.
Hence, you must find a way to organize them.
We suggest attaching a magazine rack or a sturdy file organizer to the side of your bathroom sink. You can also attach it inside a cabinet door or at the back of the bathroom door.
Additionally, you can use empty wall space to mount it as well. Use the rack or organizer to store your hairdryer, hair curler, hair straightener, and other appliances.
Step 3: Organize Your Shower and Bathtub
Once you are done sifting through your categories, it is time to organize different areas in the bathroom.
Let’s start with showers and bathtubs.
It can be pretty challenging to keep bath and shower areas organized because they are not always built with storage in mind. Some have shelves and cubbies where you can keep your soaps and bottles.
Unfortunately, many just have a bathtub ledge for storage.
You must keep your bath products within easy reach. So, if necessary, add a shower caddy that will fit all your products. Any shower or bath organizer you use must be reliable and stable.
Do not buy shelves or dishes that require suction to the wall. Stay away from towering caddies that claim to stand perfectly upright in the corner of the tub. These options might not hold up all your items.
If you feel that your shower or tub is too packed with products, find a solution! You should consider streamlining your routine, get a bigger storage shelf, or store rarely used items elsewhere in the bathroom.
Step 4: Organize Your Vanity
Once your shower and bathtub area is all set, organize your vanity if you have one.
Before you begin, you should have a good sense of which part of your morning or night routine you prefer to do at your vanity. This will help you realistically organize the items you keep on your vanities, such as skincare and makeup.
Similarly, arrange your grooming and beauty tools as you use them. For example, keep your daily-use makeup brushes in a holder on your vanity so you can quickly grab them when you need them. But toss away tools that you don’t use every day, such as your jade roller, in a drawer or some other storage spot.
Step 5: Organize Your Countertops
The last thing you should organize is your countertop. Anyone can tell how tidy your bathroom is just by looking at your countertop. It is best to keep only a few items on your countertop.
This will make the counter easier to clean daily. It will also reduce the chance of items accumulating and becoming clutter.
Give yourself the permission to keep only a few selected items on the countertop. Always keep them closest to where you use them. For example, your hand wash should always be right next to the sink.
You might also want to keep your daily cleanser or face wash that you use to wash your face near the sink.
Step 6: Maintain Your Organized Bathroom
Now that you have decluttered and organized your bathroom, your main aim should be to maintain it.
Don’t let all your efforts go in vain by creating a mess the very next day. Once you get your bathroom organized in a way that feels comfortable and functional for you, it should be easy to keep it up.
However, you do have to put in a bit of effort to stay organized. You should return items to their proper places after using them. Do not let any items that belong elsewhere in the house gather in the bathroom.
Maintaining your bathroom should be a simple part of your daily routine. If you maintain it regularly, you can prevent it from turning into a massive cleaning project.
Maintaining a Clutter-Free Bathroom
Develop a Regular Cleaning Routine
To keep your bathroom clutter-free, establish a consistent cleaning routine. This will help you avoid accumulating unnecessary items and make it easier to maintain your space. Here are some quick tips for your routine:
- Daily: Wipe down countertops, wash the sink, and sanitize high-touch surfaces like faucet handles and doorknobs.
- Weekly: Clean the toilet, scrub the shower or bathtub, and mop the floor.
- Monthly: Organize and declutter personal care items, such as toothbrushes, hair products, skincare, shampoo bottles, and shower gel.
Implement Sustainable Storage Practices
Proper storage is crucial to maintaining a well-organized bathroom. Consider the following storage solutions to help keep your space clutter-free:
- Transparent containers: Use clear jars to store items like cotton balls and toothpaste. This makes it easy to see and access what you need.
- Shelves and baskets: Install shelves for holding towels or baskets for organizing smaller items, such as hair accessories and personal care products.
- Hooks and rods: Use adhesive hooks for hanging things like towels or robes, and install a tension rod under the sink for extra storage.
Periodic Review of Bathroom Items
Regularly reviewing your bathroom items helps you stay in control of clutter and better maintain organization. Follow these steps:
- Sort and declutter: Go through all your bathroom items and sort them into three categories: keep, discard, and donate. Throw away any expired products or those you haven’t used in a while.
- Evaluate storage: Assess your storage solutions to see if they’re still effective or if you need to make adjustments.
- Maintain: Make a conscious effort to keep your bathroom organized by putting items back where they belong after use and periodically reviewing your bathroom items to avoid clutter accumulation.
By following these practical steps, you’ll be on your way to maintaining a clutter-free and organized bathroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most effective methods to reduce clutter in a bathroom?
To reduce clutter in your bathroom, follow these steps:
- Remove all items from cabinets, shelves, and countertops
- Evaluate each item and discard or donate any unnecessary or expired products
- Group similar items together for easy organization, such as toiletries, makeup, and cleaning supplies
- Assign a dedicated storage space for each group of items
- Invest in space-saving storage solutions, such as over-the-toilet shelves or hanging organizers
Can you recommend five essential tips for efficient bathroom organization?
Certainly! Here are five tips to help you organize your bathroom efficiently:
- Use clear, stackable containers for storing small items, such as cotton balls and Q-tips
- Hang items like hairdryers and brushes on hooks or in a hanging organizer
- Make use of drawer dividers to separate and organize items, such as combs and toothbrushes
- Limit the number of products kept on countertops to reduce visual clutter
- Regularly declutter and evaluate the necessity of each item to avoid accumulation of unwanted products
What is the best approach to simplify and streamline a bathroom space?
To simplify and streamline your bathroom, focus on functionality and designated storage spaces. Minimize the number of items displayed on countertops, and use organizers, racks, or baskets to store other items such as towels and toiletries. Also, invest in multifunctional products to eliminate the need for multiple items serving similar purposes.
How can I categorize my bathroom items for better visibility and access?
Categorizing your bathroom items can improve visibility and access by grouping similar items together. Some categories you may want to consider are:
- Daily use items: toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, face cleansers, and razors
- Haircare: shampoo, conditioner, styling products, and brushes
- Skincare: moisturizers, serums, acne treatments, and makeup removers
- First aid and medicine: bandages, pain relievers, and any prescription medications
- Cleaning supplies: toilet brush, cleansers, and wipes
What strategies can I employ to quickly declutter my bathroom?
To quickly declutter your bathroom, try:
- Setting a timer for 15-30 minutes and focusing on one area at a time, such as countertops or cabinets
- Discarding any expired products, empty containers, or broken items
- Grouping items into “keep,” “donate,” and “discard” piles, and acting on their designated action immediately
- Finding temporary storage alternatives, such as baskets or bins, if dedicated storage solutions are not yet available
How should I utilize shelving to optimize organization in my bathroom?
Shelving can help optimize the organization in your bathroom by providing additional storage space. Some ways to utilize shelving include:
- Installing floating shelves to store decorative items, towels, or extra toilet paper
- Using over-the-door storage racks for small items like brushes, hair accessories, or cleaning supplies
- Placing a freestanding shelving unit over the toilet to store toiletries, extra towels, or candles
- Making use of adjustable-height shelves to accommodate items of varying sizes
Final Words
Are you ready to clear the clutter? We’re with you!
We hope this guide on how to declutter your bathroom helps you when you begin the process.
Refer to it before taking on the challenge to ensure you save time and have a calm and cozy little place by the time you are done!
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