Organizing the bathroom
Keeping your bathroom organized is a lot more important than most people think. It's vital to our morning routines - to getting out the door on time. Running out of staples like soap or toilet paper is pain in the ass. So are emergency trips to the store to purchase some essential toiletry only to find, in a few days, several packages of the item hidden elsewhere.Getting Started:
tools you'll need:pen/paper
box for items belonging elsewhere
heavy duty garbage bags
paper towels and cleaning solution
Start with the medicine cabinet and work your way around the room. Completely empty each area, and decide the fate of each item. It's useful to have pen and paper nearby so you can write down anything that needs to be replaced. Toss anything empty, expired, rusty, or leaky. If you tried a product a couple of times and didn't like it - toss it! Don't feel guilty! Anything that belongs in another room gets put in the box. Whenever possible, remove the outer packaging from items - it uses a lot of extra space. (Just make sure any needed instructions are written on the product!) Wipe down each shelf before you start putting items back on it. Put things where they make sense - stuff you use often in front, make-up near the mirror, and so on. Every item should have a home!
I'm somewhat obsessive about zones. My medicine cabinet has a zone for the meds and vitamins I take daily, a zone for pain meds, tummy meds, sleeping meds, band-aids and other small first aid items, daily grooming supplies such as deodorant or toothpaste and floss, etc.
Be imaginative about the containers you use, and they don't have to cost a lot, or any, money. Shoe boxes are great. I keep a supply of cotton balls in a small Tupperware container - they stay clean, and I don't have to deal with a big bag every day. Small baskets that can be wall mounted are great for items like nail clippers, your favorite lipsticks, or the makeup you use every day (keeps you from sorting through your glitter eyeshadow as you get ready for the office). Make an earing organizer out of a needlepoint cloth and frame [insert picture here] A basket on the back of the toilet can hold larger items. Shelves over the toilet make great use of otherwise wasted space. Clear plastic boxes, like clear shoe boxes, are great. You can usually get a set of 4 of these at a arts and crafts store or a warehouse store. I love giving myself facials and manicures, so I have a box labeled "face care" and one labeled "nail care." When you've sorted your supplies, you'll see what categories make sense for you.
Under the sink, I use a janitors caddy to hold cleaning supplies. When it's time to clean, I put the whole thing on the counter to avoid having to duck back into the cabinet over and over. I also have a dedicated set of cleaning supplies for the bathroom so I'm not running to the kitchen or closet when I need the windex or a new sponge. You can expand your storage room under the sink with small plastic drawered units. Before buying anything to go under your sink, measure the space and make sure the pipes won't interferer with whatever solution you decide on.
Keeping the countertop as empty as possible is great - makes it easier to clean, and prevents items from being knocked off and broken
Maintenance tips
Stock up on toilet paper, soap, tampons - very useful items to buy from a warehouse store, they don't go bad and you will eventually use them, and running out is a major hassle. If space is a factor, store only the current supply in your bathroom and keep the rest in a nearby closet. And always write the item on your shopping list when you use the 2nd to last one.Hang a squeegee in your shower and squeegee the entire stall after your shower - 10 seconds every morning prevents buildup on your shower and saves a great deal of scrubbing - and there's nothing like naked squeegeeing!
Never think "I don't know where this goes" - YOU decide where things go, but always put them away. Don't tell yourself you'll put it away later - you won't, and this is how you got this mess in the first place