organizing the bathroom

[Sara Noel]

Starting with the bathroom. Most are smaller than other rooms and perhaps easier to tackle.

A lot of us organized our bathrooms during the spring fling, but maybe we didn't maintain.

Let's think for a moment about our bathroom layout. Is it a small space? Without thinking of decor, but only about organizing and decluttering. What things don't you like about your bathroom(s)?

Maybe spend some time looking at pictures of bathrooms online or in magazines and notice ideas that you might like to implement.

What can you add to organize it? What can you eliminate that is causing clutter? What types of habits can you work on that cause the current state of disorganization in your bathroom?

Organizing doesn't have to be a chore. It can be a happy time and opportunity to make some lifelong changes.

Let's think for a moment about how we feel about our bathroom. When you enter the room, how does it make you feel? Is the clutter all over the counters, is the sink constantly an eyesore? Is the vanity/cabinets/closet/drawers always in disarray?

Whenever you tackle organizing, what are the key things that go back to being a mess again? Let's take a look at those areas and the habits that you and others in your family do that cause this and work toward changing it.

Does your medicine cabinet have things that are outdated or don't even belong in the bathroom?

Work on one item at a time and get some boxes or categorize items into piles or bags. Do what you need to and get things into like item groups. Cosmetics together, soaps together, shampoos together, etc

Some items to consider for the bathroom are shower/bath caddy, plastic mesh baskets, drawer liners that grip, etc.

Here are some links to some nice organizers you can consider investing in.

http://www.stacksandstacks.com/html/product51_0.htm
http://spacesavers.com/bathshelves.html
http://www.growinglifestyle.com/us/a.../a1779285.html
http://www.growinglifestyle.com/us/a.../a1780600.html
http://allbrightideas.com/Bathroom%2...Organizers.asp

Take a few minutes and declutter and organize that bathroom. Create a place for the things that are in the bathroom. If it doesn't have a place, maybe it doesn't belong there and can be tossed, moved to a space it does belong, or organized in a way that it can now have a space.


My bathrooms are very small. One of my problems is tub toys. I am going to create something to organize the toy situation. In the past, even when I cleared the toys out of the tub, I shoved them under the vanity. Then when I needed to get into the vanity, I'd toss them into the tub. lol It's a never-ending battle of the toys. It's time for me to get some sort of organizer to remedy this situation. I'm considering something that either hangs from the bathroom door, suction cups to the tub, or can hang from the towel rack in the tub area.

Under my one sink is some shampoos, hair dryer, curling irons. Under my other there isn't anything, but a couple of magazines. Both bathrooms have large closets near them and I use them for towels and storing toilet paper, and cleaning items.

Sometimes my cosmetics don't get immediately put away, but I've somewhat made it a habit because with a toddler in the house, leaving out items like lipstick can be a definite learning experience. lol

I have single wall shelf on one wall. I saw a pair of scissors, a mighty beanz, and a rubber stamp on it amongst a can of shaving gel, and two containers of kiddie bath products. ugh Time to clear that off. I also noticed my washcloth organizer is currently empty and just sitting there with a couple of odd cosmetics shoved into it.

How's your bathroom? Let's organize it.

Please report how you do.

[Sara Noel]

Some bathroom organizing sites for inspiration and suggestions.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/ah_organizi...383831,00.html

http://www.onlineorganizing.com/Hous...t_Bathroom.htm

http://www.bathandkitchenstudio.com/...e-bathroom.cfm

http://www.overhall.com/bathroom.htm

[homesteadmamma]

Great topic, organizing.

My bathroom is so small there isn't much to organize. I have a tiny cabinet over the bathtub and its organized since the spring fling.

Under the sink is a small cabinet and it holds tp. Other than that there isn't any room to put anything else, so bathroom organization for me is very simple.

Its the other rooms that are something else!!!

Thanks for all those links Sara.

[canadian gardener]

I"ve got ds moving back in, and I want to get a couple of baskets with handles so there is room to put the personal care stuff (makeup, hair and tooth care for me) so each person can pull their stuff up out of the cabinet, use it and put it back.

I keep the counters clear for ease of wiping down daily.

[santoria]

we just got new stuff for our bathroom. new medicine cabinet. I have been pretty good keeping everything in its place. Tossed out ALL the old stuff. including ancient perfumes and stuff.

We also got a shelf/cupboard unit for the corner. I have the cupboard filled with face cloths, small towels, cotton swabs etc, and dh's shelf has his head shavers and stuff.

The one part that is bugging me is the wire basket that dh resuced from an old freezer. He tosses his dirty work clothes in it. IT kills me to look at the darn thing. But I don't know if I could get some thing nicer, it would be dirty the minute he drops a bit of clothing in there (he is a drywall sander so everything he touches is covered in a fine white powdery dust).

But maybe.... I will find a neat plastic one at walmart....I'll have to look

On the back of the toilet is a basket with my lotions and bath stuff. Quite a variety now that I am selling avon. LOL. But it is cheap so I don't feel too bad about tossing things.

I am good about keeping my make up out of the way, my 3 year old has a 'thing' for lipstick. I have a travel case with a handle hanging on rack over the door. I put something on then toss it in there. It works well when dh is in the bathroom and I need something I usually have a bit of everything in my little bag. LOL drives him batty.

Oops I rambled...

[canadian gardener]

Useful rambling Christine, ramble on! You have some good thoughts in there!

[niceday]

Thanks for the bathroom tips and the sites...