Organizing Your Bathroom

Dispose of Old Products and Sort Keepers

Start your bathroom organizing by clearing out and disposing of products that are no longer any good. Check for products that are dried up or evaporated and any products that have expired. These include cosmetics, hair products, lotions, cleansers, and medications.

For prescription and over the counter medications check their expiration dates and dispose of any that have expired. Also dispose of any old and rusty razors or other cutting instruments that are rusted, dull, or broken.

Once items have been disposed of give the bathroom area a good cleaning to include any shelving and linen closets.

Evaluate Bathroom Storage Space and Select Products

If you are short on storage space purchase and install an over the toilet étagère. An étagère is of French origin and is basically a piece of light furniture with open shelves for displaying small objects. The two represented in pictures here vary in style and expense.

For convenience store and fold or roll your towels and washcloths by size. If needed install extra towel holders or rings at different levels to accommodate user heights.

If room permits delegate a space for each family member’s personal items. If there is no existing medicine cabinet consider installing one for storage of medicine and first aid items. Browse a bath supply website for available choices. Some sources have wicker type wall mounted medicine shelves that are extra roomy. These have extra space for toiletries and the like. These can be mounted into sheetrock using expandable molly-type bolts.

For convenience and to save space in the bathtub install a shower caddy for soap, hair shampoos and other products used for bathing. Hooks can be added to the back of doors for hanging bath robes and towels.

Wall mount hair dryers and curling irons to save counter space. You may want to consider creating or buying a fabric skirt for your sink to hide items underneath. See an example here.

Storing Items

Sort like items together. For instance first aid, body care products, and cleaning products are larger and separate categories. You may want to break these categories down into smaller subgroups, for instance first aid could be broken down into: cold and cough remedies, eye, ear, and nose care items, and bandages and first aid ointments, etc.

When storing items place seasonal items on the top shelf of the linen closet and store frequently used items on lower shelves near the front, on the sink counter, or étagère within easier reach. Use drawer dividers and organizers for your choice of loose items like small soaps, cosmetics, and odds and ends.

Use turntables and pull out caddies for easy access to cleaning products or other items when storing them in cabinets or closets. Small bins and baskets can be used for small and loose items. Save baskets from cosmetic and fruit gift arrangements for this purpose to save a few bucks.

Bathroom Safety Considerations

As with the under sink storage idea mentioned above be mindful of where you store any products that could be dangerous to a child. Whether you are storing cleansers, perfumes, medicines, small objects that could be choking hazards, and so on consider storing these items in an out of reach area or use locks to prevent entry.

Never leave electrical items plugged in near water. Toilets and bathtubs can be drowning hazards. Never leave toddlers in the bathtub alone or better yet never leave them in the bathroom alone. Toilet lid “locks” are available to prevent access by young children and they can be found for around $10-$15(2009 prices).

Set your water temperature at a safe level via the water heater. No higher than 120 degrees F is recommended.

I hope these ideas make your bath experience more convenient and that your new arrangement proves to be a time saver especially when preparing for the workday as well as a safe environment for both baby and adult.

authored by Lon Britton

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