Does your bathroom drive you crazy? It is a room often used but seldom given attention. It is one of the smallest rooms in our homes yet it has hundreds of items in it. Even though it is a chore many of us don’t like, it is a room that honestly needs to be cleaned well and often. Other than the kitchen it should honestly be the cleanest room in our homes. I am suggesting that you once again empty out areas to start fresh and get organized. In a later blog entry I will cover grooming items (i.e. makeup, brushes, combs, toothbrushes, etc.)
First start in your linen closet (if you have one). Take everything out. Sort items into categories, i.e. towels, washcloths, cleaning supplies, etc. Now I personally sort my towels into a couple of piles. Hand towels, bath towels, hair towels, and old torn towels. I try to put the best and most often used on top.
Now that you have everything out and sorted, how many of the items do not belong in the bathroom? We seem to use our bathroom linen closets as a quick stash place when we are rushing around cleaning up. Anything that doesn’t belong put where it does belong. Before putting things away clean the area. Wash off shelves sweep out the bottom. Figure out where you would like things to go. (Yes we are again planning.) You may have kept things on lower shelves before and now you would like them up higher or vice versa. Things you don’t use as much you may choose to place either up higher or on the bottom. Whatever you choose is ok. Do what is best for you and your family. There is no right or wrong way to do it.
Ok what is below your sink are there things you would like to move to your linen closet? Go ahead and move these items and do the same with items you had in your linen closet you want to put below your sink. (If you have small children keep cleaning supplies out of reach, do the same with soaps, shampoos etc. or put a lock on the cabinet doors.)
Keep thing near where you use them. Toilet paper kept on the other side of the room does you no good if you are going to the bathroom and the roll is empty. Here again planning is important. Some people don’t like to keep an extra roll out in the open and that is ok. You can find many things to keep them in. Little cabinets meant for rolls of toilet paper, some place them on the plunger handle, (hopefully it is clean) others have decorative baskets or boxes where they put the extra rolls. Whatever you choose is ok. I simply recommend you keep things where it makes sense to you and where you need the items. With a little work and ingenuity we can transform our bathroom into a room that is pleasant to be in.
Don’t forget while you are organizing to clean. Your shower is sometimes the most disorganized area in the bathroom. Do you have several different types of shampoos, conditioners, soaps etc.? Check to see if you have empty containers if so throw them out. If you keep your shaving items in the shower check for rust. If your blades are rusted throw them out. Can you decrease the number of items in the shower? If so please do so. Once every couple of months you should take down your shower curtain and wash it in the washing machine with ½ cup of bleach. This will kill any mold that may be lurking on it.
Do you have items on your vanity that just take up space and are not used often? If so put them away. The cups, etc. that are around need to be cleaned. We sometimes forget to do this. Another tip many don’t know is do not keep medications in your bathroom. It is the moistest rooms in your home and can cause your meds to get damp, stick together or even start to dissolve. Most meds should be kept in a cool dry area, so the bathroom is not a good choice.
The primary goal for today is to place things where you can easily get to them and where you use them. Also clean the areas and items that are most often missed. No sense allowing germs and bacteria to grow and getting yourself or your family sick.
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