Disorganized
Bathroom
1-27-06
Dear
Kathi,
My bathroom is small and very disorganized. We just moved
in to this new condo and I would love to hear tips about streamlining
and making sense of all of our stuff. To make matters more
difficult, my husband and I share one sink.
Darcy,
Oceanside
Darcy,
You are fortunate to be able to start with empty drawers,
medicine cabinet and under counter areas. If you already have
put things in, pull them all out again.
You will need to toss old items that you will never use and
sort the remaining. Throw out anything with an expired date
and all perishables over one year old. Even toothpaste expires;
the expiration date is on the crimp of the tube.
Sort all remaining items into like categories.
If you have an unreasonably large collection of lipsticks,
nail polish or perfume, pare it down. Get rid of old colors
and the excess that you will never use. Any amount over what
you might be able to use in one year should go. Sort by item,
category, and color. If you have duplicate or similar colors,
unless it is your signature color, get rid of all but one.
Replace each element of your streamlined collection as you
use it up to conserve precious space in the meantime.
Keep your makeup all in one area, preferably in a container.
The same for your husband’s shave crème and razor.
Ceramic bowls are decorative, keep items from cluttering up
the counter and expedite cleaning the counter top.
Attach a long magnet behind the door of your medicine cabinet
to cleverly and neatly hold tweezers, clippers and other metal
gadgets.
Consider installing a wire shelf by the sink to hold toiletries
that you use every day, such as powders, sprays and creams.
Hang a simple s-hook (found in any hardware store) by the
side of the shelf to hold your hairdryer. Simply tie a knot
in the hairdryer cord and pass it through the hook.
Use small plastic bins with drawers for under the bathroom
sink. One drawer can be for lips, another for hair, and the
third for eyes. Use whichever categories you need. Usually
two plastic drawer units fit, with room in between and by
the drain pipe for stand up items like shampoo bottles and
suntan lotion.
If you don’t need two sets of little drawers, buy plastic
stacking bins for the other side to contain like items with
like. Use your imagination to find the proper containers to
group all like items together.
No bathroom should be without some sort of shower caddy. The
basic type is constructed of wire and hangs below the shower
head. Whatever variety you choose, these caddies neatly hold
your shampoos, soaps, shaving crèmes and lotions. Install
a fog free mirror against the back wall for your husband.
Look for a style that also holds his razor and shave crème.
If you have a large enough bathroom, buy a coat tree, or standing
coat rack. Or install two or three attractive hooks on the
back of the bathroom door. These are useful places to hang
bathrobes and nighties as well as provide an extra hook for
the occasional houseguest.
