Bathroom Organization

Previously posted in January 2011.  

The first and most important step you can take in dejunking and reorganizing your bathroom is to go through every inch of the room, and get rid of everything that isn't being used.    Grab a large black plastic trash bag and you'll be surprised at how quickly you can fill it.  Get rid of every outdated prescription, old half full bottles of conditioners, lotions, bath oils, broken brushes and combs and make-up.  Empty every drawer, cupboard and shelf completely.  Before replacing things on the shelves,  if needed, line the drawers and shelves with fresh contact paper or drawer liners.  Then, re-determine the purpose of each storage area in the bathroom.  Will the drawer be for cosmetics or first aid?  Hair care or manicuring?  Will the shelf in the closet or under the sink hold towels?  Decide what will work the best in use and in keeping things organized in the future.

Mini storage containers are especially excellent in the bathroom for sorting products rather than just having a shelf full of "stuff".  Example:  I have a 24" long plastic basket that is about 6" wide and fits perfectly along the edge of the shelf in my bathroom closet.  This contains all liquid soaps, body washes and lotions.  Another smaller plastic bin holds bar soaps.  Another holds headbands and larger hair accessories.  Assign different containers individual purposes.  Some suggested sorting ideas:

• Lotions and skin care
• facial care
• hair care
• manicure
• first aid
• cosmetics

A few tidbits:

• There are some pretty clever ways to store toilet paper.  A basket on the back of the toilet tank will hold a few rolls.  A large tall thin decorative trash container works.  I just store mine in the cupboard next to the john.  They are out of sight, kept dry, close when needed. 
• If closet space is limited, a basket with rolled up washcloths or handtowels sits well on the top of the toilet tank. 
• A separate plunger is a neccessity under every sink in the home.  Each plunger should be labeled on the handle with a permanent marker, "Guest bath", "Downstairs bath", "Master Bath" and especially the "Kitchen" plunger, which should be stored under the kitchen sink!  Plunging the sink isn't so bad when you know it's not the pooey plunger.  No one wants to have to race around the house to find the plunger when the one bathroom is flooding over with who knows what onto your floor. Plungers aren't pretty, so store them out of sight.  And if it doesn't fit under the sink, you're actually "allowed" to cut the wooden handle down enough that it will. 
• Under the bathroom sink is a great place to hang a paper towel roll.  It can be used for cleaning the mirror, that last wipe after cleaning of the toilet (especially that little strip of porcelain between the seat and the tank), or just for little hands instead of having the kids grab a huge bath towel and toss it in the wash or leave it on the floor after they dry their hands. Just make sure to have a trash can near by for used ones.
• A great way to store a blowdryer or curling iron is in an wooden or metal toothbrush holder that has the little cup hole in the center of it.  It can be mounted inside a closet wall and is convenient to toss the tool in the hole without worrying about melting or burning anything.  Another way is to hang hooks inside the bathroom closet and just hang the irons and dryers.
• For the gazillion hair clips, bows and barrettes, hang a 1" wide piece of ribbon to the back of a closet door.  Clip them on for easy access and storage.  Have a huge basket that larger ones can just be tossed into.
• The best tool I've ever found for pony tail bands is a metal ring that they can slip onto easily.  It's a cool little gadget and the girls actually think it's fun to put the ponies onto it, so that helps.  Fun gadgets always help.
• A hamper or laundry basket is a neccessity in any bathroom.  If there's no place to put them, the clothes and towels will always end up on the floor.  Face it, with kids, even if there is a basket, they will sometimes still land on the floor.  But, a basket helps immensely, even if you're the only one picking up!  Baskets seem to have more success, because, things with lids require the extra step of opening.  One step less, just tossing things into a basket is more simple.  Store it out of sight in the bottom of the bathroom closet.  
• Fold towels the same way and when they go onto the shelf, "aim" the folds all to the outside of the shelf.  It makes it easier to grab a towel without grabbing the one below it and looks much better on the shelf.  They'll look just like the linen department at your favorite store!
• Medications should not be stored in the bathroom.  The bathroom is the warmest room in most homes and by far, the most humid.  Heat and humidity both shorten their shelf life.  Storing them in the kitchen is better for the meds, as well as your clutter control.
• If you have several members of the family sharing a bathroom, assign a color to each person.  Then, have colored towels, a baskets/containers, washclothes, toothbrushes... everything...in the same color. This avoids confusion as to who's is who's.
• A few winters ago, after repeated rounds of the flu, I purchased little pencil container for each of the babes at Staples.  Each child gets their own container filled with their own toothpaste, toothbrush and floss.  Germaphobe that I am...I thought about how we put our toothpaste directly on the toothbrush and we all share the toothpaste and we toss them all in the same container or on those little toothbrush holders that collect germs and leftover toothpaste and dare I say it, spit.  That's a guaranteed way to share your cold and flu bugs.  It's been a great discovery for keeping down the germs and organization.  Make sure to toss them in the dishwasher for an occasional sanitizing.  The pencil holders are stored inside the medicine cabinet, out of sight like they should be.  (Again, if it doesn't enhance the look of the room, it should be put away.)  (By the way, ZJ decorated hers with stickers.)
• As mentioned a few days ago, a drawer in the bathroom, easily accessible, is a great place for a little first aid "station".  Bandaids, a few topical ointments that kids are not afraid of, some wipes... most kids will enjoy being their own doctor for little owies.  This helps assure that what you need will be where it's supposed to be when it's a real emergency, prevents unnecessary messes in the bathroom and saves a lot of crying to Mom when they can do it themselves.
• The little plastic three drawer storage containers are great for a bathroom.  They fit under the sink.  One drawer can be assigned to each child to keep their own personal hygiene items.  Label them!   They are also wonderful under the sink for containing things like feminine hygiene products and extra hair care products, soaps and body washes.
• Hang a shower caddy over your shower head.   Don't clutter your tub/shower with 21 bottles of shampoo, conditioners and body washes along the edges of the tub, in the window and in the corners.  If multiple people are using different products, purchase individual caddies that they can put in and out of the shower and return to it's home after use. 
• If your kids are small, have a drip-dry type basket or mesh bag to hang in the tub and whatever fits in it will be plenty if bath toys.  Rotate the bathtoys, if necessary, but there's no need to have that many toys in the bath. 

My three favorite bathroom ideas are these:

1. Have a clock in each bathroom.  It helps inkeeping track of time when you're getting ready or when you are leisurely soaking in the tub with a magazine and bon-bons.  (We all know that happens so often.)  What other room are you usually worried about how much time you have before doing something?   It's also nice to say, "Ten minutes!" and know that they can keep tabs on the time too.
2. Hang an extra spring type shower curtain rod inside your bathtub on the back wall.  This is a great place to hang towels to dry and not have them all over the bathroom.  Plus, it's a wonderful way to hang wet swimsuits, damp clothes, snowsuits, wet socks and gloves rather than having them clutter the entire bathroom and making carpets wet in other rooms.  Honestly, you'll think that this was the best $10 you ever spent on organizing.
3. And the last is to purchase the big coat hooks and hang them on wall behind the back of your bathroom door, if possible.  One hook for each person that uses this bathroom.  Then, as previously mentioned, give everyone their assigned color towel.  But, first... sew a four inch long piece of heavier ribbon (canvas is great!) at the center of the long side of a towel.  This will act as a "hook" for the towel, but not interfere with folding them out of the dryer.  Each family member can hang  their towels after use and the "hook"/ribbon helps it stay secure.  This stops all arguments of who left their wet towel on the floor, who didn't clean up the bathroom.  The same works for washcloths and hand towels, as well.  

And my bonus tip for a nice bathroom... do not tea-stain an americana quilt in the bathtub and then use fifty cleaning products together to try to remove the stain from the tub.  My tub lost it's finish because I mixed cleaning products that weren't meant to be mixed.  Lesson learned.

Inspiration is like a bath.  It doesn't last and needs to be had frequently!