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| Bathroom Rescue |
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The Bathroom may be one of the smallest rooms in the house, but it generally serves many purposes. As a result, it often gets cluttered and disorganized more than any other room. Think about the many tasks you perform in the bathroom: Showering, relaxing in the bath, putting on makeup, using the toilet, brushing your teeth, shaving, general grooming (hair, nails, skin). You probably also store cleaning supplies, medications, grooming supplies, small appliances (hair drier, curling iron, scale), and linens. Is it any wonder you often have difficulty finding what you need?
Define and Organize
For a smooth transition into 2010, we suggest ... you make reorganizing your bathroom a priority. Start by pulling everything out (other than the permanent structures). Create piles according to the purposes above as well as any others that apply. Put together things that are used together - all your hair supplies in one pile, medications in another.
Sort through these groups one at a time. Pull out all duplicates, expired products, and things you know you won't use. Weed out all the clutter so that only the things you need and use remain.
Now it's time to create zones. These are the physical areas where you store and use the items that fulfill the purposes of the room. This will make your morning routine faster and easier. Set your zones up by convenience locating things based on where you use them and the order in which you access them. If you're putting things into drawers, use plastic containers or dividers to keep small items from getting lost. Small containers can easily be pulled out of drawers or cupboards when in use. They also make it easy to separate one person's things from invading another person's space.
When returning items to the bathroom cabinets, remember that medications should never be stored here. Bathrooms are hot and humid environments that can degrade and damage your medications. Instead, keep them in a cool dry place, preferably one you can lock. Check all medications for expiry dates and dispose of any that have passed their date as they can become dangerous. Do not flush expired medications or vitamins down your toilet or sink. It's best to take them to your pharmacy or proper disposal facility.
How Much Is Enough?
You may be left with a pile of shampoos and lotions that are still good, but you know you'll never use them because you don't like them, or they just don't perform as well as expected. Do a swap with your friends and commit to buying only small bottles of products, as you need them. Avoid the temptation to buy larger quantities because of a sale or promotion. Employ the "one in, one out" rule.
As you go through your linens, be ruthless. Each family member needs only 2 sets of towels and washcloths. One is in use and the other in the linen closet, ready to go. Get rid of any that have holes or permanent stains. This goes for bed linens as well. If you have extras, donate them to a local shelter or charity. Try giving your local animal shelter a call, as they are often eager to take used linens for bedding material for the animals.
Lastly, if you're like me, and like to take home the little bottles of shampoos, conditioners, and lotions every time you stay in a hotel, create a "For All Guests" basket. Keep it on the bathroom counter. Throw in sample products you get in the mail, the free toothbrushes from the dentist, disposable razors and all the items acquired on your travels. This basket serves many purposes. First, it acts as a storage location for the random things that can accumulate in a bathroom. Second, your guests will think you're considerate for having thought of them. Third, when friends come to stay overnight, someone inevitably forgets to bring a toothbrush or other random item and the guest box keeps him or her from wasting time running to the store. Fourth, because you've marked the basket for ALL guests, visitors who use the bathroom are welcome to help themselves as well. This way, instead of cluttering up the bathroom, these items will get used (and hopefully keep guests from snooping in your medicine cabinet.)
When you don't have to spend your early mornings scrambling to find what you need to get ready, your entire morning ritual is calm, simple, and pleasant. You don't rush, and you certainly don't stress out about hunting down your brush or your razor. A serene morning gives you a clear mind to get started on whatever the day may bring.
Good Luck!
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