We realize that cleaning out and getting rid of things around the entire house isn’t necessarily attainable to do all at once. Instead, we think that by dedicating one room a month to really take the time to clean out and get organized is a better solution. For the month of February, we are going to tackle the bathrooms in our house - here is to decluttering and getting rid of things that have been sitting around for a little too long.
Out with the old in with the new…towels. Almost every household has them - towels that have been around for who knows how long. If you and your family members are using ratty towels that have permanent stains or rips and tears, it is time to finally get rid of them. Have a set of two towels for every household member and new hand towels for each bathroom. Have fun with this by changing up your towel color scheme and treat yourself to ones that are an upgrade from what you were using before - getting out of a hot shower will never feel better!
Throw away expired medicine! Not only is expired medicine ineffective, but it also can cause a danger if consumed due to the change in chemistry. Go through each and every bottle of medicines you own - from syrups to pills, and dispose of those that are expired as they no longer serve a purpose to your or household members. It is very important to check the bottles for the specific disposal instructions. If there are no directions on how to dispose of it, take it to a local take-back program. Do not throw them directly in the trash!
Expired…cosmetics? For all the women out there who didn’t know there was a timeline on their cosmetics, you are not alone. But, it’s true! Cosmetics do have an expiration date. Most bottles and containers will say the length of time you should use the product or the “period after opening” usually on the back of the product. It is a little container logo that will have a number followed by M, meaning months. Your products can vary from 6M, 12M, 18M, 24M, 36M and so on. If you have expired makeup, use this month to dedicate to disposing of it and replacing them with new products.
Excessive hair accessories. Women know that bobby pins and hair ties seem to go missing yet reproduce at a rapid rate. It is more than likely that you have a drawer in your bathroom dedicating to such things and it’s getting a little messy. If you are holding on to things that you no longer wear, especially if you haven’t looked twice at it all year, it’s time to get rid of it. While you’re in there, get those pins, ties, and cords organized in their own bins or hooks to make for a more organized drawer in the future.
Only the essentials in your shower. Is your shower rack full of half-used bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash? What about a scented body scrub you only have used once? Showers are supposed to be a time of relaxation and clearing your head - if you are surrounded by a graveyard of bottles, then it is only clogging up any relaxation time you may have. Try to keep only the essential things you use in the shower and the rest either in the trash or in the closet for special use.
Countertop space. Just like your shower, you should only have the essential things on your countertop. Meaning maybe just your toothbrush and hand soap - the rest should be put away in a drawer or cupboard. Visually speaking, it will make your bathroom feel much more refreshing and will take away all the distractions. The bathroom is the one place in the house that should truly feel relaxing to you - by taking these declutter steps, you can feel much better about unwinding here and make bath time that much more enjoyable!