Spring Cleaning- Day 20th- Day 22 The bathrooms

​There's a  lot of hoarding going on in the bathroom.
If your family is like mine, the bathroom is one of the most popular rooms in your house. You may be lucky and have a lot of cabinet space and more than 1 bathroom, in which case clutter might not be an issue. But one of the things I've noticed in my clients' homes, no matter how many you have, is a lot of hoarding going on in the bathroom. For an example, I recently helped clean out a client's bathroom in which dozens of new toothbrushes, (the ones given to you from the dentist) and an incredible number of floss and toothpicks were stuffed into a couple of drawers. I've also noticed a multitude of cleaning supplies crammed under the sink, unused makeup packed in overflowing drawers, and excessive amounts of shampoo, conditioner and soap piling up and not just the ones taken from hotel rooms. While it's always a good idea to keep back-up supplies around, in some homes I've seen more spare products than a family will use in the course of a year or more. So to keep your bathroom tidy and neat, clear everything out, and put back in only what you need for the next month. Here's a few suggestions:

• Cleaning supplies: If you have more than three cleaning agents under your bathroom sink, you have too many. I only keep a small spray bottle of vinegar and essential oils in my bathroom. 
• Shampoos and conditioners: you may need to keep a couple of different brands in the shower. But remember, you probably shop every week. Don't store in your bathroom what can be stored in the grocery store until you need it. Use up what you have now, and don't buy anymore until it's close to being gone. Same goes for toothpaste or soap.
• Toothbrushes: One for each family member and a spare is plenty. 
• Makeup: I have seen drawers full of dozens of lipsticks, opened and barely used. Some may never be used again. If you buy makeup, don't like the shade and you know you're never going to use it, give it to a friend or throw it out. Unopened makeup can be donated to your local women's shelter. Then promise yourself not to buy new makeup until you've used what you've got or thrown away what you've got. This my time of the year where I buy new make up and throw away the old.
• Towels and wash rags: If your bathroom cabinets are overflowing with towels, yet there's no room to put away the clean ones, you've got too many. Keep guest and beach towels somewhere else, such as a linen or clothes closet. Throw out the old, un-matching and threadbare ones. Throw them out or use them as cleaning rags. Again, a dozen cleaning rags per household should suffice.
• Toilet paper: Yes, Costco has such a good deal on 36-roll packages. But again, unless you absolutely have the storage space, or a large family, there's no need to buy that much at one time. I have seen toilet paper stored in hallways and entryways for lack of another place. You're only saving a few cents, not worth it!
• First Aid supplies: The bathroom is a natural place to keep the alcohol, peroxide, bandages, etc. They probably aren't used everyday, so if you have little space, I prefer to see these items boxed in a plastic case and put away in a linen closet. Keep the more frequently used items at your fingertips instead. Check expiration dates once a year. 
• Toys: Toys don't belong in the bathtub. You can keep them handy by attaching mesh nets to the shower wall. 
• Electronics: Blow dryers, curling irons, hot rollers and razors that don't work anymore should be thrown in the trash. Ones that do work, and are going to be used, can be kept under the sink, or stored in a basket that's hung on the wall.
• Magazines: We all know what they're there for, and they're fine. But no more than two or three, stored in a magazine rack.

 Now that you've cleaned out the bathroom, vacuumed the drawers, the last step is to clear almost everything off the counter, except for a soap dispenser, and try keeping it that way. Nothing is nicer than a nice clean de-cluttered bathroom...