| Copyright (c) 2008 Pat Brill | | | | you purchased the product. Then toss |
| When you look at your bathroom, is it | | | | out all the items that have been hanging |
| clean and organized? Are you hiding all | | | | around forever. |
| the clutter in the medicine cabinet or | | | | ==>Storage Areas |
| in under-the-sink storage? Bathrooms | | | | You have now gone through your makeup |
| seem to attract lots of small items like | | | | and cleansing products, tossed out what |
| makeup, medicine bottles, hair | | | | you didn't need or what has expired and |
| accessories, razors, hairbrushes, | | | | now you are ready to organize what's |
| lotion, shampoo, product samples and the | | | | left. If you have a small bathroom |
| list goes on. Finding what you need as | | | | area, here are some organizing tools to |
| well as removing old products can be | | | | help you. |
| challenging. Here are a few simple | | | | -Over the Toilet ' this is a great space |
| ideas to help you create more space and | | | | to add a storage cabinet that is |
| be more organized. | | | | enclosed and has several shelves. Don't |
| ==>De-Cluttering | | | | forget to organize this space with |
| Though they call it a medicine cabinet, | | | | appropriate sized bins to contain and |
| it is probably not a great place to | | | | organize all those little things. |
| store your medicines. Bathrooms can | | | | -Tub and Shower Areas ' Caddies and |
| become hot and humid and that may affect | | | | corner shelving hold shampoo and |
| the quality of your medicines. Also, | | | | cleansing products. A rack that fits |
| young hands and minds might go foraging | | | | over the tub can be good for the |
| in your cabinet and play with or ingest | | | | childrens' toys. Find a fishnet bag to |
| medicines that are not meant for them. | | | | house the toys and hang from the |
| So store your medicines out of reach in | | | | showerhead to dry. |
| a dry, dark area, like a linen closet | | | | -Under the Sink Area ' Here is a great |
| (as long as it isn't in your bathroom!). | | | | space to include inexpensive storage |
| Toss out medicines that are past their | | | | containers. Go to your local dollar |
| expiration date. | | | | store and stock up on the right storage |
| Most people store makeup, nail polish, | | | | products for your bathroom. Have |
| shampoo and other cleansing products in | | | | separate storage areas for each person |
| their bathrooms. Keep in mind that | | | | or for different categories of products. |
| these products all have a shelf life ... | | | | You can also store products used for |
| even if you don't use them often. | | | | cleaning the bathroom for easy access. |
| Most makeup will last about 18-24 | | | | If space is limited, and there are |
| months, except for mascara which should | | | | several people sharing one bathroom, |
| be replaced every three months. Mascara | | | | have separate caddies for each |
| accumulates bacteria quickly, so toss it | | | | individual's products. These caddies can |
| out even if there is product still left. | | | | be stored in their individual bedrooms |
| Liquid eyeliner lasts about three to | | | | or closets and brought out only when |
| six months and nail polish lasts | | | | needed, thus not using up all the |
| approximately one year, depending upon | | | | available storage space in a small |
| how often you use it. If your | | | | bathroom. A makeup or nail caddy can be |
| foundation or lipstick starts to smell, | | | | easily transferred to the bathroom or |
| it has probably turned bad, so toss it. | | | | another room when you want to use it and |
| Lipstick can last up to two years, | | | | stowed away when not in use. |
| though if you put it in the refrigerator | | | | ==>Final Thoughts |
| you may be able to keep it longer. The | | | | Once you've put the time in to |
| shelf life of hair products is usually | | | | de-clutter, clean and organize your |
| 18 months. | | | | bathroom, it is easier to keep it up. |
| If the product doesn't have an | | | | And now that it's done, it's time to |
| expiration date, it's a good idea to | | | | celebrate by creating a relaxing mood |
| take a permanent marker and add your | | | | ... light a great smelling candle, run a |
| calculated expiration date on the | | | | warm bath and either read or just |
| product as soon as you start to use it. | | | | daydream. It's your time to relax. |
| This way you don't have to remember when | | | | |