31 Days to a Clutter Free Life: Kids Bathroom ( Day 20)

Day 20: Kids Bathroom

Children, especially girls, can have a shocking amount of bathroom accessories. Hair ties, ponytail holders, bows, nail polish, sunscreen and other products can overflow bathroom counters and drawers in no time. Add in teens or multiple kids sharing a bathroom and that is a lot of clutter!

Giving each child a designated bin or shower caddy can be a lifesaver, and storing these designated bins in a nearby linen closet if possible can also be extremely helpful. You can also make room under the sink or even by assigning each family member a drawer for non-shower items, plus a plastic basket for shampoo, razors and other shower items. Plastic storage bins that can be easily cleaned and stacked are great for makeup, nail polish, hair accessories and more.

It’s easy to hoard bathroom products and you may suddenly find that your daughter’s Lip Smacker collection has taken over every area of the house, or that her hair bands wind up everywhere, even somehow in the cat bowl. Encourage kids to buy and keep only what they can use in six months. Most beauty products don’t keep beyond that time: hairspray and products breakdown the rubber in elastics and gum up hair bows and headbands, making them unusable in the long-term. If something is past its prime, let it go.

 Objective: An organized bathroom for use by multiple family members or multiple genders and age groups.

Assess the current situation: Does each user have appropriate storage space? Are you utilizing storage space efficiently? Can items be stored and pared down so countertops are clear and so the shower and tub can dry, staying clean and mildew free?

Assignment:

1. Remove and put away any items that belong in other rooms. If necessary, use a basket to collect items, then distribute them to their proper homes.

 2. Sort and declutter. Remove all items from drawers and under-sink cabinets, and off the vanity and other areas. Assign a pile for each person. Discard anything that has not been used within the last three months. Check all expiration dates and discard anything that is over six months old. (Again, lotion can separate, and sunscreen and other products lose effectiveness and can even go rancid.)

Keep only items that:

• Are used regularly
• Fit in each person’s allotted storage container or space
• Are in good repair

 Do not keep items that:

• Are expired, leaking or in broken containers
• Are over six months old
• Are sensitive to heat or moisture (like medications)

3. Clean. Thoroughly wipe down all surfaces, insides of drawers and cabinets and shower surfaces.

 4. Organize. Sort “like” items together—for example: hair products and accessories, shower products, and under-sink storage items.

 5. Beautify. If you like, line drawers with pretty paper or drawer liners.

 6. Create functional storage areas in your drawers and cabinets. Use lidded clear plastic containers to house smaller items in drawers. Organize larger bottles in plastic crates with drainage for storage under the sink. Separate them into large plastic bags and label with markers. Toilet paper, feminine hygiene items and other products can be stored under the sink.

7. Organize shower and bath products into a drainable, portable caddy. Each person should have their own caddy to eliminate shower clutter and mildew. Hang a squeegee in your shower and spray for quick cleaning after each use.

 8. Take special care of hair accessories, nail polish and makeup:

• Wipe off each item with a damp towel
• Assign each item its own bin or lidded container
• Discard anything separated, broken or dirty
• Keep only items that fit in the bin.
• Hair bows and accessories may be better stored in a closet on a special hanger or organizer
• Reassess items frequently—most open cosmetics expire after 6 months

 

1. Squeaky Clean Storage Inspiration (Bed-Bath.HomexGarden.com)

2. Cube Style & Function (HomeGoods.com)

3. Bath-Time baskets (DecoratingIdeas4KidsRooms.com)

4. Tucked Away Bath Toys ‪(HomeDIT.com)

5. Big Ideas For Bathrooms (DIYNetwork.com)