Next up… the bathroom. That’s right! There’s no hiding this room from company! Let’s tackle this clutter magnet once and for all!
Again we’re going to begin by emptying out anything and everything that isn’t fastened to the floor! Take out the toiletries, towels, rugs, shower curtain, curtains, contents of drawers and cabinets… everything. Put these items in the hall or another room for now. If you have helpers of the tiny variety, be sure to put out of reach anything that might spray, squirt, dribble or require a trip to the ER if ingested. (This may be a great nap time task!) Once the bathroom is empty, take a good look. Now grab a bucket. It’s time to CLEAN!
Spray everything first. Toilet bowl cleaner in the bowl, disinfectant on every other toilet surface. Let the cleaners clean and spray disinfectant on the shower walls, tub, and sink. Let those cleaners do the work and spray the mirrors and windows with glass cleaner and clean those first! Wipe the sill. Wipe down the walls, light switches, base boards. Dust. Sweep. Wipe down any drawers and cabinet shelves. I prefer disinfecting wipes for this. Wipe down the cabinet fronts. Clean out the trash can.
Now get a clean cloth and really scrub down the sink. Use a stiff brush or an old toothbrush to clean around and behind the faucets. Next use that cleaning brush and clean out the shower/tub, working from the top down. I usually roll up my pant legs, take off my socks and hop right in. Make sure you don’t leave behind any gunk or build-up. Vinegar is fantastic on cutting build up on shower doors.
Last of all, really scrub that toilet. Don’t forget behind the tank. Now it’s time to mop the floor. I use 1 cup regular ol’ vinegar to 1 gallon of water. And I add a few drops of my favorite essential oil.
Take a moment and have a cool drink of water. Doesn’t it look and smell fantastic? Get those towels, rugs, curtains, and shower curtain in the laundry. Put on some cheery music. Now put back ONLY the items you used this morning. It’s time to sort and purge all the rest of the ‘stuff’!
Let’s start by getting rid of what is clearly lived it’s whole life. Throw away anything that is expired. Anything that is dried out, crusty, or 99.9% used up. If you have partial bottles of shampoo, conditioners, or body washes… condense them. Find a cute basket or container for bath products you are saving… and START USING THEM! What are you saving them for anyway?? There’s no such thing as ‘special soap’. It’s just soap. Use it. Same goes for body spray, bath salts, and lotion. Either gift it to someone who will use it, or cut yourself off from buying any more until you use up what you have!! Trust me. Stores aren’t going to suddenly stop selling soap. It’ll be there when your stash runs out!
This sort is a time to be very honest and very ruthless in your purging. Sort your makeup, hair products, bath products, etc. Keep going until all the toiletry items are sorted. You know what you need for your routine. It’s perfectly acceptable to have a favorite brand. Let the rest go.
Go through your towels. If yours are in sad shape, put them on your list. Take the really old ones and cut them up for rags. Most people have way more towels than they need or use. Unless you don’t have easy access to a washer and dryer, you really only need one set per family member and a few extras.
Put things back in an orderly fashion. Return to the shower only the products you use on a daily basis. If you have an overabundance of bath toys, invest in an inexpensive mesh laundry bag that you can easily remove when the toys are not in use.
An over-the-door towel rod is an amazing investment. Designate one hook per family member. Color-coding towels is another great tip. Instead of buying all the same color towels, give everyone in the family a different color. Then it’s easy to determine the culprit when towels get left on the floor!
Shoeboxes make wonderful organizers! I use one clear plastic shoebox with a lid for all my first aid items and one for items I use only in the summer. You will have different categories. Divide them in a way that makes sense to you. Baby items, medicines, hair products… whatever works best. I recommend labeling them clearly. You can even decorate them if you wish!
Put your cosmetics in a clear zipper pouch so you can easily see what you are reaching for. Dollar stores often sell cute handled buckets or pails that you can utilize inexpensively. Remember to store cotton balls and cotton swabs in containers that can be closed tightly to keep them sterile. Pint sized mason jars work well.
When you are finished putting away, think about the aesthetics. Simple, uncluttered and clean are the most eye pleasing, but a creative touch or two can make it welcoming. A colorful picture on the wall or quirky sign can add a touch of whimsy. Add a scented candle, a nice hand-soap pump, and a hand towel. Get a pretty basket, roll up your guest towels and display them.
A GREAT trick to keep this room smelling sweet: add a few drops of essential oils to the cardboard tubes of your toilet paper rolls. The fragrance lasts a long time, but is subtle… and no one will know where it’s coming from!
Replace your laundered rugs, curtains and shower curtain. If these items have lived their whole lives, add them to your list. But for now, enjoy your hard work and your clean sparkly room.
That’s two successes in our pockets! We’re gearing up for the big one!
apocketfullofplans 