10 Things You Don’t Need in Your Bathroom
Over time, a lot of things appear in our bathrooms — from makeup brushes to thousands of towels. But these things can also be stored in other places or even thrown away. And at the end of the article, you will find a list of questions to make the cleaning process much easier.
5-Minute Crafts will help you figure out what you can live without in order to keep your bathroom from turning into a storage room.
Hotel shampoos and gels
Why do we keep these cute shampoo samples at home? Some people think they’ll use them on a trip, while others store them for when they forget to buy the full-sized version of the product, but in most cases, they just take up a lot of space. While you have the right to take these samples from hotels, do you really need to if you didn’t choose them in the first place?
Old towels
If you have a lot of towels that don’t look good anymore and you don’t really use them, maybe it’s time to give them a second life outside the bathroom. No matter how much you like them, the holes and stains won’t make things any better.
Hair dryer nozzles you don’t use
When we buy a hair dryer, we usually get lots of nozzles we never use. And if you’re not planning to change your style any time soon, it’s better to get rid of the useless nozzles. You can hide them in your wardrobe or somewhere else.
Doubles of toothpastes, shampoos, and other products
There’s no need to keep a lot of spare toothpaste tubes, shampoo bottles, and other things. Keep 1 of each and put the rest on a special shelf in a closet or other storage. This way, you’ll save space and your bathroom will look clean and neat.
Detergents
According to Monica Friel, a chief executive organizer with Chaos to Order, almost any bathroom surface can be washed with baking soda, water, white vinegar, liquid soap, and essential oils. And even if you prefer to use special detergents, it’s better not to keep them in your bathroom because they take up a lot of space and you don’t use them every day. Keep them out of your kids’ reach and behind closed doors.
Sunscreens
Try using stickers with dates you opened them on to know when the products will expire. Even though their shelf life is usually around 3 years, the heat and moisture in the bathroom can ruin the cream faster, so experts recommend changing sunscreens once a year. Check the expiry dates of your products and get rid of the extra bottles and tubes.
Gifts
You’ve probably gotten these kinds of kits as presents and have never used them. In the best case scenario, you’ll give them to someone, but most likely, they’ll be with you for many years. Get rid of them and don’t feel sorry about it.
Beauty products and hair accessories
Even though there’s a mirror in your bathroom that’s very convenient to use for makeup, it’s better not to store your beauty products there. You can use a table in the bedroom or, if you don’t have enough space, buy a makeup bag and take it to the bathroom when necessary.
“All makeup products and tools should be stored in a designated cool and dry place, away from moisture. That means you definitely shouldn’t store your makeup in the bathroom. Instead, maintain a vanity kit or a drawer for your makeup products to make sure they’re not contaminated with bacteria from other products or due to high humidity,” recommends Dr. Harshna Bijlani, a medical head at The AgeLess Clinic.
Old soap you got as a gift
If someone gave you soap as a gift and you never used it, it’s time to get rid of it. Either unpack it and use it or throw it away.
Perfumes
Keeping perfumes in the bathroom is a bad idea. Due to the moisture and temperature fluctuations, experts recommend keeping these bottles in cold, dark places.
Bonus: how to declutter your bathroom
Take a trash bag with you into the bathroom and think about the following:
- Which of these things do I actually use?
- Do I have any expired creams, shampoos, and other stuff? Even if something isn’t expired, but the product’s flavor or look has changed, you probably need to get rid of it.
- Are you tired of useless decorative elements? Maybe it’s time to get rid of something.
- Do you use all the appliances?
- Do these things actually make you happy? Consider the decorations, the towels, and other small things. Maybe you are tired of your bathroom design and want to change it.
- Is it possible to optimize the space? Maybe you can add a few more containers.
When you answer all of these questions, the cleaning process will become way more effective.