How to declutter your bathroom: 10 ways to create a better functioning space
Bathrooms are much more than just functional spaces in our homes. They are a place to relax and de-stress after a long day. A hot steamy bath or shower is joyous for this, but the resulting humidity can be damaging if not properly managed. So, keep your bathroom well ventilated because a steamy bathroom leads to condensation which can lead to mold and mildew.
A bathroom is a humid environment which means it’s not a good idea to store things that may be affected by humidity. Whether your bathroom is palatial or bijou here are some tips to declutter so you can enjoy luxurious serenity and have a better functioning bathroom too.
Rummage around in your bathroom drawers and check out these tips, I am sure you will find lots of ways to easily declutter your bathroom:
Medicines
The bathroom is the worst place to store medicines because the humidity and fluctuating temperature doesn’t help prolong their life. You should store medicines in a cool, dry area, out of the reach of babies and children.
Old stuff
Check the ‘use by’ dates and if it’s old, throw it away. Culprits usually include sunscreen, eye makeup and medicines. If you haven’t used something in years, it’s ready for the bin. Old toothbrushes, loofahs, sponges and other bathroom items just collect germs. Get rid of them. An old toothbrush is useful for small cleaning jobs, but store it with your general household cleaning things.
Packaging
Packaging tends to be larger than necessary and is often unattractive. Invest in some pretty containers for things such as cotton-buds and pads, razors, hairbrushes, cotton wool pads, loo roll, spare soaps, toothpaste etc. Glass containers are perfect for bathroom storage; they last a long time, are easy to keep clean and look stylish.
Makeup
Do you store makeup in your bathroom? Don’t. High heat and steam can breed mold and bacteria, and hot vanity lights can damage key ingredients, especially in products that have expired or passed their use-by date. The best place to store make up is in your bedroom, in a cool, dry, and dark place like a drawer, cupboard or vanity case
Top tip: If you go on holiday to a hot humid country store clear perfume, lipsticks, nail polish and waterproof mascara in a fridge.
Jewellery
The humid environment in the bathroom speeds up the oxidation process on jewellery, so unless you enjoy cleaning your jewellery frequently, store it some place dry.
Top tip: See how to reverse the oxidisation process on jewellery using tin foil, water, salt and baking powder.
Perfume
Perfumes are also subject to oxidation which ruins them. Make your perfume last longer and remove it from a humid bathroom environment.
Floor mats
Floor mats help prevent slipping and are nice to have step onto after a bath or shower. However, they must be cleaned frequently as they are subject to mold and can become dirty and smelly. Hang them to dry after every use and throw them away when they get smelly.
Plastic pollution
A bathroom is a haven for plastic: hand wash, face wash, shampoo, conditioner, body wash etc. Instead, invest soap bars. Many shops now stock solid shampoos and deodorants which are plastic free. You will save space and help the environment.
Towels
Do you store your towels in your bathroom? They absorb the moisture in the air. Keep only the towels you need in the bathroom and find somewhere else for your towels.
Books and magazines
We all like to relax in the bath, but paper absorbs moisture like a sponge. If you want to read something, take it with you when you have a bath (or anything else).
After you’ve moved or thrown out the things that shouldn’t be in the bathroom, you’ll have more space to enjoy. Maybe it’s time to take the next step and give your bathroom a makeover or renovation. Get in touch here to speak to our local bathroom installers and decorators.