COPY -- pare down bathroom
Set Aside Items Used DailyBefore you start, consider collecting products and tools used on a daily basis for bathing, hair styling, teeth cleaning, nail care, shaving, and skincare. Include frequently used makeup, eye care products, and a few cleaning products. Corral items into a basket or other container and relocate them to use elsewhere.
Purge and Pack by CategoryTo start, consider collecting some sturdy boxes and packing paper for breakable items. I suggest working on one category at a time to avoid a chaotic, jumbled mess. Cover your floor with a clean sheet or tarp. Remove all items in one category from drawers and cabinets and lay them out on the floor. Think about paring down items that are worn out, expired, or no longer used. Pack the items you decide to keep in a box taking care to wrap breakables in packing paper.Clearly label the contents on the outside of each carton. Decide on a good place to store them during the renovation such as a garage or basement. It is not necessary to pack boxes with the same care as you would when moving.Read on for help deciding what to keep and what to toss in each category.
Cosmetics. Many of my clients store large quantities of unused makeup under bathroom sinks or in the back of drawers. Because cosmetics can be quite expensive, they may be difficult to part with. However makeup has a shelf life and cannot be saved indefinitely. It may be easier to part with old makeup after referring to an article in Real Simple from 2/9/2021, A Complete Guide to Makeup Expiration Dates-and How Often to Replace Every Toiletry You Own. https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/makeup-expiration-dates-guideHere are a few guidelines on expiration dates from the article. I recommend tossing anything that has expired. Concealer: one yearCream blush: one yearEyeliner: three monthsEyeliner pencil: two yearsEyeshadow: one yearFoundation: one yearLipstick: two yearsMascara: three monthsNail polish: one yearPowder blush: two yearsAfter paring down, there may be quite a lot of makeup left. I recommend using up what you already own before purchasing new beauty products in the future....
Hair tools and products. Remove all hair styling tools such as combs, brushes, hair dryers, curling irons, flat irons, hot rollers, and hair accessories. Consider culling your supply of brushes and combs if you own more than you need. Throw away any broken tools and consider donating any unused items that are in good condition.Many of my clients hold onto partially-full bottles of haircare products that they never use. They may be cluttering the shower or taking up space under the sink. Often these expensive products do not meet their needs but they feel guilty about tossing them. According to the above Real Simple article, haircare products also have a shelf life. Consider tossing hairspray, shampoo, conditioner, and hair gel that are more than 2-3 years old. I recommend finishing partially-used products before purchasing new ones. Many half-empty containers of shampoo and conditioner will distract from the beauty of your new shower. I recommend avoiding clutter by tossing any products you know you will never use.
Small hotel beauty products and free samples of cosmetics. Often I uncover an over abundance of free samples and small containers of hotel beauty products when decluttering client’s bathrooms. It may be tempting to stockpile free products, but keep in mind they take up valuable real estate in bathroom storage. In addition, these products may have out-lived their shelf life. If you have a large supply of small beauty products, consider paring down or using them up during the remodel. Save a few in your travel bag or guest room and consider donating the rest to a local homeless shelter. Toss any that have outlived their shelf life.
Over-the-counter and prescription medicine. A bathroom remodel is the perfect time to review your supply of medications. Remove all prescription and over-the-counter drugs from your medicine cabinet. Consider consolidating multiple opened containers of the same medicine such a ibuprofen. Check carefully to make sure the mediation is the exact same drug and dosage. Examine the expiration date on all medicine. There is some disagreement on the effectiveness of drugs after their expiration date. However, according to the FDA, expired medicine can be less-effective or even dangerous due to a change in chemical composition or a decrease in strength. Certain expired medications are at risk of bacterial growth and sub-potent antibiotics can fail to treat infections, leading to more serious illnesses and antibiotic resistance. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/special-features/dont-be-tempted-use-expired-medicinesCheck with your pharmacist or local law enforcement agency to find a location to dispose of unused medications. If there is not a drug take-back program in your area, the FDA recommends flushing any medications that contain opioids down the toilet because of their potential for abuse. Re...
Bathroom towels. If you do not have a linen closet in your home, you might store your bath towels in your bathroom. If they worn, frayed, or faded you might consider replacing them. You most likely will not want to hang worn out towels in your brand new bathroom. I recommend checking with a local animal shelter about donating used bath towels. Another option might be to cut towels up and use for cleaning rags.
Cleaning products. I suggest removing any large containers of bleach or floor cleaner and storing them in another part of your house. When the bathroom is completed you may want to keep a small container of all- purpose cleaner and a few microfiber clothes under the bathroom sink to clean water marks and tooth brush splatters from the counter top and mirror. Avoid clutter in your new bathroom by storing other cleaning products elsewhere.
Ideally, you have purged toiletries and packed remaining items in a systematic fashion. It should be painless to organize your new space. Also, keeping your bathroom tidy might be easier moving forward.More on Houzz10 Steps to an Organized and Functional Kitchen7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized KitchenLook for a kitchen designerBrowse dinner plates...
I suggest starting the process early especially if you are remodeling a large master bathroom. You might be surprised by how much you have stashed away in the back of drawers and cabinets.
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