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Don’t let bathroom clutter slow you down. Learn how to declutter your bathroom countertop, cabinet, and storage areas using this handy checklist!
I shivered as the cold trickle ran down my neck and soaked my back.
When was it going to end?
I grew more and more frantic as I shoved items aside in desperation, silently pleading for the one thing that would get me out of this situation.
And finally, there it was. But I couldn’t breathe a sigh of relief. I was already on borrowed time, and I’d wasted even more searching for this one thing.
The Dangers of a Cluttered Bathroom
In a perfect world, we would wake up on time, fully rested, prepare for the day with ease and speed, and be on our way out the door in next to no time.
All of that sounds nice, but this is real life. And your cluttered bathroom? It might be the source of your bad days.
What’s so bad about a cluttered bathroom? Plenty.
Health Risks
First, a cluttered bathroom can be dangerous to your health. Expired medications, old products, and gunky makeup can make you sick. As a result, an important part of how to declutter your bathroom includes weeding out products that are past their prime.
Wasted Time
When your bathroom is cluttered, you probably spend extra time on your morning routine as a result. You have to hunt through the cabinet and across the countertop for whatever you need.
You might even forget a step or 2 in your routine, because you can’t see the products you want to use because of bathroom clutter.
Frustration
Bathroom clutter can also lead to frustration and a poor start to the day. It’s annoying when you can’t find what you need amid a sea of random stuff. And it doesn’t do your mood any favors to walk into a cluttered, messy bathroom each morning.
Are you convinced yet that you need to learn how to declutter your bathroom? Let’s do it!
Get Ready to Declutter
Decluttering your bathroom is fairly simple. Before I walk you through how to declutter your bathroom, here are a few quick notes.
First, you should consider rinsing out empty/unused product bottles and recycling them, if recycling is available in your area. As an avid rule-follower, I do this all the time. Whether or not you choose to is between you and mother earth. 😉
Next, don’t be afraid to part with makeup or other products that you don’t use. This is true even if you spent a substantial amount of money on the product. If you don’t use it, it’s clutter and it needs to go.
Prepare to Sort Items
As you declutter your bathroom, you’ll sort items into different categories based on what you plan to do with each item. You’ll probably need a box or trash bag for each category.
- Trash (and/or recycle) – Actual trash, plus items that are unusable and unrepairable.
- Keep/Relocate – Items you don’t plan to get rid of, but that don’t belong in the room where you found them.
- Donate – Items you no longer use, need, or love, and that are still in good condition.
- Put Away – Put away the items you’re keeping.
- Give to Someone Else (Optional) – Items you no longer use, need, or love that you know someone else would like to have
- Repair (Optional) – Items you want to keep that need repair, and that you’ll actually repair
How to Declutter Your Bathroom
This checklist is designed to move methodically around your bathroom, but there might be a few items here or there that are out of place. Okay, here’s how to declutter your bathroom!
Medicine Cabinet
- Expired medications (Check out the FDA’s suggestions on disposing of unused medications)
- Medications you no longer intend to use
- Empty medication bottles (You can wash them and use them for this holiday craft!)
- Broken thermometers
- Empty product boxes
Oral Care
- Old toothbrushes (Great addition to your cleaning caddy for detailing small areas)
- Empty toothpaste tubes
- Empty or broken dental floss
- Expired mouthwash
- Broken electric toothbrush
Beauty
- Old or discolored nail polish
- Nail polish colors you no longer like (You can set these bottles aside to use for crafts)
- Old or discolored makeup
- Makeup you no longer use
- Empty makeup containers
- Loose cotton swabs/balls/pads
- Beauty tools that are falling apart or caked in makeup, such as makeup brushes
- Multiples of the same beauty tools, like eyelash curlers and tweezers
Haircare
- Brushes with missing fibers
- Combs with missing tines
- Hair care products you no longer use
- Empty product bottles
- Broken styling tools (Curling irons, flat irons, etc)
- Styling tools you no longer use
- Broken hair accessories (Clips, ponytail holders, etc)
- Hair accessories you no longer use
Skincare
- Empty product bottles
- Expired skincare products
- Skincare products you no longer use
- Broken skincare accessories (Think electric razors, electric exfoliator, etc)
- Multiples of razors, electric and manual
- Used razor cartridges
- Old razorblades
- Old razor head trays
Cleaning Supplies
- Empty products
- Expired products
- Empty wrappers for toilet paper, wet wipes, etc
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Dirty/discolored toilet brushes
Bath/Shower
- Empty shampoo, conditioner, and body wash containers
- Shampoo, conditioner, body wash that you no longer use
- Bath bombs, soaks, moisturizers you no longer use
- Old/ratty loofahs, sponges, and pumice stones
- Discolored or ratty bath towels, hand towels, bathmats
- Excessive, unused, or broken bath toys
Once you’re done decluttering, you might want to use your cleaning supplies to clean your newly-decluttered space. If you’re ready for a deep clean, you should check out my bathroom deep cleaning checklist.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom: Conclusion
A clutter-free bathroom will save you time, frustration, and help keep you healthy. There are lots of opportunities to declutter your bathroom, and you shouldn’t be afraid to let go of products you no longer use. I hope you found this bathroom decluttering checklist helpful!
If you’re interested in decluttering other areas of your home, you might want to check out some of my other decluttering guides:
Clearing Clutter: A Step-By-Step How-To
How to Declutter and Organize Your Nightstand
How to Declutter Your House Super Fast
Do’s and Don’ts for a Clutter-Free Home
How to Declutter Sentimental Items
How to Declutter Your House in One Day
A Super Easy Way to Reduce Paper Clutter