Bathroom Reset and Declutter – Top Tips/Expiry Dates
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Resetting for the new year includes decluttering all the unmentionables in your bathroom. Clear out those products that you don’t use, lost in back of cabinets, expired medications and other products. If you have another area in your home where you keep extra “bathroom” products, go through them too. You may find things you forgot you had so you went and bought more.
Step One in bathroom reset...Removing and Sorting...
Begin by removing everything and putting like with like. If you don’t have much time or find it overwhelming, just do one drawer or space at a time. Discard obvious garbage – empty boxes, wrappers, used up products, etc. Wipe out the empty space so it will be nice and clean before putting things back in. I like to thoroughly clean my hairbrushes at this time too, and put them in the dishwasher.
Step Two... Decide what to keep...No brainers...
This step is quick and easy.
- Items you use every day, that you love and are still good.
- Items that you use less frequently, but are still good. ie. nail clippers, cotton swabs, etc.
Make a note of anything you need to replace. Ready for a new toothbrush?
Decluttering makeup and skincare...
Does skincare and makeup expire? Unopened makeup, properly sealed and stored in a cool, dry place should last at least 2-3 years. Natural products, without preservatives do not last as long. Lip or eye pencils can last a long time because they can be sharpened.
Even if it doesn’t have an expiry date on it, after it has been opened and exposed to oxygen it begins to deteriorate and can harbour bacteria that can lead to infections, acne, rashes, etc. Some guidelines for decluttering these items are as follows.
- Mascara – 3-6 months
- Liquid eyeliner -3-6 months
- Lipstick -18-24 months
- Lip gloss -12-18 months
- Foundation and concealer – 12-18 months
- Cream products – 12-18 months
- Powder products – 12-18 months
- Fragrance – up to 5 years
Signs that skincare or makeup has gone bad:
- It smells off.
- The colour has changed
- Texture has changed – harder or more liquid.
- Taste is off for lip products.
- Products with oil may turn rancid.
Decluttering expired medication...
Expiration dates are generally a guideline. Over time things can lose there effectiveness. If you use something a short time after it’s expiry date it’s probably not going to hurt you. If you can’t remember when you opened it or last used it, you may want to get rid of it though. Obviously, you don’t really need it cluttering up your space. After removing your personal info from left-over prescriptions/medications, you can take it to a pharmacy to dispose of safely. Do not flush them down the toilet!
*Medications are usually best stored in cool, dry places. If your bathroom is especially humid, with multiple people having showers, etc. make sure it is well ventilated or try to find another safe place to store them.
Struggling to decide what to keep or get rid of...
If you are struggling with whether or not to keep something ask yourself a few questions.
- Does this represent part of your fantasy life? (whiter teeth?)
- Or a previous stage of your life?
- Was it a gift you didn’t really need and feel guilty about getting rid of?
- Did you spend a lot of money on it and feel guilty about not using it and therefore wasting your money?
- If it is a new item you have had for a while, why are you not using it?
Guilt should have no part in the things we allow to stay in our homes. Someone else may enjoy that gift and the money has already been spent. Commit to use it by a certain date, if you really want to. If you still don’t use it, let it go. Learn from your mistakes and don’t buy anything you don’t need. Save your money by being more intentional and not falling for marketing schemes.
Reorganizing and resetting bathroom supplies...
Maybe your bathroom was already organized to be as functional and beautiful as you like it. If so, just clean everything before you put them back and restock what you need.
If not, now is the time to set up a new system or tweak what needs tweaking.
I already had little containers from the dollar store to separate the small items. Some of my skincare items I organized on a drawer spice organizer. My makeup is stored in a little container with pull-out drawers. I also utilized little boxes for hair accessories, razors and cotton balls. The only thing I replaced was the green container that had my nail polish because it was cracked. I found 2 blue containers in my storage to replace it. A few bins from the dollar store help to contain my hair brushes too.
There are many new, great organizational products you can buy. But don’t be afraid to “think outside the box” and repurpose something you already have.
You can see my latest bathroom decluttering video below...
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