Tips To Declutter Your Life | Bathroom & Vanity Edition

I tend to hoard the most stuff in my bathroom. Most of the time it’s because I forget I have something and end up having duplicates. It’s a frustrating and expensive bad habit! I mean, seriously. Get it together, Molly!

As you may know, I’ve been OB-sessed with the book The Life-Changing Magic Of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. It’s really put me on a whole “de-clutter my life” mission. Everyone NEEDS to read this book! I decided to completely conquer my bathroom drawers once and for all. Most of the things I tossed weren’t a hard decision considering they had gone bad anyway. Yes, makeup has an expiration date. So does medicine. But, by the looks of my cabinet, you would’ve thought I was starting a historical museum for makeup trends of the past.

Here are some tips from my personal organizing guru, Mimi Brown on how to keep your bathroom in tip-top shape:

• Organize Your Medicine Cabinet: Check medicines and toiletries for expiration dates and throw out old product – ie. sunscreen, prescriptions, over the counter pain killers like Advil or Aleve. Many times these are also the products that get duplicated the most. If you find that’s the case, put those in a separate container and store in a separate space. That way, if you run out of a medicine you can check the duplicates before you buy.

• Marketplace Your Makeup: Even if you don’t have space for a separate vanity, you can still make use of your cabinets for easy access and display. All of your lips, cheeks, eyes, face, etc. should be in one (or more if you are a product junkie!) drawers, dividers or container (I like to use glass cubes or lucite boxes so I can see what I have) Spicing it up with different colors and sizes of trays can also be a fun option.
• Designate Drawers: I like to designate a drawer for each category—a tooth drawer for instance. All of your toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, floss, etc. lives there. Same goes for medicine, toiletries, razors. If you have grooming or tooth brushing appliances that require batteries keep an extra set in the drawer with them for fast replacement. For hair products and tools, keep them together as well.
• Prioritize: In general – if you are reaching for the same items everyday then limit your vanity to these things.  No need for 15 different face creams if you always go for the same one.  Instead of storing 14 jars you don’t need, store the one you use and perhaps keep an extra handy for travel. Discard any makeup you haven’t used in a year – in general with everyday items if you haven’t touched it for some time you probably aren’t going to.
• Pretty Up Your Countertop: If you have countertop space, instead of throwing products on it…style it up! Cotton swabs, bath salts, and soaps look great in apothecary style glass containers.
• Know Your Expiration Dates: Unlike food, cosmetics rarely post their expiration date so it’s good to do your research on when to toss. Here’s a list of when you should pitch it for good:
  • Mascara: 2-3 months (or when it starts getting clumpy)
  • Foundation/Concealer: 6-12 months (or if it has separated into layers)
  • Lipstick: 2 years (or if it becomes extra dry)
  • Lipgloss: 1 year (or if it becomes extra sticky)
  • Nail Polish: 1-2 years (or if it starts to separate or become goopy. Adding a nail polish thinner to the polish can help with it’s longevity)
  • Powders (Eye Shadows/Blush): 2 years (or if it gets super dry and flaky)
  • Fragrances: 8-10 years (or when it starts to smell different)
  • Lotion: 2 years (or when it changes color or scent)

For more bathroom organization ideas, check out these links I love for more inspiration:

Real Simple | The Ultimate Bathroom Organizer // DIY Network | Gorgeous Bathroom Vanities // Buzzfeed | 15 Hacks For Your Tiny Bathroom