Bathroom Clutter Buster

If you're like 95% of people in the world your bathroom cabinets are probably a little disorderly. Don't feel bad or guilty, it happens. You use your bathroom multiple times a day, every day. Things are bound to get a bit out of control. Fear not, you can conquer the bathroom clutter and in-turn get out the door faster with a more peaceful attitude.

Here is where you start. Open one cabinet or drawer, hear that? One. There is no need to overwhelm yourself and your space by emptying everything onto the floor of your bathroom only to shock yourself into fleeing. Pull out every single thing in that drawer and begin sorting.

Sorting: It's just like kindergarten; likes with likes, trash in the trash. Make yourself a mess of piles: hair stuff, face stuff, makeup, nail care, teeth care, first-aid, travel-sized goodies, back stock and extras (for those of you who shop Sam's and Costco you will have a large back stock pile).

Now that we have sorted, it is time to purge. Out goes the two-year old, half empty tube of toothpaste and the makeup foundation from three years ago. It doesn't matter how much it cost, expired is expired and old make up especially can carry all kinds of nasty germs and bacteria.

Here is the basic breakdown for when to kick things to the curb:
Foundation & Concealer - if it's a moisturizing or stick formula you're good for 18 months; oil-free and liquid varieties need to be pitched after 12 months due to bacteria from your face to the bottle. change/wash your applicator regularly to keep bacteria at bay

Eye Shadow - liquid 12 months, powder lasts for 2 years

Mascara - 3 months but if it starts to get dry and clumpy or smell weird pitch it before 90 days

Lipstick - 2 years

Blush & Powder - creams toss after 12 months but powders can last for 2 years

Nail Polish - it is still up in the air, some say 2 years or earlier if it gets thick and discolored; best way to make it last is to keep it upright, in your fridge and never to shake it. instead roll the bottle between your hands before use, it creates fewer air bubbles that will ruin your manicure

Lotion - typically lasts 1-2 years but if like everything else, if it starts to smell or turn color get rid of it

Sunscreen - there should be an expiration date on the bottle, if not stick with the one year rule if it has already been opened

Medications - always stick to the expiration date on the bottle; active ingredients can expire leaving the pill ineffective or possibly harmful

It can be hard to see expensive products going into the trash but it will help you in the future from over-buying and making better use of what you have. For example, there is a tendency to only use the same eye shadows or lipsticks when you have so much that it overloads your brain. You inevitably use the same thing you did the day before because it requires less thought than going through every color in the drawer and then having to choose from multiple options. Same goes for the clothes in your closet, unless you have well-planned organization to start.

There is no need to live in clutter and slow yourself down in the morning. Get it out, sort it, purge it and organize it. One drawer, one cabinet, or if you're feeling ambitious and have a buddy, one room at a time.

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Label makers are fabulous too. If it seems like more than you can bear to handle solo, give me a shout! It is what I do and coincidentally, what I love.