After you have achieved serenity in your bathroom, you want to make sure to maintain it.
I discuss how to systematically kick out clutter and create serenity in my ebook entitled Operation Serenity.
In a nutshell – you want to clear everything out of the room, sort it using some important questions,
Make sure you get rid of duplicates toiletries – store those duplicates somewhere else besides your bathroom.
Old cosmetics are a health hazard. Toss!
Maybe give all those tiny bars of soap and bottles of shampoo you’ve saved up from hotel stays and give to homeless shelters.
Get undressed outside your bathroom and put those clothes in a hamper right away, wear a robe in and out and hang it on a hook behind the door.
The last step is to return the items to their most convenient well-defined and confined homes!
So once you have serenity, you certainly don’t want to lose it.
Make it a rule to never go to bed without returning everything to its home! And then wipe everything down!
Here are my three top tips for maintaining serenity in your bathroom:
Tip One: Less is More
When you return the items back into the bathroom, you want to make sure you return the stuff you use frequently.
Put the other stuff in another area. The less stuff you have in your bathroom the better!
i.e. you don’t want to store 20 rolls of toilet paper in the bathroom – just reserve a few rolls and store the rest in a linen closet or under a bed.
Have only minimal stuff on the countertop sink area. This will make it very easy to wipe off frequently and keep clean and tidy.
I really like Porcelain Sink Organizer I purchased from Norway (I like their microfiber cloths and non-toxic cleaners as well!
If you have drawers – don’t overstuff them! I made diagrams of where to put each item to ensure I return them. It works for preschoolers so I know it will work for you!
Tip Two: Make it Convenient and Safe
Make things as convenient and safe as possible – keep a bin with used washcloths and one for trash and maybe one for empty toilet paper rolls if you like to recycle as I do.
Make all your storage one-motion storage. What I mean by one motion is to make sure it takes only one motion to get to your item. And if you are a senior citizen like me, make sure you don’t have to do major gymnastics to get to anything (crouching down on knees or climbing up on a ladder).
Also, keep the floor area clear – you don’t want to trip on anything! Plan for getting older and less able to move around!
Tip Three: Keep it Simple
Keep as many things as you can out of the bathroom if at all possible to avoid overcrowding.
I keep my makeup in a drawer in my bedroom and retrieve it when I need it. I also keep most of my cleaning supplies in a small caddy in my linen closet a few feet away.
I only keep towels we will be using for the week in the bathroom. I launder them, then return the towels to the rack thus avoiding the need for folding and storing. With just my husband and I now, we only launder our sheets and towels once a week.
We removed the shower doors and replaced them with a shower curtain for easier access in and out of the shower as well as ease of cleaning.
I keep a Clutter Free Zone sign on the door and on the mirror to remind myself to keep up my good habits!
Remember: Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!