Bedroom and Bathroom Decluttering
The first quarter of the new year is the perfect time to do some much-needed home cleaning. Why not start with your bedroom and bathroom?
Get rid of these items the soonest so you can make space for more important items. Set aside an hour (or two) of your day to hunker down and declutter, and you’ll soon have a bed and bath that are good as new.
In your bedroom…
- Bedside clutter, which may include old magazines and unread (or already read) books, should be banished immediately. If you’re not keen on throwing out years-old magazines, you can recycle them as gift wrappers. Also, check the contents of your bedside catchall to see if there are any trinkets you no longer need.
- Unwanted clothes, especially those that no longer fit, are meant to be donated. The six-month rule (i.e., get rid of clothes you haven’t worn in the past six months) may no longer apply given our stay-at-home lifestyle these days. So, do a Marie Kondo and assess if the pieces hanging in your closet still spark joy. If the answer is no, then it’s time to also stash them in the “For Donation” box. Just make sure they’re still in mint condition. The same goes for clothes you’ve been meaning to wear but never got around to wearing—ever.
Consuelo Woven Seagrass Utility Basket
- Home fragrances may have once made your bedroom cozy, but if those empty scent diffuser bottles or used candles are just sitting in a sad corner collecting dust, it’s time to throw them out. Or perhaps you should already clean those bottles and refill them with a fresh, new scent.
- The space under your bed is a nifty storage area, but it can also accumulate random clutter over time. Sift through those boxes and determine which items are worth keeping and which ones are no longer useful. Ditch old bed linens fraying at the seams, extra pillows that are no longer comfortable, and anything else under there that you’ve already forgotten.
- If you keep your hamper in your bedroom, then you know the horror of seeing a heaping pile of dirty laundry. Don’t think twice about throwing them in the washing machine right now. Putting it off tomorrow will only prolong the agony of seeing that unsightly mountain of clothes. While you wait for the laundry to finish, move on to the next items on this list.
- Those empty bottles of eau de parfum (or cologne) and cosmetics that are already past their best-before date? They need to go straight to the trash bin. Unless there is a sentimental value to that Jo Malone or Dolce & Gabbana, then that atomizer is just another clutter on your vanity dresser. You might also want to part ways with accessories that are no longer in fashion or those that you’ve already outgrown.
In your bathroom…
- There is no question about it: expired beauty and skincare products, like lotions, serums, moisturizers, shaving creams, and hair-styling products have no room on your bathroom counter, nor should they take up precious space for products you actually use.
- You should also discard expired medications right away. Make it a habit to check your medicine cabinet once or twice a year to make sure you’re taking the proper pills and tablets when you need them.
- It’s practical to keep extra towels for when guests come over, but see if there are old, unusable towels hiding at the bottom of your bathroom storage bins or cabinets. If they’re already fraying or are badly stained, better turn them into rags instead.
- There is no point in keeping two pieces of grooming gadgets in your bathroom. Unless you’re sharing the space with your entire family, it’s best to keep only one blow-dryer or hair straightener. Stash away any extra grooming tools and get rid of those that are no longer working.
- Empty or expired bottles of cleaning supplies also need to go. Just make sure to dispose of them properly.
- Random clutter on the bathroom counter are instant eyesores. Keep only those items you use on a daily basis, such as hand soap, mouthwash, toothbrush and toothpaste, lotion, and moisturizer or serum. All the rest should be kept hidden away.
Decluttering may seem like a cumbersome chore, but if you make it a habit (say, every two or three months), maintaining a tidy home will just be a walk in the park.
