Clean Up the Clutter: Bedrooms and Bathrooms

Welcome to Clean Up the Clutter: Bedrooms and Bathrooms edition.

Today, I’m closing out this series by cleaning up the clutter in bedrooms and bathrooms. The bedrooms in our homes should be sanctuaries of rest. You start your day here and you end your day here. To make bedrooms havens of rest, the clutter must go. It’s really that easy.

Like Week #1 where we cleaned up the Entry and Office, I’m combining bedrooms and bathrooms. Bedrooms will be at the top of this post and then bathrooms will be at the bottom. I also have created a Pinterest board for inspiration at the end of the post.

Because everyone’s home has a different number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the time frame for this project can take a day or even a month to accomplish. I’m going to give you some basics for cleaning up the clutter in each of these rooms. Let’s get started.

Bedrooms

Do the bedrooms in your home feel calm and relaxing? Or, do they have piles of books, electronics, and scattered clothing? Well, it’s time to take back the bedroom and restore peace.

The Fast Way to De-Clutter Bedrooms

• Take 10 ~ Grab a box, bag, or bin and remove 1o items that are cluttering up the bedroom. Take away things that create clutter and disrupt rest ~ think exercise equipment. Keep things that are calming and relaxing.

The Thorough Way to De-Clutter Bedrooms

This could take a while so put on some music. There are closets, dressers, and nightstands that will need de-cluttering. Don’t forget about the clutter under the bed, either. Take each of these areas one at a time and keep the end-result in mind.

1. Remove and Return

• Remove and return any item that doesn’t belong in the bedroom.
• Remove things that can interrupt sleep like electronics with glowing lights.
• Remove things that can cause stress like work-related items or exercise equipment.
• Get rid of clothes/shoes/bags that you haven’t used in a year or more. Donate usable items.
• Remove things you don’t like or use any more.
• Remove furniture that is broken or doesn’t fit. They tend to collect the most clutter.

2. The De-Cluttering Process

• The Bed ~ Start with clean sheets and bedding. Wash or replace old pillows. Clean comforters and duvets.
• The Nightstand ~ Clean off any clutter and dust the surface. Return books, magazines, and electronics to their homes. Empty any drawers and sort through the items. Keep only things necessary. De-clutter and dust any nightstand shelves.
• The Dresser ~ Clean and dust the surface. Only keep necessary items on the dresser. Empty drawers and sort, only keeping things that you will wear or use. Donate or toss the rest.
• Under the Bed ~ Remove everything from under the bed. If it is not related to the bedroom, then relocate it to a more appropriate space.
• Furniture ~ Assess the furniture in the bedroom. Is it useful and does it serve a purpose? Is it in good shape? If not, then it will need to be relocated.
• The Closet ~ Depending on the condition of your closet this could take a while. Sort through clothes and only keep things that you will wear. Donate or toss unused/unworn clothing. Store seasonal items in boxes or bins.

3. Dual-Purpose Rooms

Some bedrooms have to serve two purposes and may have an office or crafting area. If that is the case then these areas will need to be organized. It is best to separate the sleeping area from the working area. Baskets, boxes, and bins are a great way to hide some of the clutter associated with dual-purpose rooms.

Bathrooms

Even an organized bathroom can go down the toilet in no time, flat. Hair, beauty, and hygiene products dominate drawers and cabinets. Toothbrushes and toothpaste are always on the counter. Kids toys in the tub and towels laying on the floor. Even the tidiest person can have all of this turn to clutter in a nano-second.

Add into the mix the fact that this is the room where we shed the day’s accumulation of dirt AND make ourselves presentable to the world. Any way you look at it, the bathroom is one hard working room.

Many of you may have multiple bathrooms in your home. If that’s the case, you may want to tackle each one individually. Let’s de-clutter the bathroom.

The Fast Way to De-Clutter Bathrooms

• Remove everything from the countertop that isn’t used at least once a day.
• Clean out drawers and relocate or toss anything that isn’t used on a regular basis.
• Empty cabinets and only return what is used on a regular basis.

The Thorough Way to De-Clutter Bathrooms

1. Remove and Return

• Remove anything that doesn’t belong or work in a bathroom.
• Limit bathtub toys and find a way to store them so they dry out between uses.
• Assess what you use on a daily or weekly basis.
• Discard any products that are expired or over 1 year old.
• Look for ways to get clever with storage in small bathrooms.

2. The De-Cluttering Process

I have this pet peeve regarding bathroom decor. I don’t get it. There is enough going on in a bathroom that I am baffled by the need to over-decorate. I prefer a simpler approach ~ only having things pertinent to bathrooms in the bathroom. Use clever containers to house necessary items and let them serve as some sort of decor.

• Drawers ~ Use drawer organizers for smaller items. Separate things like toothbrushes from hair brushes. Organize like items together.
• Cabinets ~ Plastic baskets, bins, and boxes are a great way to keep items separated. If you have a linen closest separate like items on shelves.
• Bath and Shower Products ~ Only keep 1 of each item used regularly. Example: 1 bottle of shower gel, 1 shampoo, 1 cream rinse. Use containers that drain the water or these can become a slimy mess in no time. Sort like items together. Use Command Hooks for hanging small items like washcloths and a squeegee. (affiliate)
• Sponges ~ Old sponges can be a haven for bacteria. Change these out often. If you use a nylon loofa be sure to toss it into the wash weekly.
• Surfaces ~ Remove anything that isn’t used on a daily basis. Wipe down the surface and faucets. Only return things that are absolutely necessary.
• Bath Toys ~ Have a tub toy limit. Hanging nylon bags are great for storing and draining. They can easily be hung on Command Hooks.
• Hanging Towels ~ Keep towels off the floor by using hooks or towel bars. Make sure everyone who regularly uses the bathroom has a place to hang a towel.

Living the Clutter-Free Life

Remember Day 1 of our challenge? There are 4 ways to stay on the Clutter-Free track. Follow these four steps and you will always be on top of the clutter.

1. Take the First Step and Commit to Controlling Clutter

2. Avoid Excess, Waste, and Too Much of a Good Thing

3. Manage Future Clutter

4. Evaluate Before You Buy

Welcome to a Clutter-Free life. Before I got control of this, there were always pockets of clutter in my home. Now that I live in a smaller home, there is no room for clutter. Making a commitment and taking the time to see it though has been the secret to my clutter-free life. But, it didn’t happen overnight, either. Make the commitment and then take the time.

I promise, it is worth the effort ~