Whip your washroom back into shape by emptying the contents of any storage drawer or cupboard and assessing, honestly, what to retain. Here are some classic dinosaurs you may unearth from the depths of the unassuming bathroom cabinet.
Leftovers
While the toiletries we use daily are often left out, the bathroom cabinet can become the graveyard of once-treasured miracle creams. If you have any bottles gathering dust at the back of the cupboard, fish them out to deal with and ditch.
Whether it’s a little bit of a favourite lotion you can’t bear to finish or half an ancient bottle of something you used to love, if you’re not currently using it, then don’t let it fester any longer. Use up your favourites and ditch those that are past their 12- or 24-month lifespan.
Forlorn flannels
Your bathroom is actually not the best place to store towels and other fabric items, as the humidity can lead to a build-up of mould and mildew. So where possible, store these items elsewhere.
Take this opportunity to rummage through towels, face cloths and other items that have ended up with your linen and be sure you can justify the storage of each item. At most, you only need to store one extra of everything that’s used daily – this will even suffice to cater for guests staying the night.
Charity shops may not always accept worn towels, but the staff at your local animal sanctuary will probably be very grateful for any towels and bedding to help look after the creatures in their care.
Make-up
It’s easy to hang on to colours that are out of fashion, or that you simply don’t like, just because there’s plenty left – and then the green eyeshadow or red lipstick ends up at the bottom of a make-up bag never to see the light of day again.
Be ruthless and ditch anything not used in over a year – especially eye make-up, which can harbour bacteria, and dry and gloopy nail varnish.
Packets of pills
Get rid of any drugs that are past their use-by date. Don’t store them for ‘just in case’ – they’ll simply add to your bathroom clutter. Instead, return them to your pharmacy to dispose of securely.
Bits and bobs
Anything that doesn’t specifically belong in the bathroom shouldn’t be kept there. As you’re decluttering, be sure to weed out the rogue items, such as the odd screw or battery. If you don’t have a home for these items, now’s the time to create a place for them.
Unopened gifts
The magic of a gift is in the giving, so don’t feel too bad if you receive something you won’t use. If you feel unable to turn down the gift, don’t stash it away, because you’ll only end up feeling guilty that you’ve not used it. Regift it as soon as possible so someone else can enjoy it.
Perfumes
These don’t keep well, especially when exposed to sunlight and fluctuating temperatures. If you have a signature fragrance, accept you’re not likely to wear the others in your collection and pass them on before they’re past their best, or bin them if you’ve had them for years.
If you like to change your fragrance frequently, think about getting the smallest bottle you can and throw it away or pass it on once you’ve had enough of it – don’t hoard all the fragrances you’ve purchased.
