(and linen closet)

I’ve said before that if you want to organize your home but don’t know where to start, the bathroom is a great spot for a number of reasons.

The bathroom is small-ish; it’s a space that can be tackled in an afternoon.
It has a purpose. You don’t stand in your bathroom like you might a bonus room or formal dining room, wondering what you should use it for, with endless possibilities. It’s a bathroom.
You generally use it to begin and end your day, and visit it multiple times in between. For this reason alone, it’s a great place to begin your organizing journey. You’ll gain momentum and be delighted multiple times a day!

Organized Bathroom Vanity in White — Beautifully organized white vanity

What’s the Process?

The process will be mostly the same as any other space:

Pull everything out of the space (you can do one thing at a time — under the vanity, a drawer, the medicine cabinet, etc.).
Toss the trash. Old meds, expired products**, packaging.
Go through everything to determine if it belongs in the bathroom.
Clean if needed.
Put everything away.

*expired prescription medications can usually be dropped off at a local pharmacy or police station to be safely disposed of

**did you know makeup and other toiletry items expire? Some things have a date printed on the packaging, and others have a little jar icon with a number of months after opening that it should be used

A Few More Things to Think About

Friendly reminder: use those samples! Put them directly into your travel bag. Or give them away, or toss them. Just don’t hoard them.
Bath toys - a vinegar soak or a dishwasher cycle can revive bath toys, but I recommend disposing of any that water can get into but not easily out of. Make sure these have a place to dry out after bath time, too.
Now is a great time to clean or replace makeup brushes.
Wipe out any bins you are using.
Group items in bins by category (travel items, feminine products, over-the-counter meds, etc.)

Linen Closet

It might be in the bathroom, in the hallway, or in a dresser drawer in your bedroom. I’m talking about the place where you keep towels and… stuff.

There’s no rule about what belongs in the linen closet. Pull everything out and decide what makes sense there, and what doesn’t.

I like to think “where would I look for this item?” and put it there. It’s ok if it’s more than sheets and towels! My hallway linen closet has towels, extra sheets and pillowcases, light bulbs, extra medical supplies, toilet paper, tissues, tablecloths, and the vacuum.

Controversial Opinion Alert

I’m not going to tell you how many towels to own. Many Good Influencers of the Internet will say 2 per person and 2 for guests or some other formula. But I’m ok keeping more than that. We use extra towels for a lot of random stuff, so I’m OK keeping extras. Evaluate what makes sense for your family, your laundry routine, and (probably most importantly) the space you have to keep them.