Buy time in the bathroom to start the day off right
Bobby pins, Band-Aids and brushes — decluttering a family bathroom can ease those hectic mornings
Courtney O’Leary reached her breaking point when she realized she was miserable dropping her kids off at school. Spending precious getting-ready minutes searching for a rogue hairbrush or the right toothpaste was causing everyone angst.
“It was taking me an extra half an hour in the morning to help them do things they are completely capable of doing — if it was organized, if things had a place,” O’Leary said. “I realized why I was in a bad mood. It was the simple things (in) getting them out the door.”
She called on her friend and professional organizer Robyn Israel to help make sense of the bathroom her three kids share in their Leaside home.
Her older children, Ruby, 9, and Marigold, 7, are involved in lots of after-school activities — such as synchronized skating, dance and gymnastics — many requiring costumes, an endless supply of bobby pins and other accessories that can overwhelm a bathroom.
The youngest, her son King, 4, is old enough to brush his teeth alone, but couldn’t reach the sink. Today, there’s a stool.
“Now there’s a system,” O’Leary said.
The first 45 minutes of your morning are spent in the bathroom and can shape your day, said Israel, who runs In Its Place organizing.
“The bathroom is the most affordable to organize but probably has the highest value because you have to get out the door every morning.”
It’s one of the cheapest rooms to declutter: small bins can be bought at the dollar store. Israel even suggests using orphaned Tupperware containers or mason jars for storing cotton balls or hair elastics in drawers.
Israel says purge first, then declutter, then organize by category: beauty, medicine, hair. (Older kids might want their own containers for items such as makeup and jewelry.)
And Israel is into labelling as a strategy, as kids may need reminders when searching for Band-Aids or putting away nail polish, to prevent wasted time rummaging around.
O’Leary now even has a category in the linen cupboard for products to deal with head lice, the scourge of school kids everywhere — fitting, since she also runs an extermination company.
Once everything is stored in its new spot, it’s easier for kids and adults alike to keep it manageable. To Israel, the secret of organization is making it easy to put things back where they belong.
Decluttering decoded
Save time in the morning with these tips from Toronto organizers Clare Kumar and Robyn Israel Linen closet Everything has its place and the place should be labelled: bins for toothpaste and brushes, hair supplies, sunscreen and first aid. Invest in white sheets and towels, which match and can be bleached. Since most families do laundry often, two sets will do. Under the sink Bins or baskets can keep curling irons, hair dryers and straighteners from cluttering up the countertop. There’s no need for lids, which just make it harder to see what’s inside. Use adjustable shelves and clear plastic bins so items can be seen even in deep cupboards. Label everything. On the sink If the counter is clear it can be more easily cleaned and sanitized. Keep everyday items such as toothbrushes on the counter. Often-used items can be kept in “containerized” drawers. Extra supply should be kept in a cupboard. Check before buying more. In adult bathrooms, consider decanting handsoap into decorative pumps to eliminate the look of packaging. Behind the door Hang towels on hooks. An overthe-door shoe organizer can store face cloths, hair brushes or makeup tools. In the shower Shower caddies can hang vertically and maximize space, especially in bathrooms without tubs. Keeping shampoo, soaps and razors in the caddy keeps the edge of the tub from becoming cluttered with a zillion bottles. If there’s room, a rolling cart or ottoman can add more storage. Drawers Each drawer should have a separate category, function or belong to an individual. Drawer organizers are inexpensive. Keep toothbrushes separate from razors. This is part of a new series on decluttering the home. Last week: The Kitchen. Next week: The Adult Bedroom.