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It’s time! Time to get our houses organized! We’re kicking off this 9 week organizing challenge with bathrooms. I’m so excited! This is going to be some work, but at the end of 9 weeks we are going to look back on our progress and it’s going to feel SO good. If you don’t know what I’m talking about you can read all about this challenge HERE. Or if you haven’t downloaded the challenge printables you can do that HERE. The printables include a few pages of basic tips/ideas to help you get started.

After reading those tips I still recommend printing out these 3 pages with more space or the below page (less space) and making your own to-do list. There is something SO rewarding about checking things off of a list! These pages will give you some direction and help motivate you to keep going!

I did a quick walk through in my home today and wrote down all of the things I want to get done. Not as much this time around because I’ve organized most of these spaces before, but definitely enough to keep me busy. :) When you do a walk through like this it’s really easy to feel overwhelmed. Don’t! You probably won’t get every single item checked off of your list and that’s ok! The goal of this challenge is PROGRESS. Something is always better than nothing. Even if you just check one or two items off of your list each week you’ve made progress and you can always go back to hit other spots when you have more time. Just KEEP GOING.

After you take a minute to make your list set aside some time on your calendar to dedicate to organizing. Do you have a 30 minute break during each day? One free afternoon? Do you need to cut out some down time each evening? How are you going to fit in time for organizing each week? If you don’t plan ahead it won’t happen so put it on your calendar!

I’ve shared these pictures before but here they are again for a little motivation! I’m anxious to do a master bathroom re-fresh with new rugs/decor but that will have to wait. I’m organizing first.. then decorating. :)

A few things to have on hand during bathroom week. Black bags for items to trash or donate, a bowl (or use your sink) for hot, soapy water, wash cloths or paper towels and a hand held vac. I’ve been using this Vaclife handheld vacuum the past couple of years for organizing projects. I also recently bought this portable hand vacuum cleaner to try. I’ve heard so many good things about it and think it looks great for drawers! I’ll let you know if I love it. :)

My messy under the sink “before.”

Remember when you’re organizing bathroom drawers and cupboards to pull EVERYTHING out!

Yes. Things are going to get worse before they get better. Ha. ;)

Touch every item and decide if you’re going to toss it, donate it or keep it. If you’re keeping it, start categorizing like items into piles.

*Try to be ruthless during this stage! Make-up you never wear? Toss/donate. Four brushes? Toss/donate. Nail polish from 8 years ago? Good-bye. Only keep items you LOVE and USE.  

Vacuum out your empty drawers and cupboards and wash them with hot, soapy water.

Then the best part.. putting everything back in! Decide where items belong and how you want to organize everything and then if you need organizers you can order some. Always organize your space BEFORE you purchase organizers! It’s too hard to know what you really need until things are clean and in their new home.

{divided lazy susan}

I decided on my drawer organizers after I had sorted through everything and could tell I needed compartments for all of my small items. These are my messy notes figuring out what I needed. Yes.. I’m a visual learner. ;)

{linus shallow drawer organizer}

The Container Store always comes through. :)

{linus shallow drawer organizer}

Here are the happy “afters!” I organized these drawers in April 2020 (right after everything shut down) and I’m happy to say they have been so easy to keep clean!

{drawer divider}

I’ve added a few more products but everything has a spot so it’s easy to put things away and stay organized.

{linus shallow drawer organizer}

{linus deep drawer organizers}

{linus deep drawer bins}

This bottom “catch all” drawer of extras is the only spot that has been harder for me to keep clean. It doesn’t look like this picture at the moment so I’ll be tackling it on Monday! (I’m sharing my real time progress in IG stories if you follow me there!)

Go through linen closets and towels. Toss/donate old towels and wipe out cupboards. Then fold everything nicely and put it back.

Best feeling isn’t it!?

I got ambitions during my last challenge and organized my husband’s side of the bathroom too. A paint brush?  Really Kenny?

Why am I not surprised.

Messy “befores.”

A lot of the mess on his side was packaging he never tossed!

When I tackle bathrooms I also clean out our brushes. After you’ve taken the hair out let them soak in a little shampoo and hot water and they’ll sparkle like new again!

And the “afters!”

{linus shallow drawer organizer}

I remember showing Kenny his sparkling clean side of the bathroom and asking him if he could please try to keep it organized. He told me that he keeps things messy around the house for me. To give me some blog content. “You’re welcome” he said.

Nice babe. What would I do without you? 

{shower curtain/similar CLEAN rug here}

Our guest bathroom never gets too messy but I’ll give it a quick re-fresh this week like I did last year!

{bosworth rug}

And wash the CLEAN rug so that it’s clean once again. :)

Remember to also wash out your trash cans with hot, soapy water!

I got clean towels and other essentials stocked and ready for guests!

{grey wood 4-piece bath set}

{similar vase/faux peonies/soap dispenser}

I keep my faux pink peonies in this space (the pop of color they add always makes me happy!) but when guests come I love switching them out for real flowers.  An easy way to make your guests feel welcome. :)

I keep our powder bathroom pretty clean and organized because it’s the most used bathroom in our house, but I’ll definitely wipe out drawers and straighten the cupboard under the sink again this week!

{silverware tray}

I’ve shared this drawer and tip before but for anyone new.. we keep extra toothbrushes in this bathroom because it’s close to the garage door.  That way my kids can brush their teeth here if we’re having a busy morning and need to get out the door quick for school.  It saves so much time not having to run back upstairs after breakfast! I get Kole ready here every morning. :)

I keep extra towels in the other drawers.

{similar bath mat here & here}

{chevron vase/similar white flowers/pink peonies/soap dispenser}

This cute Love Yourself bathroom mat sold out, but my other favorite heart bathroom rug is still in stock! I’ll be putting it in this space this week after everything is organized.

Here are a few other cute heart rugs I found on-line! So fun this time of year.

{moroccan diamond washable rug}

My girls bathroom definitely needs a re-fresh this week! Here are some pics of their drawers after we organized them last Spring..

More pics of my girls’ organized bathroom and sources are in this post. I’ll definitely be re-freshing (or encouraging a re-fresh!) in this bathroom this week. :)

Ok friends. I know that was a LONG post of bathroom pics. I hope it helps you get started this week! Just focus on bathrooms and do whatever you can! May the force be with us all!

We’ve got this. :)

{POST SOURCES/BATHROOM ITEMS}

*sidenote – Numbers 2, 4, 7, 11 and 12 are in my bathroom pics above. I also have #10 in my vanity drawers.  They are great but really shallow!  Perfect for shallow drawers. 

1-  woven tank tray   2 – large deep drawer bin  3 – 2-tier organizer basket

4 –  linus shallow drawer organizer   5 – hanging shower caddy  6 – 16-piece organizer set

7 – adjustable drawer dividers  8 – clear plastic jar set  9 – woven rattan nesting baskets

10 – expandable drawer organizers  11 – lazy susan   12 – linus deep drawer organizer