5 Things Pro Organizers Wish You Wouldn’t Do in the Bathroom

Even if you regularlyclean and disinfect your bathroom, it can quickly become cluttered with decorative trinkets, towels, hair care products, and so much more. It’s easy to fall into a habit of creating clutter (sometimes it’s even hard to notice) so I decided to ask a fewprofessional organizerswhat they commonly see clients do that they wish they’d stop doing.

Aaron Traub, owner and lead organizer ofMy Professional Organizer Dallas;Bonnie Borromeo Tomlinson, organizer and author ofStop Buying BinsandStop Pushing Perfection; and Roman Smolevskiy, owner ofA+ Construction & Remodeling, shared their biggest bathroom organization grievances along with suggestions on how to remedy these issues to make your bathroom a clean, neat, and functional sanctuary.

“Every space counts whenorganizing a bathroom, as there is often limited storage space,” says Traub. “By rethinking this often-overlooked space, you can transform your bathroom into a model of order and efficiency that’s easier to maintain.”

If you’ve ever felt like nothing else can fit in your bathroom cabinets, doors, or shelves, then it may be a sign to start clearing out some things instead of spending on additional storage solutions. “Many clients believe they need more storage and request additional built-ins before truly assessing their needs. Based on this experience, I recommend decluttering first,” says Smolevskiy. “You may find that after decluttering, your current storage is sufficient, avoiding unnecessary costs and potential for extra clutter.”

Borromeo Tomlinson says that you should think twice before adding certain trinkets and items to your bathroom such as decorative shells in a basket, decorative soaps, and even layered window treatments. “A bathroom is first and foremost a functional space,” she says. “Adding things to the space that are not useful, non-essential, and just overall dust collectors, should be avoided.”

Both Smolevskiy and Traub recommend always hanging towels, which not only takes up less space with a simple wall hook, but also avoids retaining mold, mildew, and musty smells that are common with dried, folded towels in the bathroom. Robes should also be hung up, but storing them in your bedroom or linen closet will downsize clutter while also keeping your robe fresh and dry at all times.

Keeping certain unused things while thinking they’ll come in handy in the future is one of the fastest ways to create clutter. When it comes to decluttering your bathroom, Smolevskiy says the one-year rule can be extremely helpful: If you haven’t used it in a year, you probably don’t need it. “My experience in remodeling has shown me that keeping items “just in case” is one of the primary reasons for clutter,” he says.

Regardless of the size of your bathroom, an accessible yet concealed area for storage is a must. Traub says that storing items, from cleaning supplies to hair tools and extra toiletries,under your sinkis a helpful way to keep your bathroom tidy. However, it’s important to be mindful of not overstuffing it with bins or baskets that can take up much-needed space.