How to organize cleaning supplies – 12 tips to clean up your cleaning cabinet

The bathroom, often a multi-functional space for daily routines and personal care, frequently accumulates clutter, leading to disorganization. Professional organizers Marissa Hagmeyer of NEAT Method and Jamie Hord of Horderly emphasize that an organized bathroom can significantly influence the start and end of one's day, promoting a sense of peace rather than chaos. They suggest that a thorough decluttering is the foundational step to an efficient organization system, enabling individuals to streamline their routines and find items more quickly. Hagmeyer recommends a bi-annual clean-out, coinciding with the typical lifespan of many beauty and skincare products, but advises tidying up sooner if clutter becomes noticeable. Professional organizers have identified five key categories of items that should be regularly purged from bathrooms to maintain order and maximize space. Firstly, expired toiletries and beauty products are major contributors to clutter. Ryen Toft of Simply Luxe Organizing advises disposing of expired medications, makeup, and skincare products to prevent irritation or ineffectiveness. Hagmeyer adds that this is also an opportune time to discard recently purchased items that did not meet expectations, suggesting that unopened, unexpired products can be resold or donated. Secondly, old or damaged linens, including towels, washcloths, and hand towels, should be tossed. These items, especially when dingy, musty, or stained, are less absorbent and hygienic. Replacing them with new, matching towels can improve both aesthetics and storage efficiency. Old towels can be repurposed as cleaning rags or donated to animal shelters. Thirdly, dirty bath accessories often harbor bacteria due to the wet and humid bathroom environment. Hord recommends regularly auditing items such as shower liners, bath mats, and loofahs, as well as cleaning tools like toilet brushes, to ensure they are either thoroughly cleaned or replaced when necessary. This practice helps prevent the growth of mold and mildew. Fourthly, excess packaging, while seemingly a way to keep products organized, can actually contribute to visual clutter. Professional organizer Jenna Haefelin of SPIFF suggests removing items from their original boxy packaging and instead using drawer inserts or pouches for a more streamlined look. She recommends bamboo drawer inserts and tiered metal systems for under-sink storage to optimize vertical space, and baskets for larger items. Finally, unused samples and travel-sized toiletries are common culprits of clutter. These often-free items accumulate quickly but are rarely used unless one travels frequently. Hagmeyer advises individuals to store only those travel toiletries they anticipate using within the next year and to donate the rest to local shelters. A more sustainable approach involves refilling reusable travel containers for each trip. By consistently addressing these five areas, individuals can achieve a more organized, functional, and aesthetically pleasing bathroom space. #BathroomOrganization #DeclutteringTips #ProfessionalOrganizers #HomeOrganization #BeautyProductStorage #LinenCare #SpaceSaving #CleaningTips

Maintaining an organized under-the-sink area can be a challenge, often leading to a cluttered space due to its hidden nature. However, a professional home organizer, Devon Fegen-Herdman, provides practical strategies to transform this often-neglected space into an orderly and functional storage area. The process begins with a comprehensive decluttering effort. It's essential to remove everything from beneath the sink to identify and discard expired, unused, or misplaced items. This initial step also offers an opportunity to thoroughly clean the cabinet interior, setting a clean foundation for reorganization. Once the area is clear, the next critical step is to determine which items truly belong under the sink. Fegen-Herdman suggests that the kitchen sink cabinet should primarily house cleaning supplies, such as dish soap, dishwasher pods, and trash bags. Any items that do not fit into these categories, like extra toiletries or pantry overflow, should be relocated to more suitable storage locations, such as a hall closet, laundry room, or another designated area in the home. This selective approach prevents the under-sink space from becoming a dumping ground for miscellaneous household goods. After sorting, the remaining items should be grouped by type. For instance, all cleaning solutions should be kept together, and dish-related items should form another category. This categorization simplifies the selection of appropriate storage solutions. Various organizational tools can be employed, ranging from simple bins to more elaborate pull-out drawers that can be mounted to the cabinet floor. Over-the-door organizers are also highly recommended for maximizing vertical space, with options like plastic grocery bag dispensers or bottle holders for frequently used liquids and sponges. To ensure long-term organization, Fegen-Herdman emphasizes the importance of labeling all bins and containers. Clear labels help in quickly identifying contents, making it easier to return items to their designated spots and maintain order. Strategic placement of items is another key tip: frequently used products should be placed at the front for easy access, while less-used items can be stored towards the back. This arrangement minimizes the need to rummage through the cabinet, preventing disarray. Finally, managing bulk supplies realistically is crucial for preventing clutter. Fegen-Herdman advises against storing excessive quantities of cleaning supplies under the sink. Ideally, only one or two bottles of each cleaner should be kept there, with replacements purchased only when current supplies are nearly depleted. For other bulk items like paper towels or extra cleaning products, it's better to store them in less frequently accessed areas such as a basement, garage, or pantry overflow space. By adopting these methods, the under-the-sink area can remain tidy, efficient, and free from overwhelming clutter. #HomeOrganization #UnderSinkStorage #DeclutteringTips #ProfessionalOrganizer #CleaningSupplies #StorageSolutions #KitchenOrganization #HomeImprovement #TidyHome

This comprehensive guide offers a wealth of tips and strategies for effective storage and organization across various areas of the home, from the garage to the primary bedroom. It addresses common organizational challenges and provides practical solutions for maintaining a clutter-free and functional living space. The content emphasizes smart storage techniques, such as proper dish storage and pantry organization, alongside advice on selecting appropriate shelving and lighting to prevent closets from becoming disorderly. It also provides specific ideas for organizing children's spaces and showcases visual examples of efficient closet and hallway organizers. The article delves into various aspects of decluttering and organization, highlighting habits that contribute to a dirtier home and offering advice on items to discard from hall closets and attics. It also identifies timeless wardrobe pieces that should be retained, according to stylists, and innovative ways to reuse old newspapers for cleaning and gardening purposes. The guide tackles issues like small bathroom clutter, offering solutions to make these spaces feel less messy. It outlines simple, step-by-step processes for paring down clothing to achieve a clutter-free closet and provides ingenious methods for storing scarves, as recommended by professional organizers. Additionally, it suggests smart thrift store finds that can aid in home organization and presents creative ways to store and display mugs. Key mistakes in closet organization are identified, along with expert advice on how to avoid them. The article provides instructions on cleaning a toaster oven for optimal performance and offers small closet organization ideas to maximize storage capacity. It also guides readers on how to create a minimalist home that is both stylish and functional, and how to eliminate musty smells from closets. A crucial aspect covered is identifying items that should be removed from closets immediately, according to professional organizers, and a fall cleaning checklist that includes closets and gutters. It also points out common household items that contribute to a messy appearance, according to interior designers, and offers brilliant ideas for organizing small pantries and fridges. Furthermore, the guide presents practical laundry room shelving ideas that combine aesthetics with functionality and offers strategies for organizing the most frequently used rooms in the home to maintain order. It includes expert advice on arranging small bedrooms to create an illusion of greater space and Martha Stewart's top kitchen organizing tips to optimize space utilization. Quick cleaning routines for a home refresh are detailed, along with various bathroom shelf ideas for added storage and style. The article covers clothes storage ideas for closets and drawers, numerous ideas for creating efficient and beautiful walk-in closets, and instructions for cleaning vinyl records. Creative DIY projects, such as transforming an old chair into jewelry holders, are also featured. It addresses common mistakes in storing clothes without a closet and outlines kitchen organizing pitfalls to avoid. Guidance is provided on the best methods for sorting and storing clothes, whether by hanging or folding. The proper care and cleaning of wicker baskets are explained, alongside common food storage mistakes to avoid, according to food scientists. Specific tips on preventing avocados from browning and whether to refrigerate bananas are also included. The article suggests quick 10-minute organization tasks to promote a calmer home environment and identifies common entryway clutter mistakes and their fixes. It also highlights useful items to keep in a junk drawer. The guide offers insights into Martha Stewart's organizing rules for when one feels overwhelmed, identifies household items commonly stored incorrectly, and introduces the concepts of Swedish Death Cleaning and slow decluttering for easier home organization. Finally, it advises against storing shoes in the bedroom, identifies essential items to keep when decluttering, provides a one-hour-a-day fall cleaning schedule, and explains the "30 Bags in 30 Days" decluttering challenge. It also lists summer items not to discard, what to avoid storing in a junk drawer, items thrift stores typically reject, and the "10-10 decluttering method." The benefits of decluttering for pest control are discussed, alongside common factors that make bedrooms look messy, overlooked household storage spaces, and items to never store in the basement. It concludes with tips for decluttering a home office, clever uses for reusable grocery bags, strategies for decluttering without regret, and essential rules for organizing a small kitchen. #HomeOrganization #StorageSolutions #Decluttering #CleaningTips #InteriorDesign #ClosetOrganization #KitchenOrganization #BathroomStorage #SmallSpaceSolutions

The author embarked on a deep cleaning and decluttering mission in their sister's kitchen as a thank you for accommodating them and their cat. The process revealed a surprising array of items that were either out of place, no longer functional, or simply unnecessary. To avoid immediately discarding potentially sentimental or useful items, the author collected everything in a designated 'decluttering bag,' promising to return anything specifically requested. As of a month later, nothing has been missed. Among the first items removed was a 'Happy Birthday' banner, specifically a Pokémon-themed one. While indicative of past celebrations, its current utility in the kitchen was non-existent, making it an easy item to place in the decluttering bag. A significant portion of the decluttering focused on rusty silverware. The author observed various pieces of cutlery in the drawer, actively identifying and removing rusted forks, knives, and even a Mason jar lid. These items were deemed unsuitable for food contact and promptly bagged. Instruction pamphlets for kitchen gadgets were another category of items that saw substantial reduction. The author acknowledged the common tendency to keep such pamphlets but pointed out their redundancy, especially when instructions are readily available online. Six pamphlets, along with a coffee maker descaling packet, were added to the bag. Miscellaneous hardware, including two unmarked sandwich bags containing screws and rubber parts, was also removed. The author noted the absence of clear identification for these parts and, finding them alongside instructions for a knife holder that might have been related, consolidated them into the decluttering bag. Two AA batteries found in a brown bag presented a mystery regarding their purpose, condition, and presence in the kitchen, leading to their immediate inclusion in the decluttering bag. Similarly, an unused toothbrush found in a drawer was added, with the speculation that it might have been intended for the cats. Water filters, initially removed from a leaky showerhead, were surprisingly stored in the kitchen. These were the only items the author planned to retrieve from the bag, intending to reinstall them with plumber's tape. A cheesecloth, mistaken for old-timey gauze at first, was also removed due to its incongruous storage with Tupperware. Beyond these specific categories, the author discovered a variety of other inexplicable items. These included two wet stone angle guides, seven cake testers, a plastic hook, a plastic carabiner for measuring cups, a rubber nozzle, a tote bag (distinct from the sister's collection of reusable grocery bags), pet conditioner, and two unidentified plastic items, one featuring spiky metal parts. These assorted items highlighted the extent of the kitchen's disorganization and the accumulation of unrelated objects, many of which were likely left behind by a previous roommate who was a professional chef. #KitchenOrganization #HomeDecluttering #DeepCleaning #KitchenCleaning #HomeImprovement #OrganizingTips