1. Tools: Start by collecting your tools: trash can, recycle bin, masking tape or scratch paper marker, and your local recycling guidelines. City of Madison Recyclopedia
2. Location: Decide where you are going to sort. (If it is not in the bathroom, you may want to protect the surface from the products.)
3. Categories: Will you put anything related to a category in the same bin or break them down in to more specialized containers? That really depends on you and how much you have of each and how much space you have! Here are some examples of categories. Decide what you will use and label the piles for sorting. As you are touching each product, look for expiration dates and ask yourself when the last time was that you used it or if you would ever use it again. This is a great time to purge the unnecessary, not organize it!
- Hair:
- Brushes & combs
- Accessories
- Products.
- Face:
- Cleansers
- Moisturizers
- Makeup: Great quick guide for makeup expiration on Popsugar!
- Oral:
- Brushes
- Floss
- Mouth Wash.
- Body:
- Soaps and washes
- Moisturizers
- Paper:
- Rolled paper
- Tissues
- Cotton swabs and balls/pads
- Shave:
- Razors
- Creams
- Aftershave
- Travel: I highly suggest that you keep a travel bag packed with all your essentials. As you need other product, you can pull from your back stock.
- Towels: Body, Hand , and washcloths.
- Medical: Be aware that temperature and humidity make the bathroom less than an optimal storage space for many medications.
- Household cleansers: Store away from your personal hygiene products! Especially if there are children in the house, use extra caution.
5. Everyday items. Some people will do better keeping some of their everyday use items in one place and using the other bins of items as a back stock. Maybe one drawer or small basket on the counter where you get ready to go!
6. Maintenance. This does not have to be lots of time. Take just a minute or two when you go looking for something, or if you are putting something away to straighten things up. I suggest making this a stop on your Spring cleaning list to purge and overhaul as necessary.