Taming the Bathroom Chaos: Decluttering & Simplifying

There have been so many times where I get inspired, deep clean and tidy my bathroom, and then a month later it’s in shambles again. I haven’t found the system that really works for me. Now that the tiny house build is starting, I can really see how small my bathroom is going to be. This means that I need to rein in how I utilize two full bathrooms into one tiny house bathroom.

Everyone creates clutter and mess for many reasons. Mine is depression. On the surface, I know the habits I’m perpetuating are gross, but my brain is able to push it aside and ignore it. It stems from anxiety and stress but then also perpetuates anxiety and stress. It’s an evil catch 22. How do you get out of that funk?! It’s honestly the hardest step.

For me, it was the idea of creating a vlog. I wanted to produce something, so I had to do something. Filming the process actually made the process longer, but it was definitely worth it for the kickstart.

I first emptied out both bathrooms. I threw away all the obvious trash, and then everything else when on the floor of my living room. Pulling everything out of the bathrooms as helpful for me to evaluate everything with a fresh perspective.

I then sorted all the items into various categories: hair, makeup, cleansers, sunscreen, etc. This helped me see what I wanted to keep for each category and what I was willing to throw away.

Before I could put everything back in the bathroom, I had to clean the bathroom! I scrub-dub-dubbed the counters, shower, toilet, and floor.

I had to take multiple breaks during this process. I kept getting tired and sweaty and overwhelmed. I persevered and finished until the bathroom was basically sparkling. I brought back in items and designated locations for them.

In the end, it looks great. But how do I avoid doing this intensive of a clean every again? I need a system that will actually work. Here’s what I hope to try over the next few months and then reevaluate:

• Every time I’m in the bathroom, leave it like I found it. This means throw away things in the trash and take out items that I brought in that don’t live in the bathroom.
• If I take something out of the bathroom, I must put it back where I found it. This will help avoid cluttering other rooms.
• Wash the shower floor and sinks two times a month. I’ll keep some Dawn and a brush in the shower so I can just knock this out as I shower.

Sharing this experience alone has given me accountability. I’ll update what the bathroom looks like in a month.

Thanks for joining me on this journey! Check out the video version here: