Cleaning Your Bathroom Vanity and Cabinets

We've all experienced the frustration of digging through our bathroom cabinets to find something that is buried underneath towels, rolls of toilet paper and cleaning supplies. This is especially frustrating if you have a closet size bathroom with very little storage space. If you've decided it is time for a change, then find half an hour and get to work.

1. 1 Organize! Start by pulling everything out and sorting through it. Create three piles: throw out, move, and keep. Have a garbage can on hand for those items that you don't need. The move pile consists of things that you have been storing in your bathroom that would make more sense somewhere else. For instance, if you keep all your linens in the bathroom cabinets, consider moving the bed sheets to a bedroom closet. The keep pile is for things that need to stay in the bathroom.
2. 2 Clean inside and out. The insides of bathroom cabinets can be warm and moist, which makes them an ideal place for mold to grow. Even if you don't see mold growing, it is still a good idea to fill a spray bottle with bleach or vinegar and spray down the entire area because it will kill mold spores that might become a problem later. Please note: most types of bathroom molds are harmless, but a few varieties can cause serious health risks. If you suspect you have the latter, call a mold expert right away. If your cabinet is a wood finish, clean outside with oil soap. Most other types of finish can be cleaned with a multipurpose cleaner or a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water.
3. 3 Analyze your space. Now that you are ready to refill your cabinets, take a look at your space and decide where each item belongs. If there is something that you need frequently, like toilet paper or a hair dryer, keep those things within easy reach. Items that are used less often, like extra shampoo or cleaning supplies can be kept further back or on a lower shelf. You may want buy plastic containers to organize certain items, but if you like to save money, emptied ice cream buckets or sour cream containers work nicely too.
4. 4 Make improvements. This is a good time to look at your cabinet space and determine if there is something you can do to make it work better for you. For instance, if you have a large open space underneath a counter top that could be used for storage, consider hanging a curtain rod and curtains. Or, if you like to keep washcloths handy, buy a wicker basket to keep them in and place it on the counter. Roll the cloths up and pack them in the basket in a standing position. That way they can be both accessible and eye catching.