8 Items You Should Declutter From Your Bathroom Before Fall

Use it or lose it!

Fall is almost here. If you’re getting ready to go back to school or work, cleaning out your home can help make you feel like you have a fresh start. One of the best places to begin is in your bathroom. A tidy bathroom can also make it easier to find what you’re looking for when you’re getting ready in the morning—shaving minutes off your routine. Here’s what you need to declutter from your bathroom before fall.

Related: The 14 Things in Your Bathroom You Should Get Rid of Immediately

Expired Medications

We’ve all been there. We get a cut or rash and reach for ointment only to discover it expired last year. While using recently expired medication is likely to be safe, it may be less effective. You may also want to consider that bacteria can grow on certain products, like on the tip of those eye drops that expired in 2020. To ensure your safety and a medication’s effectiveness, it’s a smart idea to go through your medicine cabinet yearly and get rid of anything that's expired. Then replace any over-the-counter essentials.

Expired Beauty Products

While it's tempting to use old products, they could cause breakouts or irritation, especially if it's packaged in a jar or tub. Don’t see an expiration date? There should be a graphic on the package with a number indicating how long it lasts after opening such as six, nine, or 12 months.

Products You Tried Once and Didn’t Like

Remember when you bought that moisturizer everyone was raving about last month and it caused you to break out? We all make product mistakes. If you still have the receipt and it's within the store’s return window—get your money back. If not, either give it to a friend (it might be good for their skin) or get rid of it.

Or ask your friends if they have products that don’t like either. Make a night of it and invite everyone over for a product swap.

Tiny Samples You’ll Never Use

If you’re the kind of person who has been loyal to the same shampoo for years, you probably won’t end up using the random sample you acquired the last time you stayed at a hotel. So either empty those tiny bottles and refill them with your own products next time you travel, or throw them out. You may also be able to donate new, travel-size toiletries to a local shelter.

Almost Empty Bottles

As much as you loved that expensive hair mask, that quarter-sized dollop likely isn’t enough for another conditioning treatment. While a bottle or two might not seem like much, once you have three or four, it can take up a lot of space along your bathtub or under the sink. So, either use it or lose it before it expires.

Bathroom Accessories That Are No Longer Functional

Sure it is pretty, but if that soap pump no longer works, get rid of it. You can replace it for a few dollars instead of opening up the bottle and pouring out a drop of soap every time you need to wash your hands. The same goes for the cracked tray and garbage can that won't open properly.

Old, Stained, or Damaged Towels

Nothing feels or looks less luxurious than a bath towel with stains or holes. Upcycle old hand towels into cleaning rags and use larger ones for pets or to dry off your car. Alternatively, you may be able to donate these items to a local animal shelter.

Gadgets You No Longer Use

Remember when you absolutely had to have that red light face mask? Or blackhead vacuum? Do you still use these things? Do you even know where the charger is? If you aren’t using these belongings or they no longer work, they’re just taking up unnecessary space. It’s time to say goodbye.

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