10 items to remove from your bathroom
The state of one’s washroom is generally taken as a reliable indicator of one’s general hygiene standards, so best be keeping it spick and span. Ahead, our ten-point guide to conquering the bathroom clutter.
1. Hotel amenities
Every time I stay in a fancy hotel, I make a point to grab as many mini bottles of shampoo and conditioner as I can. (I have even learnt to go direct to the source – the maid’s service trolley, unattended in the corridor – despite the fact my hair only likes one brand of store-bought product.) Having acquired a rather intense collection over the years, it’s about time I purge and request that hotels start supplying something more useful like, say, toothpaste.
2. Expired cosmetics
Cosmetics are a bit like certain high school friendships – destined to expire, as much as you choose to deny. When makeup goes past their use-by date, their chemical composition changes. Leave it too late and they no longer do their good work, and can cause skin irritations and breakouts. Use this handy infographic as a guide on when to toss.
3. Old loofahs, sponges and wash mitts
That germy scrubber you leave hanging in the shower could be doing more harm than good. As bacteria gets stuck in the nooks and crannies, infection through broken skin can lead to the development of folliculitis and even perleche, which is a rash around the mouth. Avoid using them around your face and privates and replace every three to four weeks.
4. Ratty bathmats and towels
Don’t subject your guests to lint-ridden rags. Swap your ratty linens for heavy, luxurious, cotton-terry types that actually absorb water.
5. Pills and topical creams
Due to humidity in the bathroom, the medicine cabinet is actually the worst place you can store your meds. Transfer them to a storage bin to be placed elsewhere in the house, out of reach of children. Any that have expired should be taken to your local pharmacy for disposal.
6. Scummy soap dishes
Had enough of those shrivelled-up remnants of Imperial Leather? Before you start chiselling at your scummy soap dish with a butter knife, soak a towel in white vinegar and place it on top overnight. This will make the build-up easier to remove come morning.
7. Crusty hair ties
If the elasticity isn’t there, it’s time to let go. You don’t want sepsis or blood poisoning from wearing it on your wrist. The same applies to rusty bobby pins that have lost their rounded edge.
8. Mouldy shower curtain liners
Your bathtub may be freshly scrubbed, but the visual of a mouldy and mildewed curtain liner, blackened around the edges, can override any rational knowledge of cleanliness and leave you feeling grossed out. Time to replace! They’re inexpensive, prolong the life of your actual shower curtain, and can be tossed in the wash with your towels every six weeks or so.
9. Almost-empty bottles
They’re taking up valuable real estate on your sink and shower shelves. This is especially the case when it comes to serums, moisturisers and sunscreens you rarely use. Once open, the formulas begin to oxidise and age, ultimately making them less effective. If you notice any changes in the packaging, smell or consistency of the product – bin it.
10. Disused toothbrushes
The most likely candidate for disposal? That year-old toothbrush whose head of tightly clustered bristles now appears modelled on Einstein’s wiry hair.
Written by Kathleen Lee-Joe. First appeared on Domain.com.au.
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