I will head that way tonight when I return from work. This week my DH put together some pieces of wood that I found on discount at HD to make a picture shelf, which I will use as a spice rack (cost $2.50 for 2' shelf). I am going to get some more to make one for over the sink in the bathroom (and other places around the house that can use little storage).

This is going to need to wait until the weekend because this is going to be a MAJOR task for me (I also need to fix my medicine cabinet since two of the shelves have fallen out).

I keep on top of toiletries, but our shelving in the bathroom has a one-foot opening and is longer deep than my arm reach, so random things roll back there and it is probably super dusty. We really want to put in some sliding shelves or drawers, but not this month!

Thank you for the link to information about drug disposal. It is VERY IMPORTANT that drugs not be flushed down the toilet - the drugs become part of the drinking water (not every water treatment plant can/does filter out these drugs).

Does anyone else have a ridiculous surplus of makeup/skincare samples in their bathroom cabinets? I do, and I find it difficult to throw them out. I considered wrapping small parcels of them in tulle/ribbon and handing out to friends who come over, lol, but if everyone has as much of the stuff as I do, that's not that great either. They're generally not sealed, so I've never tried donating them, either.

woohooo! My husband just did this a few days ago! I'm off the hook for this task, but I am rather behind in my big project, so I'll have plenty to do today.

I'm behind this week; I haven't done the last three days' assignments. Today, I'll go to the store and see what kind of cord control options they have, and then I'll come home and pull everything out of the bathroom cabinets. I haven't been a total laze-about: this weekend I went through my outbox and got rid of nearly everything, since it was taking up 1/3 of my bedroom and I wouldn't have been able to clean the bedroom otherwise.

January has never felt so long...but I am loving the results!

@alyx I do! My subscription to Birchbox is the culprit. I give things to my nanny and I may bring things to work. I do, admit, have no problem throwing away things I'll never use.

This is something I mostly stay on top of. Things haven't been where I want them to be, though, and I think this is what I'm going to work on. I'll adjust the shelving in my cabinet to accomodate my hair product items that need space (they've been stuffed in a drawer) and them move my smaller items to my ex's cabinet, which doesn't have adjustable shelves. Eventually I want to put in a proper cabinet in that bathroom but that's a long ways off for now.

I used a similar method for organizing and shared about it here: http://turningithome.blogspot.com/2013/01/medicine-cabinet-makeover.html
It would be need to have the cool gadgets to make it more streamlined but I kept it simple and spent no money doing this.

I am so excited I just did this the other night - went through and threw out old perfume I haven't used and makeup!

yay!! I have already started at this - bought some new baskets for organizing - just gotta get a few more

@alyx: I, too, cannot toss good products--too much of our environment went into making them and to toss them without using is wrong, IMO (except if they cause issues like breaking out, but if possible I use them on other parts of my body--a face cream I do not like on my face can be great on my elbow or legs or feet). If something is expired, yes, I toss it, but for the environment, if it is not expired, I try to find a way to use it. I often make a concerted effort to use sample and other products--and am sometimes surprised to find a product I like. I also use sample sizes when I travel. Then I can just toss the package when empty. I went to Egypt in November 2011, took sample products and partially filled some empty jars with other products. I also decided my undies and socks were old enough to toss, so I did as I went along. By the time I came home, I had enough space in my suitcase for the things I wanted to bring home with me. I stay at a hotel chain two to four times for work related trips, and they have the shampoo and conditioner that my mom and sister use. I bring them home and give them away. Instead of trying to gift as something special, why not just hand a basket filed with products to your friends when they come over and ask, would you want any of this? Let them sort through and figure out if they do.

i have the same exact problem! i am trying to be better about just tossing the samples or even declining them when the salespeople offer them to me when i make a purchase. i definitely have a bit of hoarder tendency to think i will need things, hence having trouble throwing them out. but i've gotten more liberal about getting rid of stuff lately.

This is going to have to wait until tomorrow evening. I've 3 decent sized cabinets in my bathroom that are fully full.

Friends keep buying me soap, shampoo, etc. I wonder if they're trying to tell me something ! And so the cabinets are full of, as yet, unopened bottles and bars. Maybe time for some re-gifting.

I'm having so much fun with the January Cure! Best of all, we've just moved so I can skip some days - like today. But planning the Get Together and working on the Goal Project (hanging photos and art throughout the new house) are big enough!

Donate unused soaps and shampoos! Women's shelters are always needing things like this.

Thankfully, this task won't take too long since I've recently culled through the assorted items in my bathroom. However, a meeting and sheer exhaustion caught up with me yesterday evening so I'll work on cord control in my "extra" time. :)

I do this all the time, even though this makes me sound like a maniac.

I found a very easy system: I have a list of the medicines I have in my cabinet, with their expiration dates. Every three month, when I do a deep cleaning, I look at the list and take what has expired to my local pharmacy for them to recycle.

I also check my make-up, see if the mascaras and things are still usable. Since I almost never wear make-up, it's a necessity. I need to buy toothpaste and replace our toothbrushes.

I still think the American system of giving a person the exact amount of medecine needed is fantastic. Here in France, you get prepackaged boxes, and if you don't use it up, it goes directly to recycling or is tossed away. I give back whatever unopened box I have, but know I'm deluding myself into thinking it will be recycled (at least, it will be properly disposed of). It's much easier for the pharmaceutical firms to produce than to recycle, but I still think it's so bad for the environement we should force those firms to stop the prepackaged boxes and allow pharmacists to deliver only what is needed.
Considering how bad the budget for French Social Security System is, getting what we need and nothing more could be beneficial for our healths, our homes, our planet and our public finances. I wonder what I'm waiting for to start a lobby...

I'm ahead of myself again! I've been gradually cleaning out my medicine cabinets and shower caddy over the last few days and getting rid of all the samples and unused products. If it doesn't work for me or I'm not going to try it, then there's no point in keeping it in the cabinet! I also made a list of the things I need to replace, so I'll stop by the drugstore tonight to pick up a couple necessities to restock.

Recently I used some cortaid and it didn't seem to do much. I looked at the expiry date on the crimped end -- November 2003! I probably bought it in the 90s! That occasioned a clear-out.

Is this a good time to share that I recently mixed up a batch of homemade tub/shower cleaner that I saw on a prior post here on Apartment Therapy? It's equal parts Dawn (or other regular dishwashing liquid, I'm sure) and vinegar in a spray bottle. I've used it a couple times now, spraying it on the walls and tub when they're wet, then wiping and drying. It works really well to cut through residue. I still will probably use a Bon Ami paste for the tub, because I love Bon Ami, but having a spray cleaner for the walls is great.

I finally decided to cancel my Birchbox subscription for the same reason! I got a couple of nice mascaras and eyeliners, but I was amassing way too many cleansers and face creams. I already have my standby face products (Cetaphil and Kiehl's) so I cleaned out all the little sample bottles and made extra room in my medicine cabinet!

This is the project that I tackled back at the beginning of the Cure and I am so glad I did! What an amazing feeling it is to not have a bunch of cosmetics fall out onto my feet every time I open the cabinet! http://www.revamphomegoods.com/2013/01/tackling-bathroom-cabinet.html

I don't know if this is available everywhere, but our police precinct has a secure prescription/OTC drug drop box in their lobby. (It's a program sponsored by a coalition of police departments and local governments in my area.) I've dropped off expired medicine there, no questions asked. They then send the medicine for incineration.

And I agree with carrie8 - if I have a bunch of small soaps, shampoos, etc., I'll collect them and give them to a women's shelter. I'm so picky about what I use on my face, however, that I don't amass much makeup (I break out if I stray from my usual products). I have a bad habit of taking the extra hotel soaps and shampoos, then never putting them in my gym bag.

Too funny-I just did this the other night while my kids were in the bath!

This will be an easy job ... about 1/2 an hour this afternoon.

Can anyone offer some suggestions for over-my-mirror lighting? I have one ceiling light that's behind my head and make seeing myself clearly in the bathroom mirror more than a bit of a challenge. It's comical to have to wait until I get to work to see what I really look like (and can lead to some distressing discoveries!)!

Please recycle your unwanted cosmetic containers! Origins will take any kind of difficult to recycle plastic or glass and make sure it gets recycled properly. They even give you a free full sized cleanser on Earth Day! MAC gives you a free lipstick or eyeshadow for every six MAC containers you turn in to them. Kiel's was doing a similar program, does anyone know if it is still active?

Alyx, I take mine to a local shelter for "Ladies Night" - they really appreciate it!

The Kiehl's program is definitely still active--I just recycled several bottles at my local store on Monday.

Fortunately, my toiletries got a thorough culling in my recent move, but it wouldn't hurt to revisit what did make the move with us. Hopefully this is an easy task!

This is possibly the only task I will have completed on time, and only because I did this a while ago and haven't put anything in the cabinets. Rewarded by procrastination. ;)

I don't use many items and they sit on the bathroom counter next to the sink.

This one shouldn't be too bad. These weekly tasks have been tough for me to get to as I usually don't get home until late after work and the files and cords probably require a whole day, but the bathroom, I think I can do tonight when I get home from work.

I have one cabinet and one small medicine cabinet that we keep pretty organized. Just a matter of throwing out/getting rid of old and expired stuff and giving the whole room a good deep clean which it really needs. I also plan on replacing the shower curtain and I need to wash the outer decorative curtain. Other then that, it is pretty good, thankfully!

Where is that shower curtain from?

I just finished this today - so glad about the timing!

I tossed several unneeded towels, old medicine, rags, and unused toiletries. It felt awesome!

Gosh, I probably need to throw out 90% of stuff in my cabinet. Expensive face mask from 12 years ago I haven't finished using, old nail polish, small pockets of samples, small containers of body washes and shampoos from traveling, old medicines that have expired or will be expiring soon....

Our bathroom storage is quite limited so we keep a fairly clean medicine cabinet. It is time to restock on toothpaste and toothbrushes what with all the colds and flu going around.

I have pretty terrible lighting in the bathroom as well. One light above the mirror. Any suggestions?

The thing that takes up too much room in my bathroom is hair items: curlers, hot rollers, curling irons, straightening iron, dryer, conditioners, polishing cream, protectant, on and on..like my hair needs its very own lighted closet. (Dry frizzy hair, always trying something for it!)

I should just cut my hair off. I would also have more time and space if I did.

too bad all these eye shadows and fingernail polishes could not be used as a painting medium...

We've got an event tonight, so I won't be able to get this one done. Will have to catch up on it this weekend. It shouldn't be too bad, as I just did a big purge a few months ago.

I do know someone who paints her sewing machines with old fingernail polish. She also did a kitchen appliance with one. She even made a video how to of it. I personally don't like it, but maybe on something else..just not a sewing machine. here is the link http://www.creativefeet.com/products/education/how-to-paint-sewing-machine-instructional-dvd
I do paint my keys with the polish to help me keep them organized. And the top of a lamp finial..didn't like the color. Makes me feel like I am not wasting the polish as much.
Dog tags, things like that...

does anyone know where the lighting above the mirror is from?

Sweet! I got a head start, as I cleaned out my medicine cabinet yesterday. I found nose sprays and eye drops that expired in 2009. O.O

Where is the pedestal sink from, please?

I have followed an "individualized" version of the The Cure- and this particular task I took on a few weeks ago and it was especially energizing. There is still a little work in our hall closet, which is an extension of bathroom storage that I feel still needs a go through. good project. Love the Cure. My house is feeling so wonderful.

This is my 3d year of this particular new year's resolution: use what you have. Two full years ago, I realized I had accumulated many, many personal size soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and body lotions. I am still using them. I'm happy to say, I will probably use them all by the end of this year. Occasionally the fragrance of these products is so overwhelming that I have no choice but to toss them, but, for the most part, I've enjoyed this resolution. One particular upside is that the small soaps are lovely for washing one's hands; they're gone before they begin to look haggard.

I did a big medicine cabinet and vanity sort last year. Nevertheless, I will give it a cleaning as part of the Cure.

BTW, I'm still working on the kitchen. It became my big project. I've had to put aside my "paint the bathroom" project because the kitchen has taken so much time. sigh.

As a former employee of The Body Shop, I had amassed a rather HUGE collection of products in our bathroom. A little while ago (last month), I went through everything and absolutely outboxed everything that I did not use on a daily basis. I felt bad about placing the items in the outbox, so I took them out and decided that I would use them to create gift bags for any guests. I thought it would be nice to have some body wash, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion available to our overnight guests. To keep the gift bags to a minimum, I only made 3 of them (we live in Spain and it's highly unlikely that we will have more than 3 guests come out to visit us in a year) and then I gave the rest of the products away. I have to admit that it felt really good to do this and it was so freeing!

Now, our bathroom looks very efficient and organized. We do not have any clutter and everything is placed into containers from IKEA. I do not miss any of the products I got rid of and I do not intend on unintentionally hoarding bath/body products in the future. Now, if I can just get my husband to put the toothpaste back when he's done brushing his teeth I'll be all set!

Did this over the summer before moving. I was shocked by how much crap I had accumulated in my old bathroom's generous cabinet. I have not collected much since the move, but going through our bathroom again may identify some things we haven't used since the move and then we can get rid of them.

I don't like a lot of creams and soaps or cosmetics, so I don't have tons of samples lying around. Definitely have some medications from 2007 though... My wonderful mother-in-law (not sarcastic!) keeps giving me ridiculously expensive shampoo but my hair HATES it. I should look up a charity that will take the unopened bottles! Happy Cure-ing, everyone! Keep up the good energy!

Deep-cleaned bathroom last weekend before we had visitors. Bathroom is petite with one under sink and one medicine cabinet so have to keep up with organizing and throwing out the extras regularly, will do a quick check tonight. I didn't do the cord one last night but they are pretty well hidden. Still have to work every weekend to clean the house but it feels like I am not starting from scratch every week. It seems easier to keep up with the chores. The cure has up the bar! :)

I second the question. I love it!

Sorry, I mean I'm also wondering where the shower curtain is from. Very rustic.

My Cure energy is fading. My husband is not at all utilizing the landing strip, returned organized kitchen cabinets to their misshapen state, and somehow has more bathroom junk than I do. I have decided that even though I'm tired and in no mood to clear out bathroom cupboards, if I make myself do it anyway, I'll reward myself with a bath in our crappy tub (big project). And a drink. ;)

I'll check with Leah (the photographer) to see if she's got info re: the shower curtain and will report back here ASAP

...and the pedestal sink!

I try clean out the medicine cabinet once a year. It's amazing how much crap I had in there. I also battled to get rid of samples, one day I just chucked the lot. Now I refuse them, I'll even take them out of the bag and leave them on the counter.

I used to have a fear of not having things I didn't have growing up, so I tended towards the hoarding side of hygiene items and cold medicine. It took me years to realize that I live 3 blocks from a 24hr pharmacy and I have more than enough money in my bank account to buy shampoo or antihistamines. As Philip Larkin says ...

Ah, this task is done. Not sure how the habit started but I clear out my tiny bathroom top to bottom every year before I start my Christmas decorating.

The lighting looks very similar to the Pullman Bath Light 3 Light in Polished Nickel from Shades of Light, and the pedestal sink is from the Memoirs series by Kohler.

Is it wrong that I turned this into a working spa treatment? As i pulled out skin treat stuff I've not been using, if it was still good, I made use of it. Clean and wipe out the cabinet then do an exfoliating scrub. Clean out the drawers while doing a moisture masque. Etc My skin and bath are going to equally gorgeous by the time I go to bed. :)

@Galatae: I'm with you; kinda been losing my mind wondering where the shower curtain in the photo is from!

A nice, easy one (that ended with a small DIY!). A relief because the weekend is coming up and we all know what that means....

http://shoes-off-please.com/2013/01/23/a-little-de-cluttering-a-little-diy/

Done! In my boys' bathroom I threw away five toothbrushes. Five. Apparently we were preparing for a toothbrush emergency...

I knew our bathroom medicine cabinet had to be culled, but I didn't realize how badly! I threw out about half of our meds because they were expired. I was able to sort all remaining items into four categories. My only problem with the January Cure is that each day I am finding some new organizational item I want to buy! I'm going to have to wait until February to get some storage bins for the bathroom and cord organizers.

Done! Wow that feels better. Admittedly i don't always finish each task (I have a big house and 2 littlies) but its the being proactive I love. Every day I attack my house in some way whether it be to declutter, clean or redecorate using 'the cure' as my inspiration. Love it!

@alyx I sell the mini make up samples on eBay!

@katiejean and @Shiaparelli -- yes! your ideas of rewards (spa and bath) motivated me to get through this task with a glass of wine in the tub as my reward!

I took the opportunity to clean out and make room for an electric toothbrush and it's charging base in the medicine cabinet; also set it up to be able to charge while the cabinet door is closed. The other parts of my bathroom need work, including under the sink storage, but I need to keep working on the monthly project and finishing up the kitchen (which turned into a bigger project than anticipated) - very pleased with the transformations and happy to read of other's success.

I purged my bathroom stuff a few months ago - did them again today and got rid of more stuff !. De-scaled my bath/sink. Feels so much better. :)

Love it, the one place that needs to be organized is the bathroom. It's where the day starts and ends, right? Although I live in a shoebox size studio, I am fortunate to have a lovely bathroom with tub. And, brand new... Storage is a luxury, I have one unit with shelfs in a corner and had to use that for everything .... So I went to the 99C store and found these darkblue fabric containers...got myself 5 and Bob's your uncle.... The good thing about living in a small space: one needs to be organized and if so, it's actually quite nice.

In terms of recycling those cosmetics, packaging, etc. we have developed the Solecan an easy solution so that you can have a tidy and efficient way to recycle in any room with limited space (bathroom included). Check it out at http://www.solecan.com and let us know what you think on our FB page at http://fb.me/theSolecan

You know your bathroom is cluttered when the view from the whirlpool tub is:
2 shelves - one across the whirlpool seat, one across the tub to hold...
2 sets of workout clothes (ready for hot yoga and women's bootcamp) plus my outfit for tomorrow
14 magazines
12 books
reading glasses
3 candles
2 pens, 1 journal, 1 Bible
1 IPad, 2 phones (house phone and IPhone)
wristwatch

I promised myself that when I got out of the tub, I would take care of it! Within an hour, the tub sides and floor had only one shelf (standing on end in a corner), a candle, a book, a Bible (when light reading won't do - haha) and a pen.

Now it's calm and you can see the dotted wall art as a focus again! (Wall art here: http://wellletsgoforit.blogspot.com/2013/01/gone-wall-crazy.html)

I was a little behind with posting about my January Cure adventures but here are the results of decluttering and organizing my bathroom! http://living-with-lemons.blogspot.com/2013/02/the-january-cure-bathroom-organization.html