13 Things to Get Rid Of in Your Bathroom Without a Second Thought

The way you organize your bathroom can make a big difference in how well the space functions. That’s why regular decluttering is so important.

Here’s how to give your bathroom a quick refresh with our go-to decluttering strategy.

Today we’ll declutter the bathroom as efficiently as possible. Set aside some dedicated time (15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour, or whatever timeframe works for you!) to complete this task, and only work on the areas that apply to you. And once you’ve collected everything, sort through what needs to be discarded or donated (move those to the outbox!). If you have more than one bathroom, focus on the one you use most frequently. 

Here’s where to look for clutter in a bathroom: on the vanity or countertop, in the medicine cabinet, inside your makeup or toiletry bag, inside drawers, under the sink, inside the shower, on shelves, inside wall-mounted or standing organizers, and by the trash can and toilet.

• Expired medications, makeup, sunscreen, and lotions
• Empty or almost-empty products (use up what you can, then get rid of the packaging)
• Stretched-out hair ties and broken bobby pins
• Unused makeup, skincare, and hotel toiletries, and product samples
• Nail polish that’s never been used, has separated, or is a duplicate
• Old toothbrushes you’ve kept “for cleaning,” but haven’t repurposed
• Any kits (like teeth whitening) you’ve never used
• Old, broken, or unused hair styling tools
• Duplicate items, like hair tools, tweezers, nail clippers, eyelash curlers, etc.
• Anything you keep “for traveling,” but never pack
• Accessories for tools you don’t have anymore, like chargers and replacement toothbrush heads
• Hair accessories and jewelry you haven’t worn in more than a year
• Cleaning supplies that belong somewhere else

• Sign up for email updates.
• Visit the 2026 Decluttering Cure page and catch up on assignments.
• Download the Decluttering Cure calendar.
• Check off that you’ve completed this task and track your overall Decluttering Cure progress here!
• See all the winners from our 2026 Organization Awards to get your home organized. 

The Cure Program is a tradition here at Apartment Therapy — it happens every January, April, and September. Click here to learn more about the year-round program and when to sign up.