How to Organize Your Bathroom Cabinets

Step 1: Empty and Clean Everything

Remove every single item from your bathroom cabinets and place them on a clean towel or counter. This total emptying allows you to see exactly what you have and gives you a fresh start.

Wipe down all cabinet surfaces with an all-purpose cleaner or a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar. Pay special attention to sticky residue from spilled products. Clean shelves, corners, and cabinet doors thoroughly.

While everything is empty, check for water damage or mold under the sink. Address any plumbing leaks before organizing to prevent future damage to your stored items.

Step 2: Sort and Purge Ruthlessly

Create four sorting piles: Keep, Toss, Donate, and Relocate. Go through every product systematically:

• Check expiration dates on medications, sunscreens, and first aid supplies
• Discard dried-out makeup, separated lotions, or products you have not used in 6+ months
• Remove duplicates and consolidate partially-used products when possible
• Donate unopened, unused items that you will never use to shelters or friends
• Relocate items that do not belong in the bathroom to their proper homes

Be honest about what you actually use. Most people only use 20 percent of their bathroom products regularly. Keeping only what you need creates space and reduces decision fatigue during your daily routine.

Step 3: Categorize Items by Function

Group your remaining items into logical categories for easier organization:

• Daily essentials: Toothbrushes, toothpaste, face wash, deodorant, daily moisturizer
• Hair care: Shampoo, conditioner, styling products, brushes, hair accessories
• Skincare: Cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, treatments, masks
• Makeup and cosmetics: Foundation, concealer, powder, mascara, lipsticks, tools
• Medications and first aid: Prescriptions, pain relievers, bandages, ointments
• Oral care: Dental floss, mouthwash, whitening strips, extra toothbrushes
• Grooming tools: Razors, trimmers, tweezers, nail clippers, scissors
• Cleaning supplies: Cabinet-specific cleaners, sponges, cloths

This categorization will guide your placement strategy in the next step and make maintaining organization much easier.

Step 4: Implement Smart Storage Solutions

Prime real estate (eye-level, front of cabinet): Store daily essentials you reach for every morning and evening. This might include toothpaste, face wash, deodorant, and your most-used skincare products.

Middle shelves and easy-reach areas: Place frequently-used items like hair styling products, makeup you wear regularly, and current skincare routines. Use clear bins to group categories together.

Lower cabinets and under-sink areas: Store bulk items, backups, cleaning supplies, and less frequently used products. Use lazy Susans under sinks to access items in back corners without moving everything.

High shelves and back areas: Keep rarely-used items, seasonal products, extra toiletries, or special occasion items in these harder-to-reach spots.

Drawer organization: Use expandable dividers to create compartments for makeup, grooming tools, and small items. Arrange items vertically when possible so you can see everything at a glance without digging.

Add shelf risers to create two-tier storage for products like skincare bottles or makeup palettes. This doubles your usable space without making items hard to reach.

Step 5: Label Everything and Create Zones

Label each bin, basket, or designated area clearly with its contents. Labels help every household member know exactly where items belong, making it easy to maintain your organization system long-term.

Create specific zones within your cabinets:

• Morning routine zone: All products used during your AM routine in one accessible area
• Evening routine zone: Nighttime skincare, dental care, and bedtime essentials together
• Sharing zone: Family-shared items like first aid, medicines, extra toiletries in neutral space
• Personal zones: Each family member gets a designated bin or shelf section for personal items

This zoning approach prevents items from migrating around your cabinets and makes your routines faster and more efficient. Everything has a designated home that makes logical sense for how you actually use your bathroom.

How do I organize a small bathroom cabinet with limited space?

Focus on vertical organization using shelf risers and stackable containers. Keep only daily essentials in the cabinet and store backups elsewhere. Use slim, space-efficient organizers instead of bulky bins. Utilize cabinet door backs with adhesive organizers or hooks. Consider removing items from bulky original packaging to save space.

What is the best way to organize under-sink bathroom cabinets?

Install a slide-out organizer or lazy Susan to access back corners easily. Use stackable bins to create tiers around plumbing pipes. Keep cleaning supplies in a caddy that you can lift out when cleaning. Store only waterproof items under the sink in case of leaks. Add a tension rod to hang spray bottles and free up floor space.

How often should I clean out my bathroom cabinets?

Do weekly quick resets to return items to their homes and wipe spills. Monthly mini-audits help catch expired products and items running low. Schedule seasonal deep cleans every 3-4 months to fully empty, clean, and reorganize cabinets based on changing needs and seasons.

Should I organize bathroom cabinets by person or by product type?

Use a hybrid approach: Create personal zones where each family member has a designated bin or shelf section for their individual products, but organize shared items by category in neutral zones. This prevents territory disputes while keeping commonly-used items accessible to everyone who needs them.