Welcome to Day 20 of the 31 Days of 10-minute Purging Tips Challenge. Our goal is to eliminate things we don’t need from our lives and home so that we can better enjoy life. Today we’ll be going through our make-up and bathroom cabinet to clear the clutter.
Some purging tasks are challenging because sentiment and emotions are involved. That shouldn’t be the case today. Today is just a meat and potatoes or make-up and personal care items purging day. It should be emotionally easy, involving clear-cut choices.
Clearing Clutter – Purging Tips for Makeup and Bathroom Cabinets
Grab the 6 purging bags you created earlier and print your free Purging Clutter Checklist. Let’s head up to the bathroom or vanity if you’ve chosen to work on make-up and keep it there. But don’t forget to grab any make-up or personal care items you may have in your purse, backpack or car and take them with you for your purging task.
Take Everything Out- Keep in mind we’re doing this in 10 minutes. Only take out as much as you can go through in that time. You can come back to the other items another time you have 10 minutes. Lay the items you take out on a the counter or the floor.
Group Like Items Together – Quickly group like items together -all facial moisturizers together, all foot creams together, all nail polish together, all lipsticks together, and so on.
Evaluate – Look at each group you’ve created. First, are there any empty containers that need to go? Next, look at expiration dates. If it’s past the expiration date, it needs to go. Check the FDA guidelines on the shelf life on cosmetics. I recommend marking the expiration date on cosmetics when you open them so you can easily remember how long you’ve had each item. The consider are there any items that you aren’t using. If you didn’t like them for whatever reason, you can let them go. Be ruthless. If you don’t love the product, you don’t need to keep it. You’re worth more than unwanted products, no matter how much it cost.
Purge – Remove items you don’t need to keep and place them in one of your 6 purging bags. For products that are not yet expired, consider if you can share it with a friend or family member that might like the product. Also, check with your local food pantry. Many will take items like shampoo or liquid soap even if it has been opened.
Put Everything Away – Put the items you’ve decided to keep back away.
You may find my Master Bath Tour and Organizing Ideas useful in organizing your own bathroom.
Organizing doesn’t have to cost a thing with these Free Bathroom Organization Ideas.
You may find these tips on How to Organize Hair Appliances and Accessories helpful.
Make your own Easy Upcycled Bucket for Bathroom Organization.
We’ve done it. We’re two-thirds of the way through our challenge. Good job! Join me tomorrow for Day 21 in the 31 Days of 10-Minute Purging Tips challenge. Let’s purge some more so you can make room to enjoy life more.
I’m a mom of 3, a veteran and military spouse. I’ve moved into 20+ homes all around the world. My passion is helping busy people make the space and time for what’s really important to them.
Corinne says
I really need to do this whole series once every quarter. I spent a ton of time organizing my bathroom cabinets over a year ago and you’d never know to see them now! Thanks for this nudge to start getting my things in order.
Brenda says
I never thought about cosmetics having an expiration date or shelf life. I’ll have to check mine. I also always forget to clean out the ones in my purse.
susan says
Glad these tips can help, Brenda.
Andrea says
I have to do this every 6 months or so, because I somehow amass so much makeup. It’s about time for me to do it again. Thanks for the reminder!
susan says
Glad to be of help, Andrea. 🙂