What do I put in my bathroom drawers?

When organizing your bathroom, the drawers can often get overlooked. However, they play an important role in keeping your space neat and organized. The contents of your drawers allow you to quickly access items you use every day. Carefully considering what to put in each drawer will maximize your storage and make your morning routine easier.

Medicine and First Aid Supplies

One of the most logical items to store in a bathroom drawer are medicine and first aid supplies. Designate one drawer for holding the following items:

  • Bandages
  • Gauze
  • Antiseptic ointments
  • Hydrocortisone cream
  • Pain relief medicines like ibuprofen and acetaminophen
  • Cold and flu medications
  • Prescription medications
  • Medical tools like tweezers, scissors, and a thermometer

Storing these items in a dedicated drawer makes them easy to grab when needed. It also keeps them organized and separated from other bathroom clutter.

Hair Care Accessories

Another drawer option is to use it for storing hair care items and accessories. Ideas include:

  • Hair brushes and combs
  • Hair ties and headbands
  • Bobby pins and hair clips
  • Hair styling products like mousse, gel, and hairspray
  • Hair dryer and styling tools like a curling iron
  • Shampoo and conditioner

Having a dedicated hair drawer simplifies styling your hair after a shower. You can quickly grab everything you need without sorting through a disorganized cupboard.

Skin Care and Cosmetics

For easy access to your daily beauty regimen, use a drawer for skincare and makeup products. Items to include are:

  • Facial cleansers and moisturizers
  • Makeup like foundation, blush, mascara, and lip products
  • Skin care tools like makeup brushes and a facial cleansing brush
  • Tweezers for plucking eyebrows
  • Cotton pads and balls
  • Skin care masks and treatments

Storing these items together prevents cluttering up the countertop. It also protects delicate makeup from getting damaged or expired from humidity and heat.

Towels

Designate one or more drawers for neatly folding and organizing towels. Options include:

  • Bath towels
  • Hand towels
  • Washcloths
  • Bath mats
  • Beach and pool towels

Folding towels vertically or rolling them maximizes space. Use drawer organizers to neatly separate different towel types. This prevents a jumbled mess and makes retrieving a fresh towel easy.

Toiletries and Personal Items

Fill a drawer with those frequently used personal care items. Consider keeping:

  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Dental floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Deodorant
  • Q-tips
  • Nail clippers
  • Tweezers
  • Contact lens supplies
  • Shaving cream and razors

Having a dedicated toiletry drawer prevents clutter on the countertop and makes daily grooming simple. It also allows multiple household members to each store their personal items separately.

Cleaning Supplies

It’s handy to have cleaning supplies readily available. Designate a drawer for items like:

  • All-purpose bathroom cleaner
  • Toilet bowl cleaner
  • Disinfecting wipes and sprays
  • Glass cleaner
  • Magic eraser cleaning pads
  • Disposable gloves
  • Cleaning cloths and sponges
  • Air freshener

A cleaning drawer helps you quickly tidy up messes and keeps supplies organized instead of cluttering cabinets below the sink.

Extra Storage

For miscellaneous items that don’t have a designated spot, use a catch-all drawer. Possibilities include:

  • Spare batteries
  • Tools like a screwdriver and hammer
  • Sewing kit
  • Candles and matches
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Sunscreen
  • First aid manual
  • Flip flops

An everything drawer prevents random objects from getting tossed into other drawers. Just be sure not to overload it, or the contents can become disorganized.

Kids’ Bath Supplies

If you have children, devote a drawer for all their bath time essentials. Stock it with:

  • Kid-friendly shampoo and soap
  • Bubble bath
  • Bath toys
  • Squirt bottles and water toys
  • Detangling spray and comb
  • Hooded towels
  • Tear-free face wash

Keeping kids’ items separate from the adult products prevents clutter. It also makes bath time safe and easy when everything they need is in one place.

Linens

Use bottom drawers to neatly store extra linens. These include:

  • Washcloths
  • Hand towels
  • Bath towels
  • Bath mats
  • Guest towels

Rolling or vertically folding linens maximizes storage. Having extras readily on hand makes changing and replacing towels quick and easy.

Under the Sink Storage

While not a drawer, the cupboard under the bathroom sink is prime storage real estate. Keep it organized by using containers to separate items. Recommended contents include:

  • Cleaning supplies like floor cleaner and grout scrubber
  • Toilet plunger
  • Tile scrubbing brush
  • Trash bags and bins
  • Extra soaps and shampoos
  • Sewer snake
  • Pipe wrench
  • Hot water heater pan

Use hanging organizer racks inside the doors to neatly store spray bottles. Lazy susans also efficiently corral small items in the back. A well organized under sink cabinet creates easy access to supplies you only use occasionally.

What to Avoid Putting in Bathroom Drawers

While most items have a suitable home in a bathroom drawer, there are a few things better left out:

  • Documents and paper – Exposure to humidity can damage important documents. Store these in a home office instead.
  • Food and beverages – Open food can attract ants and other bathroom pests.
  • Electric devices – The humidity and occasional water leaks make electronics unsafe in bathroom storage.
  • Expensive jewelry – Diamonds, gold, and other fine jewelry are better kept in the bedroom or a dedicated jewelry box.
  • Medications requiring refrigeration – Medicines like insulin and antibiotics need regulated cooler temperatures.
  • Chemicals like bleach and ammonia – Store cleaning chemicals in a separate laundry room or garage cupboard to avoid dangerous fume interactions.

Excluding these few items from your bathroom storage keeps your drawers and cabinets safe and sanitary.

Tips for Organizing Bathroom Drawers

Follow these tips to get the most efficient use out of your bathroom drawers:

  • Categorize what will go in each drawer and stick to it. Avoid tossing random items together.
  • Use drawer organizers, dividers, and trays to section off types of items.
  • Label the contents on the outside of each drawer for easy identification.
  • Store only essential items you use daily or weekly to avoid clutter.
  • Maximize vertical space by using riser shelves and standing items upright.
  • Purge expired products and remnants periodically.
  • Clean drawers regularly to keep them sanitized and free of dust.

Invest time upfront determining the optimal use for each drawer. Consistently returning items to their designated spot will ensure they remain neatly organized.

Creative Drawer Storage Solutions

Take bathroom drawer organization to the next level with these clever storage solutions:

  • Use turntables and lazy susans to create easy access to items in back corners.
  • Mount plastic baby bottle drying racks inside drawers to neatly hold spray bottles upright.
  • Repurpose kitchen cutlery trays to divide makeup brushes and toiletries in shallow drawers.
  • Install pull-out vertical storage towers for washcloths, hand towels, and other linens.
  • Use hanging shelves inside cabinets or on the back of doors for frequently used items.
  • Adhere removable vinyl pouches, mesh pockets, or panes inside cabinet doors to organize small supplies.
  • Install pegboards on walls above sinks or inside cabinets to hang baskets for extra storage.

Look beyond basic drawer dividers to discover innovative ways to maximize every inch of available space.

Choosing Drawer Organizers

Drawer organizers are essential tools for optimizing the contents of your bathroom storage. Considerations when selecting drawer organizers include:

  • Material – Plastic, wood, mesh, and other materials all have pros and cons.
  • Compartments – Fixed dividers or adjustable sections to accommodate different item sizes.
  • Dimensions – Match measurements to your exact drawer dimensions for a custom fit.
  • Stackable – Vertical stacking units maximize drawer space.
  • Portable – Some units can be moved between drawers or rooms.
  • Water resistant – Moisture protective coatings help items withstand humidity.
  • Visibility – Clear plastic lets you easily see contents.
  • Style – Choose an aesthetic to coordinate with your bath décor.

Take measurements and assess your storage needs before shopping. This ensures you select the right organizers for the job.

Recommended Drawer Organizers

Here are some top-rated drawer organizers to consider for your bathroom:

Organizer Key Features
Sorbus Foldable Storage Cubes Plastic cubes stack vertically or arrange side-by-side. Adjustable dividers.
Lipper Bamboo Wood Divided Drawer Organizer Eco-friendly bamboo with adjustable compartments.
SimpleHouseware Closet Underwear Organizer Mesh fabric with 2 large compartments for dividing drawers.
SimpleHouseware Turntable Storage Organizer Rotating lazy susan with adjustable dividers for corner access.
mDesign Plastic Vertical Dividers Acrylic dividers help organize wide shallow drawers.

Conclusion

Your bathroom drawers have great potential for keeping all your daily essentials organized and easily accessible. Carefully considering the contents for each drawer will help you maximize your storage space. Use drawer organizers to neatly divide items and make locating what you need quick and simple.

Aim for only keeping products you use regularly in your bathroom drawers. Anything used only occasionally is better stored elsewhere. Purge expired items and remnants periodically to maintain an orderly space.

With some thoughtful organization, your bathroom drawers can help streamline your morning routine and keep your space decluttered. Just be sure to continue returning items to their designated homes.