Challenge #13- Under the Bathroom Sink

Today we dare to enter the dark space under the bathroom sink!

Let’s recall the process we are using throughout the month:

THE PROCESS

• Gather your supplies:
  • Boxes or bags labeled with:
    • “Donate”
    • “Elsewhere”
    • “Store”
  • Trash can/recycle bin
  • Damp rag/wet wipe

• Empty challenge area for the day. And by empty, I mean EMPTY.

• Once the area is empty, wipe it clean with a damp rag.

• Now sort the items into these categories: (The Seana Method’s R.E.D.D.S. system)
  • R- “Restore”: items to go back in
  • E- “Elsewhere: items to keep, but which don’t belong in this space
  • D- “Donate”
  • D- “Dispose”: trash or recycle
  • S- “Store”: items to keep for sentimental reasons, or perhaps for a long-term future use, but which are not regularly used. (These items will eventually need to go into a bin/box in an attic, basement, or closet.)

• As you are sorting, put items into the boxes/bags you prepared.

• Once you are finished sorting, put the “Restore” items back into your designated area.

• Carry the “Elsewhere” box/bag around your house and redistribute its contents.

• Move the “Donate” box/bag to the car to be donated.

• Trash/recycle the “Dispose” items

• Put the "Store" box aside for now. When the month is over, these items will be packaged for long-term storage.

THE TASK

The cabinet under the bathroom sink(s) tends to be a repository for many items: paper supplies, cleaning solutions, first-aid, and beauty products just to name a few. Each person probably has a different set-up, and that is fine. Regardless of what you keep there, it makes sense to periodically clear it out so that you are only storing what is useful.

Begin as we have all month, by emptying the space. Group like items, and throw away any items that are expired, broken, or no longer being used by a family member. Also give some thought to whether this space is the BEST space for the items you have there. Some might be better off moved to another location in the house. For instance, keep 4 rolls of toilet paper under the sink, the extra 20 rolls you got from Costco out in the garage.

When it comes time to reload, here are a few tips:

• Place bottles of cleaning products into plastic dish pans to catch spills and leaks.
• Consider installing large adhesive pockets (e.g. from the Martha Stewart collection at Staples) on the inside of the cabinet to hold any paperwork for appliances/faucets/etc. in the bathroom.
• Group like ideas and keep them in clear, labeled boxes. The space under sinks is large, and therefore tough to use well. A quick trick is to use milk crates to make “shelves” in this large space.
• Hang a tension rod across the top front of the space from which you can hang lightweight objects, such as washcloths.
• Consider if any items kept under the sink could be better stored elsewhere in the bathroom. For example, install a hook or mesh metal basket from which to hang a hair dryer.
• Minimize the number of small, loose items kept in this cavernous space.
• Hang hooks on the back of the vanity doors from which you can hang items.

Hopefully the simple process of looking at what you’ve got under your sink will inspire you to get rid of some stuff and free up some space. Have a question? Let us know and we’d be happy to help!

Submitted by Seana Turner, founder and President of The Seana Method