I was in a waiting room not long ago and came across
an article in a magazine about what should not be stored in the bathroom. I thought it was a good topic to include in my newsletter. So here's my take on the subject...
1.
Medicines: Changing temperatures and humidity can cause some medications to deteriorate. Medicines are best kept in a cool, dry place; not a bathroom where you and other family members are likely taking hot and steamy showers and baths.
Medicine in my house is stored in the kitchen, in a high cabinet (important if you have kids or pets) far away from the oven and stove.
2. Books/Magazines: Personally, I'm not a fan of keeping reading material in the
bathroom, especially books. Bathrooms are humid. Paper absorbs moisture, making it wrinkle.
If you store books in the bathroom, the humidity can damage the pages and cause book bindings to
deteriorate. Bathrooms also tend to be germy.
But I know there are some folks who like having reading material available, especially in guest bathrooms. In this case, stock a few magazines
or catalogs that can be thrown away after short periods of time...and store them away from the toilet bowl for obvious reasons.
3. Jewelry: The bathroom is definitely not a good place to store rings and earrings. One slip and they can end up down the drain. Then you have a bit of an
issue on your hands.
Plus, bathroom humidity can speed up the oxidation process and make some jewelry tarnish.
Jewelry is best kept in a jewelry box or jewelry armoire in the bedroom or bedroom closet.
4. Phones and Radios: If you're always bringing your phone into the bathroom, you may want to reconsider. First, the humidity can damage it. Second, if you're storing it in your back pocket, and you forget it's there, it can easily fall into the toilet bowl. It can also get mistakenly placed on a wet bathroom counter.
Don’t take your phone to the bathroom to read or to charge if you can avoid it. I usually leave mine on my bedroom dresser, right outside the bathroom door.
Of course, this does not apply if you're out and about in a public setting. If you're in a public setting, don't keep it in your back pocket or on your lap. Do keep it in your purse if you have one, in a zippered pocket of your jacket, or in the front pocket of your jeans.
As far as music in your home bathroom, consider buying a waterproof radio if you really need music or the news.
Finally, always be mindful of the dangers of electrocution with electronics and water.
5. Toothbrushes: Ok, you CAN keep your toothbrush in the bathroom, even though you may read never to do so. But really,
most people are not going to keep it in another room...myself included.
That being said, your toothbrush should be well away (at least 6-10 feet) from the toilet. Always close the toilet
lid before you flush...think about those nasty germs and bacteria and make sure you feel comfortable with how far away your toothbrush is stored.
6. Skincare and Makeup: Skincare and makeup is expensive. Keeping it all in your bathroom will cause your cosmetics to expire more quickly than if you are storing them where they should be stored...in a cool, dry place.
Store cosmetics in a makeup
train case in your bedroom closet. Grab it and bring it to the bathroom when you're ready to use it.
If you
must keep it in the bathroom, don't leave it out in the open. Store in a closed cabinet or drawer.
7. Makeup brushes: Bathrooms can't be clean 100% of the time. You don’t
want floating bathroom bacteria to land and grow on the brush you dip in your makeup...and then apply to your face. Yuck.
Keep your makeup brushes with your makeup...in a case in a
cool, dry place.
8. Nail Polish: Under ideal conditions, nail polish should last a couple of years. But it will discolor sooner when stored in the bathroom. Just like makeup, it should be stored in a cool, dry place.
And if you've heard tips about storing your nail polish in the refrigerator, don't do that either. That environment is too cool for most nail polish and will cause the formula to thicken. This will compromise the formula and damage it over time. Plus,
you'll have to wait for it to get to room temperature before you can polish your nails.
9. Perfume: Bathroom humidity and temperature fluctuations, can lessen the life of your favorite perfumes and colognes. I like storing these on a tray in my bedroom closet, where it's cool,
dry...and dark...most of the time.
10. Extra razors or razor blades: Humidity equals dampness, and dampness equals rust. Razors are made of metal...and metal will rust. If you're shaving with a rusty blade, you can easily get a nick, cut, or worse...an
infection.
I'm certainly not going to tell you to not store your razor in the bathroom. But, don't leave it on a wet counter or in a shower. Clean it after use, allow it to dry, and then
tuck it away in a drawer or cabinet...on its stand or with its safety shield in place.
Store extra razors or blades out of the bathroom in a cool, dry place.
11. Linens and towels: If you have another closet in your bedroom or the hall for linens, use it. If not, unused towels stored in the bathroom should be stored in a bathroom closet or
cabinet.
Heat and humidity in the bathroom foster mold and mildew. So, certainly feel free to keep your bath towel hung near the tub or shower for use once or twice, but launder it after
that.
12. Photographs and artwork. These look stylish in magazines, but the fluctuating temperatures and mugginess of the bathroom can seriously damage them.
If you want to display photos in your bathroom, make copies of the originals and display the copies. This way, the originals are safe and sound in a cooler, dryer area of your home.
If you want to display artwork, choose inexpensive options that can be easily and inexpensively replaced.
Finally, when you do take a bath or shower, run the exhaust fan to help with dampness...and consider using a dehumidifier as well.
