How to Organize Bathroom Toiletries in 5 Simple Steps

Ever found yourself running late, digging through a messy bathroom cabinet just to find your deodorant or toothpaste?

I used to waste 5 minutes every morning doing exactly that, and it made me feel like my day was already falling apart before it even started.

There were days when I’d knock over bottles, spill mouthwash, or find 3 half-used face creams I didn’t even remember buying. It felt like no matter how many times I tidied up, everything was a mess again in 1 week.

If your bathroom feels the same, don’t worry. I’ve been there, and I finally figured out a simple way to organize toiletries so everything is easy to grab, stays in place, and doesn’t turn into chaos after 2 days.

Why Organizing Bathroom Toiletries is Important?

I used to waste 5 minutes every morning digging through a pile of bottles just to find my toothpaste, and that added up to 35 minutes every week. Time I could’ve spent relaxing or getting to work on time.

When everything is in its place, you grab what you need in 2 seconds and start your day without the stress.

Before I organized, I bought 3 bottles of the same lotion because I kept losing the first two, wasting money I didn’t need to spend.

Once I sorted my toiletries, I realized I had enough shampoo for 6 months, and I finally stopped spending on stuff I already owned.

A messy bathroom made cleaning a nightmare, taking 10 minutes to wipe the counter because I had to move a dozen bottles, but now it takes 2 minutes.

Plus, starting my day in a clean, organized bathroom made me feel more in control, instead of feeling like I was fighting chaos before I even left the house.

Watch, How to Declutter Your Bathroom Counter in 5 Simple Steps

How To Organize Bathroom Toiletries

So, let’s explore each step you need to follow when organizing bathroom toiletries.

1. Divide Toiletries into Simple, Clear Categories

The first time I tried organizing my bathroom, I made the mistake of just shoving everything into random drawers, thinking, “At least it’s off the counter.”

But 1 week later, I was right back to digging through a tangled mess of toothbrushes, hair products, and half-used lotions, getting frustrated every morning.

What finally worked for me was sorting everything into clear, easy categories like Daily Essentials (toothpaste, deodorant), Haircare, Skincare, Makeup, and Extras (like travel-sized products).

When I did this, I stopped wasting 5 minutes every day searching for my moisturizer, and instead, I could grab it in 5 seconds because I knew exactly where it was.

Trust me, keeping it simple is key—I once tried 10 fancy subcategories like “morning serums” and “night creams,” but 2 days in, I gave up because it was too complicated.

Now, I stick to 5 basic groups, and my bathroom has stayed organized for over 6 months, which honestly feels like a miracle.

2. Assign a Designated Container for Each Category

After sorting my toiletries into categories, I thought I was done—until 3 days later when everything started mixing up again because I had just stacked them in the drawer.

That’s when I realized I needed separate containers to hold each group, or it would all slide back into chaos.

I grabbed 5 small plastic bins from the dollar store for under 10 dollars, and let me tell you, that simple change saved me so much frustration.

Now, my Daily Essentials bin holds toothpaste, deodorant, and face wash, and my Haircare bin has my brush, hairspray, and hair oil—all easy to grab in 5 seconds without digging through a mess.

At first, I thought using bins was overkill, but I noticed it actually made cleaning faster when I wipe the counter, I just lift one container in 2 seconds instead of moving 7 individual bottles, and my bathroom has stayed organized for over 8 months now, which is a personal record.

See, 23 Clever Shower Storage Ideas

3. Use Smaller Containers Inside Bins to Group Tiny Items

I thought I had everything under control after getting bins, but then 2 weeks later, my makeup bin turned into a disaster—lip balms rolling everywhere, bobby pins scattered, and cotton swabs mixing with everything.

It took me 3 minutes every morning to fish out my mascara, and I realized I needed smaller containers inside the bins to keep those tiny things from getting lost.

I grabbed 3 small cups from my kitchen (one was an old yogurt container), and now my cotton swabs, hair ties, and lip products each have their own little section.

It might sound simple, but it saved me at least 15 minutes every week, and I haven’t had to dig for a bobby pin in over 4 months, which honestly feels like a small victory.

See, 25 Best Minimalist Bathroom Organization Ideas

4. Label All Containers for Easy Identification

The first time I organized my bins, I thought I’d just “remember” what was in each one—but 1 month later, I was still opening every bin trying to find my razor.

That’s when I grabbed a permanent marker and masking tape and quickly labeled each one as Daily, Haircare, Skincare, Makeup, and Extras in less than 5 minutes.

It made such a difference because now I don’t even have to think—I see “Haircare,” grab the bin, and I’m good to go in 2 seconds.

My wife even thanked me because she used to ask me where everything was, but now she just reads the label, and we’ve saved ourselves at least 3 arguments in the past 6 months.

5. Return Items to Their Designated Bins After Each Use

I’ll be honest—this is the part I used to skip. I’d spend 1 day organizing everything perfectly, but 2 weeks later, my deodorant was back on the counter, my razor was in the drawer, and my “Extras” bin was stuffed with random things again.

What finally made it stick for me was getting into the habit of taking 5 seconds to put things back right after I used them.

Now, when I brush my teeth, the toothpaste goes straight back into the Daily Essentials bin—not next to the sink, not “I’ll do it later,” just back in the bin every time.

I noticed that keeping up with this saves me from needing those big 1-hour reorganization days every 3 months, and my bathroom has stayed neat for over 9 months without slipping back into chaos.

Trust me, I know how easy it is to fall back into tossing everything on the counter after a busy morning.

I’ve done it more times than I can count. But once I got in the habit of putting things back in their bins, my bathroom has stayed organized for over 9 months, and my mornings finally feel calm.

How does your bathroom look right now—are you still digging through piles every day, or are you ready to give this a try?

Start small, even with just 1 bin today, and you’ll be surprised how quickly your bathroom turns into a space that works for you instead of against you.

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