You Can Get Organized!
By
I first talked to "Clara" 3 years ago on the phone. She had heard me on the radio doing an interview on a talk show. She was excited with what she learned on the air and called me almost instantly after the show was over. We talked for 20 minutes and she decided that she could not afford our services.
Never one to give a hard sell, you either are ready to get help or you are not, I told her that we would be around if she decided she needed the help. Three years later she called, "My friend told me that if I had let you come over when we first talked I would not be so frustrated now."
We started with an assessment of her entire home. She had experienced some severe trauma in her life — family members severely injured in accidents as well as a few deaths. Her entire life had been turned upside down to care for family members. It is no wonder that things began accumulating. As more things accumulated, she got more frustrated and defeated.
We decided to start in the bathroom.
There was over 20 years of products that had accumulated… Let's see if some of these phrases are familiar to you:
- I cannot stand it, it makes me break out, but I spent so much money on it!
- I keep looking for a lotion that I will like better
- I used to like that color eyeshadow. . .
- I have no idea why I have been keeping that!
Guidelines for Cosmetics
Any color you have found that you do not wear at least once a month should be thrown out. There are a lot of other guidelines on when you should let go of cosmetics. Here’s a quick guide on the shelf lives of typical beauty products. We then used some great makeup organizers so that she could find her favorites quickly.
Other Non-Garbage Things
After we got rid of the items that were not sanitary to share and/or were expired, we decided on what was staying and what was not.
- Lotions & soaps with pumps were placed in the caregivers' stations and they were told to take what they wanted
- Hair scrunchies, barrettes, etc. were packed up to send to a niece
- Nail polish in colors she decided she did not like - to health care workers
- Hair curlers to church bazaar, etc.
Overall, she purged 67 pounds of products! (Yes, we did weigh it!)
Then What?
After we got rid of everything that was old or not liked, we were able to get down to organizing!
- Counter top organizers were used to chorale small items that she used often.
- Bathroom cleaners were collected and stored under one of the sinks.
- Shampoos and conditioners were put in the shower.
- We collected all of the other items and arranged them in drawers by type of use.
She had not been able to take a bath in the bathroom for well over a decade because it had been filled with other things. Her reward? A long luxurious bath surrounded by candles and her favorite music. Doesn't that sound good?
What have you done to gain control over your bathroom? Have any inspiration stories to share with our readers? I'd love to hear about it!
Believing in you,
Posted April 22, 2008, filed in Clutter Control Products, How I de-cluttered, Where to give it away, Organizeit Projects, Less is More, Before & after photos
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