11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom
Updated: Oct. 13, 2022Some products made specifically to be used in the bathroom should definitely not be stored in the bathroom. Here's why.
Medicine
Don’t keep your medicine in your medicine cabinet. We’re not just saying that to be ironic. Medicines and vitamins should be stored at a room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F. Keeping them in a moisture-filled room, like your bathroom, can make them less potent or cause them to go bad before their expiration date, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Towels
Bathrooms are the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew, and your towels are easily susceptible to these gross fungi. It’s fine to keep one towel hung up in the bathroom as long as you swap it out once a week. Turning on an exhaust fan can help dry out the room and your damp towel faster. Store extra towels in a closet, and make sure you know these 7 ways you’re probably cleaning your bathroom wrong as well.
Bathrobe
Another bit of ironic advice: Keep bathrobes out of the bathroom. Just like towels, damp robes could harbor bacteria, and humidity can give them a musty odor. Let them dry in your closet instead of on a hook in your bathroom. Here’s how to get rid of mold on bathroom walls.
Books
We get it — it can be nice to have some reading material available while you’re doing your business. But any books and magazines kept in the bathroom will absorb moisture, leaving you with wrinkled pages and deteriorating binding. Here’s how to get rid of the mildew smell in your bathroom.
Toothbrush
Yes, the rumors are true. A 2012 study from Manchester University in England found your toothbrush may house more than 10 million bacteria, and a portion of that comes from fecal matter sprayed around the room every time you flush the toilet. To keep your brush as germ-free as possible, rinse and air-dry it after each use. If you still choose to store it in the bathroom, close the toilet lid before you flush. And definitely don’t store in next to the toilet, one of the germiest spots in your bathroom.
Non-Waterproof Electronics
We love to sing in the shower as much as anyone, but humidity can do serious damage to your phone. If you need your tunes or morning news while you shower, invest in a shower radio (yes, they still exist) or a waterproof speaker. Now that you know what you shouldn’t leave in the bathroom, learn the 10 things you should never keep in your bedroom.
Nail Polish
Most nail polishes last about two years, but leaving those bottles in the bathroom can make them go bad much faster. Again, heat and humidity are the culprits. Toss nail polish that doesn’t blend, is too thick or looks crumbly.
Razor Blades
It’s fine to keep your current razor in the shower, but extra razor blades should be left outside of the bathroom. Otherwise, the humidity may rust or dull them before you even start to use them, Good Housekeeping reports. Drying razors after each shave can help keep them more effective longer. If you’re giving your bathroom a little remodel, be sure to avoid these most common plumbing mistakes DIYers make.
Jewelry
Jewelry boxes are best kept on dressers and vanities for good reason. The humidity from your bathroom can make jewelry tarnish more quickly than normal, especially sterling silver. Store your jewelry in a cool, dry place. Keeping it in an airtight bag is another effective method. Plus, check out these 15 products under $15 that will organize all of your stuff, including jewelry.
Perfume
Heat and perfume just don’t mix. The experts at perfume.org say fluctuations in temperature (the kind that occur when you take steamy showers) may destroy the molecular integrity of your fragrance and cause it to sour. Here’s how to ditch the chemicals and use a natural air freshener to eliminate stinky smells.
Makeup
Leaving your prized makeup products in the bathroom exposes them to a lot of unwanted heat and moisture, allowing mold and other bacteria to spread and making your makeup go bad faster. And like toothbrushes, makeup brushes are also bound to be contaminated with fecal matter from sprayed toilet water. That’s something you definitely don’t want touching your face. Instead of storing your makeup in the bathroom, check out these inspiring beauty vanity ideas.
