Among the many places in a home that is used, bathrooms are a close second. In my time of raising a family one of the best ways to keep a bathroom stocked is to keep inventory. Several methods have progressed and faltered in my journey to make sure their is plenty of toilet paper and other items.
I couldn’t find anything in the bathroom. Clutter was everywhere and nothing was organized. No wonder nothing was ever refilled. Finding the item to be refilled was harder than ignoring it.
None of my bathroom inventory ideas would stick. But, since I have tried to keep a running list of what we need, and re-stock as needed items my frustration has diminished. Each time I would reach for something that I needed it was either the last, or close to the last.
Finally, I knew that my memory reminder system wasn’t working. and did it right then. No excuses. The next step I took was to make sure my refill was added to my bathroom list. From that, is where I established the best ways to keep the bathroom inventory stocked.
All of this happens before I leave the bathroom at the end of the night. So, no more issues with toilet paper or discovering there is no toothpaste left. Now, to train everyone else in the house. I guess that will be my next topic.
My bathroom inventory routine goes something like this:
Clean and Organized Space
First, Decluttering is the top of the best ways list. Visually seeing open space helps us to take inventory. A visit to the dollar tree for some matching boxes to place my refills. Next, came cleaning the closet. I told everything out, wiped down the shelves and limited what I put back in. To me, if it looks full I don’t want to mess with it. Therefore, I knew to fool myself the closet had to look open.
My limit per shelf was two baskets. Any more than two baskets was too much on the shelf. Keeping a clean and organized space was my first step.
Best Ways to Start a Stocking Routine
Evening routine was the best time I found to update my bathroom inventory. No one was up to distract me. During the day since we homeschool, I am pulled a lot of directions.
My updates only take five minutes to run through necessities that we need. I check the toilet paper, hair products, toothpaste and soap. If anything is cannot be refilled I add it to my list.
My family has also been notified to add whatever they think we need our are out of to the bathroom list. Just like groceries, if they use the last of the shampoo, add it to the list.
Wall Mounted List Space
Finally, my small dry erase board to keep a running list. This list is where I brain dump what to buy at the store. I tried post it notes, index cards and plain notebook paper. Most certainly, nothing works as good as my dry erase board.
A dry erase board is simple, inexpensive and can be placed in an obscure place. My dry erase board is the pivotal part of my inventory. As I weekly prepare my grocery list, I walk around to the dry erase boards in the bathrooms add the items to my final list.
In addition to the fact that the dry erase board hangs easily behind a door, I don’t have to spend money replenishing. For this reason, this board idea has been a lifesaver, and is one of the best ways I have found to keep the inventory updated.
Over the year’s my ideas have been to develop what works for our home. Not only for our home, but for me to keep the household running. Post it notes may work for some, but not for me. I have to have something practical and easy.
Knowing how to run my home and keep our bathroom stocked with my routine has everyone a little bit happier. I am able to focus more on other stuff with this bathroom routine in place.
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Great ideas! I’m picking up some dry erase boards to hang on our bathroom cabinet doors during my next Dollar Tree visit.
I truly love them! Glad to help.