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Home Β» accommodations Β» How to: Travel Bathroom Organization

How to: Travel Bathroom Organization

May 13, 2013 by Karen Dawkins 25 Comments

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When we travel as a family, one of my biggest pet peeves is bathroom organization. At home, my three kids share their own bathroom. Since they’re plenty old enough to maintain it, I don’t venture in there often. Tooth paste all over the counter? Fine. If that’s how they want it. Personal products covering every inch of space? That’s fine too. It’s not my mess!

When we travel, we don’t have the luxury of two bathrooms. So, their mess becomes my mess. Or, more likely, I freak out over the mess and make them clean it up.

While I could fight with them on bathroom cleanliness at home, I choose not to engage in that battle. They’ll grow up, marry, and their spouses can teach them! (Tee hee!) When traveling, the five of us share a space meant for two. I had to develop a strategy for bathroom organization, because fighting about bathroom counter space is not my idea of vacation fun!

bathroom organization 1

EASY How To: Travel Bathroom Organization

As you can see in the photo above left, with enough effort we can keep the counters fairly organized during travel. But, the counter on the right gives us far more space. I can actually apply makeup without knocking something off the counter.

All it takes is this:

bathroom organization 2

Yep! An over-the-door shoe rack is the best tool for bathroom organization! It doesn’t take much space in the suitcase and provides organized storage space to make the tiniest hotel bathroom more manageable.

**It also works on cruise ships, though take zip-ties to secure it to the shower rod or closet bar. It doesn’t work on most cabin doors.**

Here’s how it looks when used:

bathroom organization 3

  1. We tuck the water bottles into the top row to keep them clean and because we don’t need them daily.
  2. Below that, there’s a row for everyone (if needed). On this particular trip we packed light, so we didn’t use the whole thing.
  3. Lowest pockets can be used for kids’ toys, dolls and stuffed animals. Their “stuff” is easy to get to and it doesn’t get lost under beds. As an added bonus, lego pieces — safely stored in a zip-lock bag or small snap-shut container — don’t end up all over the floor for adults to step on!

Our bathroom organization shoe bag is made of fabric and is machine washable. I store it with my overnight bag so it’s always ready to go.

This simple solution keeps the whole family happy. I don’t yell at the kids and they don’t have to think too hard to put things away… Now, if only they’d figure out that the drawers built into their bathroom vanity work just as well! 🙂

What’s your hotel travel pet peeve? How do you manage it?

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Comments

  1. Tough Cookie Mommy says

    May 26, 2013 at 3:35 pm

    Thanks so much for linking up with us this past week for the Monday Mingle at Tough Cookie Mommy. I would love to connect on Facebook too https://facebook.com/toughcookiemommy

    Reply
  2. Michele {Malaysian Meanders} says

    May 21, 2013 at 1:14 am

    I’ve used shoe organizers for clutter control before, but I never thought to take it on a trip. Brilliant idea, Karen! Do you slip everything in the pockets after you arrive or does it go into the suitcase fully loaded?

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 21, 2013 at 7:05 am

      I pack it flat and load it when I get there. I just fold it and lay it in the bottom of the suitcase so it’s always ready to go. πŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Antionette Blake says

    May 20, 2013 at 2:48 pm

    Great idea, thankfully my sons are neat freaks and they share a bathroom – wish my counter looked as good as theirs do!
    HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 20, 2013 at 4:41 pm

      Lucky you to have a pair of neat freaks! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Pepper Tan says

    May 14, 2013 at 5:40 pm

    Oh that’s so clever! A shoe bag to hold everything in. I will keep that in mind if and when I have more kids πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 19, 2013 at 8:37 pm

      Even small families can use them to keep things organized, especially if staying in a hotel for several days.

      Reply
  5. Tonya {The Traveling Praters} says

    May 14, 2013 at 1:13 pm

    What a great idea! I also freak out when the bathroom is not neat and tidy. I just can’t stand an already cramped hotel room to look cluttered.

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 14, 2013 at 1:16 pm

      We’d make great travel buddies, Tonya. I’m a neat freak… I am horrified by the thought of hotel staff having to wade through my kids’ dirty clothes, toys, snack wrappers and bathroom junk just to clean and tidy the place. A little order goes a long way toward calm and enjoyment! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  6. Amanda says

    May 14, 2013 at 10:48 am

    Brilliant! And so simple! πŸ™‚
    Thanks for spreading the LOVE around with us on Showin’ Some Love Hump Day Blog Hop!! πŸ™‚
    Already following you!

    <3 Amanda*
    https://modernhippiemomma.blogspot.com/2013/05/showin-some-love-hump-day-blog-hop-4.html

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 14, 2013 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  7. LadyInRead says

    May 14, 2013 at 12:54 am

    very neat idea.. my first visit here and will be back.. I am following you on Pinterest and via email now – came here from Monday Mingle..
    BTW, love the blog subtitle – Makers of staycation in a box..

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 14, 2013 at 7:56 am

      Thanks, Lady in Read! I look forward to getting to know you better. So glad you stopped by!

      Reply
  8. Cynthia says

    May 13, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    BRILLIANT! You never cease to amaze me!

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 13, 2013 at 9:43 pm

      Awwww… shucks! **blush**

      Reply
  9. Christy says

    May 13, 2013 at 5:05 pm

    Good idea! I haven’t had to worry about this issue too much.

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 13, 2013 at 9:43 pm

      I’m glad for you… You must train kids better than I do!

      Reply
  10. Susan says

    May 13, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    Karen, seriously! This is brilliant. My kids are still young enough that bathroom issues don’t exist YET when we travel. My oldest daughter uses my stuff mostly (sigh) and my boy, well, I’m lucky to get him to brush his teeth at all! lol

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 13, 2013 at 9:42 pm

      Thanks! You’ll be ahead of the game going forward! πŸ™‚

      Reply
  11. Lexie Lane says

    May 13, 2013 at 3:21 pm

    Wow Karen, you really have this down! I definitely could use some organization when I travel. I get too relaxed sometimes that it all ends up everywhere!

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 13, 2013 at 9:42 pm

      Thanks, Lexie! The more I travel, the more organized I get. Home on the road you know!

      Reply
  12. Sharon Green says

    May 13, 2013 at 11:38 am

    I actually have one of those and it’s absolutely amazing. You get to store your items without taking up any floor/counter space. Truly a great invention!

    Reply
    • Karen Dawkins says

      May 13, 2013 at 2:20 pm

      Sharon, do you have any other great tips to share? Sounds like we’re kindred travelers.

      Reply

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Meet Karen Dawkins

An avid traveler, I enjoy discovering new places: history, culture, and adventure. I love it all! Well, not bugs. I don’t like bugs very much, so I probably won’t visit a bug museum.

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