11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom (2024)

ByClaire Nowak

Updated: Oct. 31, 2023

    Some products made specifically to be used in the bathroom should definitely not be stored in the bathroom. Here's why.

    11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom (1)

    Ladyshutterstock/Shutterstock

    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 Fahrenheit. 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.

    11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom (2)

    Margarita Nikolskaya/Shutterstock

    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.

    11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom (3)

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    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.

    11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom (4)

    Vladimir Muravin/Shutterstock

    Books

    We get it—it can be nice to have some reading material available while you’re doing your business. But the books and magazines that are kept in the bathroom will absorb moisture, leaving you with wrinkled pages and deteriorating binding. Here are 10 more things to get rid of in your bathroom right now.

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    Jewelry

    Jewelry boxes are generally kept on dressers and vanities for good reason. The humidity from your bathroom can make jewelry tarnish more quickly than normal, especially when it comes to sterling silver. Store your jewelry in a cool, dry place. Keeping it in an airtight bag is another effective method.

    Toothbrush

    Yes, all the rumors you’ve heard are true. A 2012 study from Manchester University in England found that your toothbrush may house more than 10 million bacteria, and a portion of that comes from fecal matter that’s 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, and, 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.

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    Michelle Patrick/Shutterstock

    Makeup

    Leaving your prized makeup products in the bathroom exposes them to a lot of unwanted heat and moisture, which allows mold and other bacteria to spread and make your makeup go bad faster. And like toothbrushes, makeup brushes are also bound to get contaminated with fecal matter from sprayed toilet water. That’s something you definitely don’t want touching your face.

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    Ariadna Nevskaya/Shutterstock

    Perfume

    Heat and perfume just don’t mix. The experts at perfume.org say that fluctuations in temperature (the kind that can occur when you take steamy showers) can destroy the molecular integrity of your fragrance and cause it to sour.

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    progressman/Shutterstock

    Nail polish

    Most nail polishes will last about two years, but leaving those bottles in the bathroom can make them go bad—toss nail polish that doesn’t blend, is too thick, or looks crumbly—much faster. Again, heat and humidity are the culprits. Avoid these other bathroom mistakes you never knew you made.

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    Steve Cukrov/Shutterstock

    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. Do you live in an old house? There might be razor blades in your walls.

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    Zilu8/Shutterstock

    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’ve conquered what you shouldn’t leave in the bathroom, know the10 things you should never keep in your bedroom.

    Originally Published: June 27, 2019

    Author

    Claire Nowak

    Claire is a writer, editor and digital strategist with more than 10 years of experience reporting on facts, trivia and quotes. Her natural curiosity lends itself to stories on history, trivia and "Did you know?" curiosities, and her work has appeared in Taste of Home, The Family Handyman, The Healthy and iHeart Media. A former editor at Reader's Di...

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    11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom (2024)

    FAQs

    11 Things You Shouldn’t Store in Your Bathroom? ›

    Bathrobes and towels

    'They are prone to mold and mildew build-up,' he asserts. 'Hanging or keeping them near the toilet can expose them to bacteria and germs whenever you flush. Instead, store them in a drawer or extra storage in your bedroom,' he suggests.

    What not to store in your bathroom? ›

    • Medicine. Avoid storing medication—along with any vitamins and supplements—in the bathroom. ...
    • Extra Linens. ...
    • Backstock Toiletries. ...
    • Jewelry. ...
    • Electronics. ...
    • Special Occasion Makeup. ...
    • Perfume and Nail Polish. ...
    • Books, Magazines, or Photos.
    Dec 28, 2023

    Why shouldn't you keep towels in the bathroom? ›

    Bathrobes and towels

    'They are prone to mold and mildew build-up,' he asserts. 'Hanging or keeping them near the toilet can expose them to bacteria and germs whenever you flush. Instead, store them in a drawer or extra storage in your bedroom,' he suggests.

    What should you keep in the bathroom? ›

    Must-Have Bathroom Essentials
    • Paper Products. Paper products may not be glamorous, but they are essential. ...
    • Soap and Hand Towels. Purchase a few bottles or bars of hand soap in your favorite scents. ...
    • Shower Curtain. ...
    • Bath Mat. ...
    • Toilet Brush and Plunger. ...
    • Toothbrush and Toothpaste. ...
    • Personal Care Items. ...
    • Towels and Washcloths.
    May 12, 2023

    Should jewelry be stored in the bathroom? ›

    Ideally, Trosclair says, you should store jewelry outside the bathroom.

    What can I store on top of my toilet? ›

    Decorate the Top of the Toilet

    Install floating shelves for an over-the-toilet storage idea to hold large items, such as a potted plant or framed artwork. Just be sure they're mounted high enough to avoid hitting your head. For additional space, use the top of the tank, too.

    What should be stored under a bathroom sink? ›

    If space is limited, keep only the necessities and use the linen closet or add shelving elsewhere for everything else. If there's more room for under-bathroom-sink storage, things such as hair tools and backup toiletries can stay.

    Why can't you wash towels with sheets? ›

    Why Washing Towels with Sheets Isn't Worth the Time Saved. There are a few good reasons not to wash your towels and sheets (two vastly different materials) together: It can cause lint to stick to your sheets. Washing sheets with towels can cause the color of light-colored sheets to fade or yellow more quickly.

    Why you shouldn't wash towels with clothes? ›

    “For one, your other clothes and sheets will get lint and fibers on them from being washed with towels,” she explains. “Towels should be washed on a heavier cycle, without fabric softener, in hot water. Towels also take significantly longer to dry, which could cause clothing and other items to shrink.”

    Where to put towels after a shower? ›

    On a Towel Bar

    If you have a towel bar or rack in your bathroom, wet towels can be hung up there to dry. Just make sure that the towel bar or rack is in a well-ventilated area so that the towels can dry quickly.

    What is the cleanest thing in a bathroom? ›

    It's not all dirt and grime in the bathroom. The study finds showerheads and sink taps are the cleanest items in the typical bathroom.

    Should you store clothes in the bathroom? ›

    Similarly, keeping your clothes in the bathroom hours before you take a bath too isn't the ideal way. Clothes easily attract fungus and bacteria and could make the clothes stink. Creams and lotions, makeup products and shaving sets shouldn't be kept on the bathroom counters.

    What to store in bathroom closets? ›

    For the most efficient bathroom closet organization, clearly defined categories should be assigned, such as towels, toilet paper, shower products, makeup, etc. Give each category a shelf in the closet, keeping the most frequently used items front and center.

    Where not to hide jewelry? ›

    Hiding Places to Avoid:
    • areas that can damage your valuables with water or invasive matter, such as the water tank of a toilet, inside a mayonnaise jar that still has mayonnaise in it, or a paint can filled with paint. ...
    • a jewelry box. ...
    • your desk drawer, bedside drawer, or underwear drawer. ...
    • inside CD cases.

    What jewelry can you not wear in the shower? ›

    Gold plated and gold filled jewelry consists of an alloy with a thin layer of gold on top, when this layer wears away the jewelry can be left permanently damaged. Even gold vermeil, with its base of sterling silver, is best left out of water, which can tarnish the enveloping layer of gold.

    Where is the safest place to keep your jewelry? ›

    Purchasing a safe or lock box can help ensure that your valuables are secure. Keep the safe hidden and have a combination lock to further lower the risk of it being opened. While they are a convenient place to organize your collection, jewelry boxes are the first location an intruder will look to find prized pieces.

    Is it okay to store makeup in the bathroom? ›

    The Bathroom

    The most common place you might consider storing your makeup is on your bathroom counter or in your bathroom cabinets. But this is actually the worst place you can keep it! Humidity can cause products to expire quicker and break down the key ingredients.

    Can you put storage in a bathroom? ›

    Wall space is often underused in bathrooms, and can provide valuable storage that frees up your countertops and sink. Use shelving to store towels, baskets or toiletries, without compromising on floor space.

    What should you store in a bathroom cabinet? ›

    They are perfect for storing smaller items such as medicine, toiletries, and cosmetics. Wall-mounted cabinets are also ideal for storing items out of reach of children. Wall-mounted cabinets for efficiently storing all your bathroom supplies.

    Can you have storage in a bathroom? ›

    Built-In Bathroom Storage Idea

    Even if the space between rooms is shallow, bathroom wall shelves built between studs can hold tons of supplies and toiletries. If desired, add doors or drawers to conceal the clutter. Glass-front cabinets help the bathroom feel open and airy.

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