Organizing Toothbrushes
Kristen over at We Are THAT Family is hosting an organizing edition for Works for Me Wednesday so of course I couldn’t resist participating.
I don’t know about in your house but frequently I walk into the bathroom to find toothbrushes scattered all over the countertop. It drives me nutso. Especially since I’d given them a nice bucket on the counter which which to throw them into. Now really how hard is that!?
Now in all fairness, my ice bucket inspired toothbrush storage did work for quite some time but eventually what happens is they (as in my family) stop seeing it. It ends up sitting there lonely and dejected and that almost makes me sadder than the toothbrushes all over the counter. I simply cannot have one of my containers treated that way. I won’t stand for it I tell you.
When this starts to happen I know it’s time to change things up again. Offer a fresh solution that’s fun and exciting to keep them on their toes! So I cleared out one of my bathroom drawers and assigned them each their own toothbrush basket instead. I purchased these baskets 2 for $1.00 at the dollar store. They work beautifully in most drawers for most things including junk drawers.
Seriously, be still my heart.
So far it’s working out great and the kids are actually once again putting their toothbrushes away. Yet for sure the day will come when these baskets will to be ignored but that’s okay because the beauty of organizing is there is no end to the organizing solutions to be found.
Be sure to get your fix visit all the other organizing tips going on over at We Are THAT Family.
PS: Don’t forget to enter your Command Center link here for a chance to win TWO of my favorite organizing tools!
I can totally relate. Unfortunately we are in a house with one bathroom upstairs and 4 people using it! I too have my toothbrushes in a cup but was thinking of a better way since the whole flu season precautions have been on my mind lately! All the toothbrushes in one cup and all touching each other I don’t guess is exactly the best solution! I think I’ll be making a trip to the store to buy a drawer organizer!!
I love the baskets in the drawer because they hide the clutter. One trick I do for baskets that slide around, is I use small balls of sticky tack on each corner. I even do this for Ziploc bag boxes in my kitchen.
I really do like this idea – and even more, I like the concept that when one thing stops working, there’s always a new solution that will!
I use these too, and love them! Because each kid wants their own toothpaste flavor. And the toothbrushes look similar sometimes, so it’s a great way to keep things in their own place. Thanks for telling us that even great organizing ideas need to be switched up sometimes. It’s like job charts for kids. They just need change to keep their interest in what you want them to do, regardless of how great the system already is. =)
I use those exact containers for our toothbrushes too! 🙂
I HAVE that bucket RIGHT now…but after seeing the long white containers…OH! I am running to put them on my list RIGHT NOW!!!
We place our toothbrushes in the freezer. I need to organize them in there since they are always falling out! LOL Each is in it’s own sandwich baggie. I’ve always heard it’s better not to leave the toothbrushes out because of bacteria but don’t know if it’s true or not. The kids think it’s fun to pull out their frozen toothbrush though!
God bless,
Amanda
You’re right about bacteria!!! When people don’t put the lid down on the toilet, fecal bacteria shoot up 20 feet in the bathroom! I couldn’t believe it but it is a fact. So it is good to put that stuff in drawers 🙂 AND to keep the lid closed… but we all know how likely that is to happen on a consistent basis LOL!
I really like the idea but don’t have drawers to do that………..until we remodel.So I can see myself trying this when we get drawers. Thanks for the idea.
Love it! I’m going to try this tip. Like, now.
I did that to all of ours and it’s just wonderful. Everyone puts them back where they belong.
Ally
Too funny! That is exactly what I did a few months ago. An added plus, is hopefully the germs don’t spread as easily if everyone has his own little compartment.
love the drawer organizers… and everyone has their own toothpaste! We’re currently on the bin on the bathroom counter method, sorta working, but what can you expect with a 6, 4.5 and almost 2 year old!?
Those dollar store bins are great! I use them in my makeup drawer and for our toothbrushes. The kids’ brushes never seem to make it to the drawer, so I got them a little bucket like yours. Half the time they don’t end up in there either!!
oh, I hope my dollar store has those. I enjoyed reading your junk drawer post too (linked above). Boy, do my drawers need some organization!
Very nice idea. I like to keep clutter down in the bathroom so anything that can be removed from the counter sounds good to me. The kids’ current toothbrushes have suction cups on the end, so they are at least standing up on the counter 🙂 but I’ll remember this idea for later.
That’s great. I’ve done that for my bathroom, but not for the kids’ bathroom. That’s a good idea.
LOL…the separate toothpastes are to alleviate the fighting!
Here’s a link to my favorite style of toothbrush organizer – http://www.marcopromotionalproducts.com/Product/Antibacterial-Toothbrush-Protector-GA-19B-34035.htm. I’m sure they’re available elsewhere, but my husband usually gets free samples through his work so I can’t offer suggestions. I love that it sticks to the mirror so brushes are out of the way and if they drip it goes onto the counter.
I do put the toothpaste in a basket like shown here (but all in one basket) and the rest of that drawer holds spare toothbrushes in their boxes and another basket with floss packages.
I like this and am going to think of a way to adapt this to my drawerless counters.
Love it!
When the 5th case of pneumonia( 8 months) hit 3 weeks ago, I did this very thing! Except I had come across a utensil thingy (technical term) that had 4 slots. It has worked beautifully. I have taken to wiping down the bathroom counter with a clorox wipe every night as well- all that spitty spray, ewww.
I do this with our brushes except I bought colored bins each kid has a different color so they know where to put it and I know who’s is who’s.
I’ve used the little baskets like this for my kids’ for a long time now. You may want to put their names on them so they don’t put their stuff in the wrong spot. Another bonus is I have found with them each using their on basket, toothbrush, paste, etc., that the colds in winter have been cut back. That and door knob/phone wiping daily! 🙂
Great idea. I love that they are separate!
LOVE the toothbrush org! I have always thought having them in a container on the sink was a little unsanitary – this is perfect solution!
I like the idea, and just in time for flu season!! I also like the idea of each kid having their own toothpaste. I get a little grossed out every time I watch my kids wipe their toothbrushes all over the spout to apply it.
there’s just 2 of us (3rd on the way!) so I use a pretty teacup on a shelf that sits over our sink (we dont have any drawers in our bathroom) 🙂 hubby still never puts his away, but that’s OK. Our toothbrushes also have protective covers.
I have a 2nd teacup for hairbrushes and combs… they look so cute, all matchy matchy in the same accent colors as my shower curtain!
I don’t like the sight of toothbrushes out in the open in the bathroom, but I have no drawers. So I use these kinds of bins (actually kitchen drawer bins) on the shelves in my medicine cabinet. They fit perfectly and the kids can get them out and put them back easily. I store medicines in a clear shoe box in the bathroom closet. Now if I can only get rid of the hair gel and bottles of hair products that end up on my counter… (One pet peeve at a time!)
I also have a problem with unsanitary toothbrush storage. Keeping toothbrushes in an enclosed space like a drawer or cabinet is not a good idea either as the moist environment promotes growth of germs and bacteria. The American Dental Association recommends air drying toothbrushes. Please review the Drip & Dry ResidueFREE Toothbrush Organizer at http://www.dripanddry.com, which is the perfect solution to maintaining a sanitary and organized storage for your dental products.
They always say to keep your tooth brushes away because the toilet water spreads 6ft in every direction when its flushed
Yes that is what I’ve always heard too and even when I had them out I kept caps on them for that reason.
The baskets in the drawer are exactly what my mom used for organizing our toothbrushes while we were growing up and now I do it too 🙂
Love this! Totally sharing it with my Facebook readers!
Is that tray made of heavy plastic or heavy glass?
I love love the organized baskets for the brushes and toothpaste. We only have one tube in each bathroom. But my kids would dig their own tube. Going to organize the dental hygiene drawer right away!
Great idea but! Suppose one family member doesn’t remember what color their toothbrush is and accidently starts to use another family member’s toothbrush? Is everybody’s name on the basket that the toothbrush/toothpaste is in? When we pack for a trip, my husband always asks which cover is mine? I wrote our names on the outside so we’d know. I have no idea what color my toothbrush is right now. I keep mine in the bathroom that I use and he keeps his in the Master Bathroom.
I just found your site and am so excited! As a busy first grade teacher and mother of four under 8, I LOVE this idea and will be trying it pronto! Thanks so much for sharing your ideas!!! 🙂