One of the taglines on the www.misterorganized.com introduction page reads, “Can’t Find Things? Is it easier to go to the store for items you can’t find at home?”

Um. Well, yes. Especially when Walgreen’s is FOUR blocks from my house. The reality of it smacked me in my face when my bathroom remodel forced me into an organization of all that goes into it.  In fact, when I pulled everything out from the old vanity I was shocked at the sheer volume of product. Chapstick (18). Daytime Cold medicine (6). Dental floss (12). Nighttime cold medicine (4). Combs (8).  Antibiotic ointments (5). Saline nasal sprays (4). For a single person, I had a LOT of STUFF. And not just in the bathroom, but in other spots throughout the house, like in plastic containers above the drier, tucked into my kitchen cabinets. Yea, you get it.

Over the past several years, Mr. Organized, aka, brother Tom, has performed his magic at my house. Just not in the bathroom. And I can tell you, the process is, well, gruelling, mostly because it makes you aware of just how much crap you have accumulated over the years. But what he did in my bedrooms and living areas, I replicated the process for my bathroom.

First, you get everything out. Yes, this is the harrowing part realizing how much “stuff” you have.

Then you organize it into categories. For the bathroom this included: medicine, dental, hair, ENT (ear, nose throat), makeup; travel; lotions, first aid, nail stuff, and shower stuff (shampoo, cleansers).

You then look at the stuff and say, “This is friggin’ ridiculous. I am going to purge at least 2/3 of all this stuff.”

You start by throwing away expired products. That takes care of a surprising amount. I had a contest with my family and some friends on what year was my oldest product. More on that later.

You then just toss. It’s surprisingly difficult, especially for those of us that find it painful to throwaway half-used dental floss or a perfectly good but rarely-used hairbrush.…..In the end you purge about ½.

You put remaining goods in containers for each category (for now it’s a small drawer set below in the vanity and boxes in the closet next to the bathroom. The boxes will be replaced by plastic containers post stay-at-home-order.

You take a deep breath. No more trips to Walgreens when you need nighttime AlkaSeltzer. Thank you Tom, Mr. Organized!

Bonus Feature: Turn an organizing event into a fun game! Play “Expiration Date!” Ask your loved ones, “What year do you think is the oldest, most expired product that was in my bathroom (or kitchen, etc).” The guesses ranged from Scotty, who asked, “What year did you move in your house?” (2000) to the oh-so kind Sheri, who guessed 2014.

Well, here were the runner ups and winner: Vitamins (2016); Antacids (2015); Desylin (2014); Airborne (2009) and the WINNER, the DEODERANT (2008). Congratulations to the winner, my niece, KRISTEN. You will be my guest at Sherman’s Dairy this summer for an ice cream treat!! (Did anyone else pick 2008? You will be my guest too!) Note: when Tom organized my kitchen two years ago he found a box of tea that expired in 1995!!! So fun!