10 Items That Don't Belong on Your Bathroom Counter, According to a Pro Organizer

If there’s one space where clutter seems to multiply overnight, it’s the bathroom counter. As a professional organizer, I can walk into a bathroom and instantly tell if the counter supports someone’s daily routine. Not necessarily because they have too much stuff (although sometimes that is the case), but because the countertop has become the home for anything that doesn’t have one.

When the bathroom counter serves as a catch-all, getting ready takes longer and is more stressful. Instead of a calm, functional space, it feels more like an obstacle course of clutter.

Since the bathroom counter is one of the first surfaces you see every morning, and the last before bedtime, it can set the tone for how rushed or relaxed you are on a daily basis. The trick to keeping it organized is deciding what items deserve a permanent place on the counter. And the truth is that very few do! Here are the things I never leave out on my own bathroom countertop—and the ones I encourage clients to corral, contain, or relocate altogether.

1. Every Single Skincare Product You Own

If you double cleanse and use toners, serums, a moisturizer, and eye cream, that’s a lot of bottles and jars to keep in order. No matter your skincare routine, my rule of thumb is to only leave one or two products (max!) out on the counter. In my home, I leave my melting balm and face wash on a tray behind the sink, and the rest are stored in a shallow drawer, sorted by morning and night. This not only cuts down on clutter but also keeps products organized by purpose rather than scattered across the counter with no rhyme or reason. If you lack drawer space, consider using a floating shelf or the medicine cabinet. If you must use the counter, consider corralling skincare products on a two-tiered lazy Susan tucked in a corner.

2. Makeup

Aside from skincare, makeup is one of the biggest culprits of countertop clutter. Unless you have a dedicated vanity setup, most makeup doesn’t belong on your bathroom countertop. If you use a handful of items daily, consider keeping them tucked away in a small organizer or bag. Otherwise, they can be sorted in a drawer organizer or kept in a bag in a vanity drawer or under the sink.

3. Hair Tools

Nothing visually clutters a bathroom counter faster than a few hair tools and their cords strewn across the surface. Blow dryers, curling wands, and flat irons tend to live wherever we last dropped them (even I’m guilty of this!). Not only do they create a mess, but tools left on the counter become hazards, especially if you have kids in the house.

As soon as mine are cooled, I store them in a bin that sits on a shelf in my bathroom closet. You can look for storage organizers designed specifically for hair tools that hang over the inside of cabinet doors or sit on the base of the cabinet under the sink. Alternatively, consider using a rolling cart to keep hair tools or, as a last resort, an organizer that fits on one end of the counter. At the very least, they’ll be kept tidy (and safe) while not in use.

4. Razors and Shaving Supplies

Similar to hair tools, razors look messy and are risky to keep on the bathroom counter. Also, they can rust quickly thanks to the moisture in the air after a hot shower. And unless someone in the house is shaving daily, there’s really no reason for shaving cream, aftershave, or beard grooming tools to be kept out in the open. I prefer to corral all shave-related items in a single container under the sink so everything stays clean and organized.

5. Perfumes and Lotions

Even if you adore the look of your perfume bottles, the bathroom countertop isn’t the ideal place for them. Heat and humidity change scents over time, and lotions or oils left out tend to separate or degrade. I keep all my fragrance and body products in my bedroom, where the temperature is more stable, and I encourage clients to do the same. As a bonus, it instantly frees up a ton of counter space.

6. Medicines and Vitamins

It might be tempting to leave your multivitamin or melatonin on the bathroom counter so you remember to take it when you wake up or right before you fall asleep. But like perfumes, medicine and vitamins are sensitive to heat and humidity and should be kept out of the bathroom entirely. And, despite its name, the medicine cabinet is off-limits too! So I remember to take my pills, I keep them in a kitchen cabinet on a lazy susan near the fridge and water glasses.

7. Cleaning Supplies

Many people keep a container of wipes or a spray bottle right next to the sink for convenience, but to me, those items immediately make a bathroom look cluttered. I stash a cleaning caddy under the sink instead. It keeps everything accessible but not visible, and encourages me to put the supplies back after a quick wipe-down rather than leaving them out. If you have small children or pets, it’s even more important to keep track of where cleaning supplies are stored.

8. Decorative Items That Serve No Function

Candles, wooden signs, and faux plants are cute, but not when they crowd a small countertop (and make it harder to clean). If you want an aesthetic counter, aim for decor that doubles as functional items, such as a pretty soap dispenser or apothecary jars that hold floss picks. Everything else can be relegated to a styled bathroom shelf.

9. Toothbrushes (Sometimes)

This one is a bit controversial. It’s true that toothbrushes stored on the counter can collect splashes, dust, and airborne germs whenever someone flushes. On the other hand, it is convenient to keep out and doesn't do much to contribute to counter clutter.

Personally, I keep mine in a sleek holder far away from the toilet (and always close the lid regardless) and sanitize it regularly. If you still get the ick from thinking about hygiene, keep yours in a drawer or the medicine cabinet. Just make sure it’s dry before putting it away to avoid mildew growth.

10. Non-Bathroom Related Items

I often walk into a bathroom and find things that clearly don’t belong there: sunglasses, receipts, chargers, and random hair ties are all repeat offenders. These are items that landed on the counter before they could be tossed out or placed in their proper home. If you’re in the habit of leaving random things on the counter, especially if you’re always in a rush, try to find just a few minutes at the end of the day to clear them. It will be much easier to do this frequently than to let them pile up over the course of a week (or more).