Raise your hand if you’ve never thought about how hot and humid bathrooms affect the things you store in said space. That’s just one of the reasons you might need to find a new home for your makeup, jewellery, towels, and more.
MEDICINE
Don’t be fooled by your medicine cabinet: The bathroom is no place for your meds, because it’s prone to moisture and fluctuating temps. Instead, keep your prescriptions in a space that remains at room temperature (around 20 degrees celcius).
JEWELLERY
The humid environment in the bathroom will speed up the oxidation process of your jewellery and cause it to tarnish — even if you don’t wear it in the shower. You should keep precious items in a cool, dry room instead.
MAKEUP
It doesn’t matter whether you wear powder, cream, or liquid makeup: All of it should be stored at room temperature and therefore not in your bathroom. Hey, just add it to your list of reasons to invest in a new bedroom vanity.
PERFUME
The same goes for your perfume. Even though your first inclination might be to show off your pretty bottles in the room you get ready in — wait! Heat and humidity speeds up the oxidation process and will cause your scent to spoil more quickly. Yikes.
NON-WATERPROOF ELECTRONICS
We get it: There’s nothing like singing along to Taylor Swift in the shower. But the high humidity makes technology that isn’t designed for the bathroom vulnerable to damage. Our advice: Pick out a waterproof device to be safe.
LINENS
Because bathrooms often breed mold and mildew, you want to keep linens, like towels and sheets, in another room. Running the exhaust fan as much as possible can also help air out damp towels after your shower.
BOOKS
It’s tempting to keep your bathroom reading nearby, but the humidity mixed with the paper will damage your favourite reads. Keep ’em in a dry place when they’re not in use instead.
NAIL POLISH
These pretty colours have an expected life of two years, but if you keep them in the bathroom with its always-fluctuating temperatures, that might not happen. Instead keep them in a place that stays at room temperature, like your bedroom.
EXTRA RAZORS
Your current blade can stay safely stashed in your shower or medicine cabinet, but keep the others in another room. Why? The moisture and steam from the shower might dull or rust your blades before you get a chance to use ’em.
BAR SOAP
Well, if you want to make cleaning the bathroom easier, that is. Use a liquid soap with a pump or hands-free soap dispenser to eliminate the need to clean a grimy soap dish or countertop every few days.
