1. MEDICATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Although bathroom vanities may seem the most suitable place to keep medication and vitamins to keep them on hand for your daily routines, 'Bathrooms often have fluctuating humidity and temperature levels, which can affect the potency and shelf life of medications,' advises Nathaly Vieira founder of Inspire Clean.
2. PERFUME AND COLOGNE
Tabatha Farnel, founder of Aroma Authority advises: 'The most common mistake people make when storing fragrances is storing them in the bathroom vanity. While the convenience of having your favorite perfume within arm's reach as you prepare for the day is appealing, storing perfume in a bathroom vanity can have detrimental effects on its quality and longevity.
3. ELECTRONICS
As with items not to store in a bathroom cabinet, 'Avoid storing hairdryers, straighteners, or electric razors in your vanity. The moisture and heat can be detrimental to their electronic components,' says Cyble Rizwan, content marketer at Persimmon Design.
4. PAPER PRODUCTS
Although it's unavoidable to have toilet roll in your bathroom, paper products don't fare well with moisture, so avoid storing paper items in your bathroom vanity, such as books, toilet rolls and tissues.
5. MAKEUP AND COSMETICS
'High humidity can cause makeup to deteriorate faster and become a breeding ground for bacteria,' comments Cyble Rizwan. Humidity will cause products to expire more rapidly and can break down key ingredients, causing makeup to crack or clump.
6. CANDLES
Cyble Rizwan says, 'While they can add ambiance, candles can become soft or misshapen in warm, humid conditions.' Nathaly Vieira adds, 'Humidity can affect the quality and burn time of candles,' which is why we recommend storing them in a cool, dry place, and only bring them out when needed.
7. JEWELRY
Cyble Rizwan, content marketer at Persimmon Design advises, 'While it might be convenient to store jewelry in your vanity, moisture can tarnish metals and damage gemstones over time. Invest in a jewelry organizer or box to keep your precious pieces safe.' We recommend this JOYBOS jewelry box organizer from Amazon to help prevent moisture damage.
8. TOOTHBRUSHES AND TOOTHPASTE
'Keeping your toothbrush and toothpaste in the vanity exposes them to germs and bacteria from the sink,' says Angela Rubin, Owner of Hellamaid. The moisture in a bathroom can promote the growth of bacteria on the toothbrush bristles.
9. ITEMS THAT CAN CAUSE MOLD OR MILDEW
Parveen Garg from Ola Clean warns, 'Bathrooms are often humid, which can create a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Avoid storing items like wet towels and clothes in your bathroom vanity.' Let items dry fully before storing them in your bathroom vanity, otherwise this can damage the items as well as your bathroom vanity and its contents. Suzanne Butler adds, 'Ensuring that towels are 100% dry before putting them away prevents musty smells and avoids creating a damp environment both energetically and physically.'