I have watched many a decorating-redesign-flip-new home etc.,shows. Whenever they show the bathrooms, the counter tops are filled w/clutter, even tho they might have a storage unit or even double vanities w/storage below! The home owners excuse, (that's the stuff we use everyday!) Are people too lazy to put away items used? On our bathroom counter top we currently have toothbrushes, toothpaste,cups, & soap dispenser, that's it. Everyday I use make-up, hairbrush,curling iron, hairspray,hand held mirror,along with meds that are taken AM & PM. All this is either put away in drawers or back under the sink when I am finished! There is no excuse to keep all this on the counter at all times except laziness! If these people don't have the time to put their things away, get up 5 minutes earlier! When we were house hunting a few years back, I could not believe the stuff left out!Even if you have no storage, invest in a pretty wicker basket & put everything in there. It will look much better than lying all over the counter! Thanks for letting me vent!

I would not consider this as laziness. I have a things on my bathroom counter for convenience. Yes I could put curling irons away but they're still hot. My medications are on the counter (in a little basket) to help remind me even when I oversleep and running crazy trying to get to work on time. Remember that anything stuffed in drawers (I only have one small one) or under the counter is not hidden because prospective buyers will look in these areas. I'm far from lazy. I just have a lot going on in my life. When I leave my house I may not see it again for 12 hours. People who have to get the kids up, fed, and dressed in the morning--and reverse that in the evening--have even more to do. These people aren't lazy. They lead very busy lives and most of them are doing the best they can trying to maintain a household while the house is on the market. Granted, even with all this going on, there are things that can be done (make the bed, pick up clothes, put dirty dishes in the dishwasher, etc) and some people don't do that. But please don't generalize by saying that a cluttered bathroom counter is due to laziness.

I don't consider it lazy just because people live with this stuff on their counters.

But if they want to sell their home, they must realize that nobody else wants to see their personal hygiene items, and put it away for showings.

I think it depends on a persons personality, it also drives me insane when my friends leave all their stuff out on their counters. They too leave it out for convinience, I don't everything is put away the only things left out are the soap dispenser etc. I put my curling iron away after it cools down. One of my friends has a huge bathroom with a linen closet and really long double vanity. They have so much "stuff" on the counter I just don't get it, baskets filled of hair and face products. I could never live with it but it doesn't bother them so it shouldnt' bother me but it does LOL!

I like a clean counter too. It doesn't seem like that much bother to put things away. For some people, it doesn't matter that much. To each their own.

I like the look of a clean counter in the bath or kitchen....but agree it can be hard to maintain on a daily basis. By putting all my nearly daily used cosmetics, tooth paste, sunscreen, etc in a sturdy plastic basket it is easy to move to clean, and remove when company is expected or for vacation travel.

The thing that I have occasionally seen on these shows is when one or both toilet lids are left up!
I am obsessive/compulsive on that one. Both need to be DOWN!

I'm more focused on a clean counter in the kitchen for some reason-- drives me crazy when there is stuff everywhere because you don't have room to work.

I couldn't agree MORE! I live w/2 guys (husband and 18-y.o. son) and only one of them is FINALLY getting the idea that it's good to clean up after himself (and guess what...it's NOT my husband!).

What really annoys me is that, on the makeover shows, or when they've done over a bathroom to sell, after scolding the homeowner about "clutter", they THEN proceed to pack the counter tops and even tub surround with huge candles, dishes full of cute soaps, dried sea animals and of course, the ever-present FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS!

Ugh! I think if I see one more Calla lily or Bird of Paradise next to to a tub, I'll scream! Nobody does this in real life! (well, I don't...to me, baths, like kitchens are merely functional. I want to spend as LITTLE time in either as possible!) To me, kitchens and baths are (respectively) for cooking and getting clean--no more!

I don't get this modern obsession with herding everyone into the kitchen to eat, do homework, watch TV, etc!
What happened to the old-fashioned LIVING room???

I AM ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN NOT STAND CLUTTER ON COUNTERTOPS EITHER IN THE KITCHEN OR BATHROOM. All the more reason for pedestile sinks in the bathrooms. You HAVE to put everything away after using it. lol