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A Perfectly Organized Pool Bag

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip


It’s officially summer– yippee!! We have already been spending a lot of time at the pool, and today I am excited to give you a peek inside our organized pool bag!

I admit, I am naturally kind of scatterbrained, so I was always forgetting something every time we took our boys to the pool. One time I literally forgot the towels. I wish I was kidding– it was bad.

To make sure that never happened again, I put together a cute bag that always holds everything we need for the pool, so we can just grab it as we’re walking out the door without worrying that we’re forgetting something important!

So if you’re a little scatterbrained like me, this video is for YOU!

[Psssttt… See all of our best tricks and tips for home organization in this post!]

A Perfectly Organized Pool Bag

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

Our pool bag is a large utility tote from Thirty-One, but they also sell similar versions other places. I actually saw some at our Target the other day for around $8, so they’re fairly inexpensive too.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

The first thing we needed in our bag, obviously, was towels!

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

To make sure we never forget them again, I have two sets of towels. One goes in the pool bag, and the other is stored upstairs. When we get home from the pool, we throw our wet towels into the laundry room and immediately grab the dry set of towels and stick them back in the bag so that we’re ready to go for next time.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

I am a big fan of putting bags within bags to keep everything separated and organized. I keep a little cosmetic organizer in our pool bag…

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

… and it is perfect because it folds up pretty small, but it is capable of holding a lot. The clear compartments are a plus because we can easily see everything in them.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

This top compartment holds the boys’ goggles in case they want to use them. I keep sunscreen and chapstick with an SPF in the middle pocket, along with some wipes…because boys are messy!

In the bottom pocket, I keep a mini wet brush because I have a lot of hair that get easily tangled when it’s wet. I also have a cute little drawstring bag where I keep some extra hair ties.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

I keep some hand sanitizer in this pouch as well– again, messy boys! And finally, I have a little plastic container that holds a set of headphones.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

Sometimes I’ll listen to music or a podcast while I’m laying by the pool. Or since our pool is at a rec center with a gym, I’ll sometimes work out while I’m there and the headphones come in handy for that.

I keep a glass water bottle in our bag so it is easy to always have a drink with us on those hot days.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

I also keep a little beach blanket in the pool bag. We really like this one because the material dries super quickly and the stuff sack is attached, so we can just put it right back in when we’re finished and it packs up neatly without taking up much space.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

Inside the bag, there is a little insert– also from 31– that allows it to stand up and also provides a few extra pockets.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

These mesh pockets hold the items I need to be able to get to most quickly– a mini first aid kit for those little boo boos…

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

…and I also keep a small pouch with our rec center ID cards that we need to swipe each time we go, as well as some cash for the vending machines, snack bar, or whatever else might pop up.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

I also keep two little wet/dry bags in the mesh side pockets. I love these things!

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

I found them at Walmart in the cosmetics department for about $5 each, and they’re great for holding things we don’t want to get wet while we’re swimming, like jewelry or cell phones. This clear pocket on the outside is even touch screen responsive, so I can have my phone in there and still use it when I’m wet if I need to.

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip

Then at the end of the day when we take all of our items out of the wet/dry bags, they do double duty to hold our wet swimsuits so they don’t get everything else completely soaked.

So those are the items that we keep packed in the bag at all times!

Home Organization- Organized Pool Bag, Beach Bag Organization, Pool Necessities, Beach Essentials, What to Bring to the Pool, Everything You Need for Your Next Beach Trip


If we’re doing a longer pool stint I will usually fit in another small bag with some snacks in case my crew gets hungry. We don’t typically take many toys to our pool because it is kind of like a mini water park with lots to do, but if we’re going to the beach, I would grab another little tote with some toys in it as well.

Having a neat and organized pool bag has saved me so much time, and it is especially helpful for giving my scatterbrained self confidence that I always have everything I need!

Sources

Pool Bag
Beach Towels
Cosmetic Organizer
First Aid Kit
Water Bottle
Beach Blanket

Looking for other simple organization projects? These posts may help:

An Organized Command Center

An Organized Junk Drawer

How to Organize Food Storage Containers / Tupperware

How to Organize Kids’ Dishes

[Pssst… you can find our very best tips and tricks for organizing every room of the house in this post!]

Do you have any great tips for pool bag organization? Let me know in the comments!!

Thank you so much for joining me today, friends! Hope you’re having a wonderful week!

Abby Lawson, Just a Girl and Her Blog

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.

31 Comments

  1. Love it! We can walk from our house to our neighborhood pool, so I always have a Thirty-One bag stocked as well. I love the idea of adding wet-dry bag and the cosmetics bag. I think that would be really handy for swim goggles too – which we always seem to be digging around for. You’ve inspired me to find a mesh bag to keep our small pool toys – dove rings and squirters – all together too. Thanks Abby.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      So glad it was helpful, Jackie! Why does the pool require SO many things?!? LOL Have a great weekend! <3

      ~Abby =)

  2. There are mini Wet Brushes? How did I not know about those. I love the big ones but will defiantly get one of the small ones now for travel. Yay!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      I love them! 🙂 Have a great weekend, Valerie!

      ~Abby =)

  3. Looks perfect indeed, Hälsningar från Schweiz //Sofia
    (http://sofiacm.com min blogg för stil och inredning)

  4. Abby, this is absolutely mental! This is how I dream I will be one day, but just taking one look at my “floor-wardrobe”, my half-read Marie Kondo book and the state of my sewing box tells me that it’s going to take nothing short of a miracle.

    I honestly can’t believe this is your life, and that you find time for this level of organisation with two small boys and a mini empire! I’m just starting out on my blogging journey and I find juggling that with a 9-5 job hard enough…

    Love it 🙂 You blow me away and inspire me to be better!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      You are too sweet, Tori! I certainly don’t always (ever!) do any of it perfectly… that’s for sure! I’m glad this was helpful for you! Have a wonderful weekend! <3

      ~Abby =)

  5. Charlotte Howard says:

    This is great! Staying organized is so important for your mental health and so to see the little things that you do even just by organizing a pool bag is so special and awesome! Thank you for sharing!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aw, thanks so much, Charlotte! Happy Friday! <3

      ~Abby =)

  6. Emily@happymomblog says:

    This is a great idea! We love going to to the pool quite often in the summer time as well. I really love that big, wide bag! It’s perfect.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      I LOVE this bag! It’s so perfect! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Emily! Have a great evening! <3

      ~Abby =)

  7. Michelle Allison says:

    This is more of a hint for the beach, but it’s still pretty good. Adding a small container of baby powder removes sand from hands and feet so you don’t bring it all home with you. I’ve really enjoyed this post, it’s well explained and enjoyable.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Love that idea! Thanks so much for sharing, Michelle! I’ll have to add that for vacation this summer! Have a great week! <3

      ~Abby =)

  8. Organizer Fanatic says:

    I love this so much! It is definitley a great way to stay organized–also love the first aid kit, definitley a good idea. I don’t recall if you said it in the video, but where can I find the thirty-one bags?

  9. Love this!! I have been doing a pool/beach bag for years, but there are some great ideas here I never thought of and can incorporate. Well done Abby!!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      So glad it was helpful for you, Grace! Have a wonderful week! <3

      ~Abby =)

  10. This is awesome Abby! You have inspired me to put something like this together for my family. We had two occasions just this week where we needed some of these things only to realize we left them at home. What I did manage to bring with us was no where near organized. During both times I felt a like I had failed and should have done much better at planning before we left. I had spent time before we left the house running around trying to think of everything we might need and still didn’t grab some important things. Now I know just what I need to do so we are prepared for next time or at a moments notice when we head to the grandparents’ house for swimming. Thank you for taking the time to share with us your wonderful ideas and tips. Happy Summer!!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      So glad it was helpful, Rebecca! Hope you all are having a wonderful summer! <3

      ~Abby =)

  11. Aimee Hadden says:

    I love this! My family teases me about being so organized but it is because I am scatterbrained and can’t remember everything. Packing a pool bag has been hugely helpful in me not forgetting things and feeling frustrated.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Yes! I have to be organized or I’m a scattered mess! 🙂 So glad it was helpful. Have an awesome week, Aimee! <3

      ~Abby =)

  12. Love this!! I am in awe of your organization skills and definitely going to use your tips! Thanks for sharing! Enjoy your pool days!!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aw, thanks so much, Amanda! I’m glad it was helpful. Have an awesome week! <3

      ~Abby =)

  13. I totally am as scatterbrained as you, so I definitely need an organized poolbag. The problem is, since I’m from and live in Sweden that kind of bag is no where to be found here. I’m not giving up.

    Greetings from Natalie in Sweden!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Any large tote would work! The key is just to find what fits your specific needs! 🙂 Happy organizing!

      ~Abby =)

  14. Thanks for sharing! I loved these pool organization tips. I made my own pool bag using yours as an inspiration.

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Aw, yay! So glad it was helpful! I just took ours on vacation and it was so helpful to have it all neatly organized! 🙂 Hope you’re having a great week!

      ~Abby =)

  15. My favorite part was the first aid kit. Last summer at the lake, grandkids got bee stings, splinters, you name it As a grandmother, I still carry bandaids like I did for my kids! Don’t miss the cough syrup with the loose lid, though! I used to do the same towel thing when restocking our small camper; saved not having to remember!

    1. justagirlabby says:

      Yes, the first aid kit is a must with kiddos! 🙂

      ~Abby =)

  16. Hi there, can you include a link for the insert w/ extra pockets for this tote? I’m having trouble finding it for sale. Thanks!

    1. Abby Lawson says:

      Hi, Emily! That insert was something I bought from Thirty One years ago. I just looked on their site, and I can’t find it, so I’m guessing they’re not offering it anymore, unfortunately. If you know anyone who is a rep for Thirty One, they may know if there are plans to bring it back. It was a helpful little insert! Sorry I couldn’t be more help! Have a wonderful weekend!

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