It takes only one person — even one use — to turn the bathroom into an icky mess. Here's a top-to-bottom guide to cleaning your bathroom, and tips for keeping it clean.
Get Ready
Collect your yools. Let's face it: if you stop halfway through cleaning the bathroom to run to the kitchen for a sponge, you're going to get distracted — perhaps by the potato chips — and it will be hours before you make it back. So save time and all those extra calories by gathering everything you need before you start. These are the basics:
- Cleansers for your bathroom fixtures (sink, tub, toilet) and shower surround. Read the labels carefully to make sure they're safe for your surfaces and to note whether you need to ventilate the room well.
- Glass cleaner, whether homemade (vinegar and water) or commercial
- A few rags or no-scratch sponges
- Drying cloths or towels, including some lint-free ones
- Disinfectant wipes
- Toilet bowl brush that won't scratch the porcelain
- Old toothbrush for scrubbing grout or tight spots
- Vacuum cleaner
- Mop, if your floor is not carpeted or cork
Clear the way. Before you begin scrubbing, put away or clear out everything that that's in your way, such as the hamper, trash can, toiletries, mats and accessories. Throw the dirty towels in the laundry — and the mats, too, if they need it (if you have to ask, they probably do).
Clean the Tub and Shower
Scrub. Apply a cleanser to the tub and shower surround, and give it a few minutes to loosen the dirt. Then use a non-scratch sponge or a wet rag to scrub the entire area with a circular motion, from top to bottom. Pay special attention to areas where soap scum collects, such as shelves. Rinse all surfaces with water and wipe with a dry cloth.
De-grunge the shower curtain. Cast a critical eye on the shower curtain, especially near the base. A mold/mildew spray removes black spots from a plastic shower curtain. For a deeper cleaning, you can launder cloth and plastic shower curtains on delicate, with a few towels. Let it air dry.
Clean glass shower doors. You have plenty of options, including glass cleaner, white vinegar, a cleaning eraser, water spot remover, used dryer sheets and vegetable oil (really!). For the tracks, bathroom cleanser and a toothbrush will do the trick. Rinse, dry and move on.
Tips:
- To prevent buildup of soap scum and mildew, either squeegee the tub, surround and shower doors after each use or use a daily shower spray.
- To reduce soap scum buildup under bottles of shampoo and the like, place a plastic lid beneath the bottle.
- If a rack hung on the showerhead holds the soap and shampoo, run it through the dishwasher every few months.
Scrub the Toilet
For the best results, lower the water line in the toilet by pushing the water down the drain with the scrub brush. Squirt a disinfecting bowl cleaner under the rim and around the bowl. While you let the cleaner work, use disinfecting wipes to clean the outside of the bowl, top and sides of the tank, flush handle, lid (including hinges) and seat (top and bottom). Then return to the bowl, scrubbing from under the rim down to the drain. Close the lid to flush.
Tip: Although cleaning tablets in your toilet tank may keep your bowl clean, they leave residue that can make the flushing mechanism stick. They also make the bowl water unsafe for children and pets.
Mop the Floor
Start by vacuuming. If the floor is carpeted or cork, you're done. If your floor is tile, vinyl, linoleum, sealed hardwood or another hard material, mopping is next. Many bathrooms are small enough that the on-your-hand-and-knees mopping method is most effective. If you find the prospect of crawling around your bathroom unexciting, use a mop. Scrub from the farthest corner of the room toward the door in manageable segments. Rinse as needed and allow the floor to dry completely before you return to admire your work.
Tips:
- While you're vacuuming, look up. Vacuum fuzzies from the corners, vents and the fan. Lubricate the fan, if needed.
- For between-cleaning floor touch-ups, baby wipes work great. (Clean ones, of course.)
Scrub the Sink
Chances are you used the sink when rinsing sponges and the mop, so cleaning it is near the end of the list. Use a cleanser and a damp sponge or cloth to scrub the basin and wipe vanity. Rinse your cloth and go over the area again to remove residue. Use an old toothbrush to scrub around the faucet's drain, overflow opening and any other grimy areas, and then buff dry with a cloth. Spritz glass cleaner on the faucets and polish them with a dry cloth.
Tip: Completely rinse the toothpaste and mouthwash from the sink every time you brush.
Shine the Mirror
Once all the splashing and rinsing is done, it's time to clean the mirror. You can wipe it with a wet rag or spray with glass cleaner, and then polish it with a dry lint-free cloth. If you don't have a lint-free cloth and your towel leaves particles behind, wipe the clean, dry mirror with newspaper or a coffee filter for a clean finish.
Tip: Empty the medicine cabinet every three months or so, and wipe the shelves clean. Don't flush expired medications, because they can contaminate the water supply. The best way to dispose of expired medications is to take them to a pharmacy. If your pharmacy doesn't accept expired medications, put them in the trash in a generic bag, to discourage anyone from taking them from the garbage for reuse. Don't recycle empty prescription containers, because your information on them can be stolen and misused.
Final Touches
It's the little things that make a difference, so polish the faucets — if you use glass cleaner or another cleanser, first make sure its safe for the finish on your faucets. Clean the trash can inside and out with a disinfectant wipe or spray, and then line it with a recycled grocery bag. Put out clean towels, return your bath mats, and replace accessories.
Control Bathroom Germs
To keep your bathroom from becoming Germ Central Station, do the following:
- Store toothbrushes in a guarded area.
- Close the toilet lid every time you flush.
- Wash bath mats often, especially if they're near the toilet.
- Run sponges through the dishwasher to kill germs and replace sponges often.
- Regularly wipe the sink accessories, doorknob, toilet handle and light switches with a disinfecting wipe.
Copyright Sears Brands, LLC 2007. All rights reserved.
