Perhaps one of the most dreaded, yet mandatory tasks we all face is bathroom cleaning. If not regularly cleaned and sanitized, the bathroom can become a filthy, bacteria-infested mess. Yikes! Don’t fret, though; we’ve come up with a list of 10 easy steps to a clean and sparkling bathroom.
1) Healthy & Green Cleaning Products
There’s so much debate on which is better and more ethical to use: store bought cleaners and disinfectants or green products you can make from items you most likely already have in your kitchen. Whichever end of the fence you’re on, find cleaning products that will effectively get the job done. We recommend products found in your kitchen (i.e. gentle soaps, baking soda and/or white vinegar) and will be showing you how to use them in the steps below.
2) Getting Rid of Grimy Grout
This is, perhaps, one of the most bacteria-infested places in the bathroom if left unattended. If your once-white grout is not black, we have a solution for you!
How to Do It:
To easily get rid of grout, dip a grout brush (or a dollar store purchased toothbrush) in bleach and scrub the grout between the tiles. You can either rinse the scum away immediately after cleaning or after the next step to reduce cleaning time.
3) Clean Away Soap Scum
Soap scum is a regular menace that if left unattended for weeks on end, it will fester and build up. To avoid this, do a regular cleaning of the tub with a mixture of white vinegar and water. We recommend purchasing a spray bottle (can be purchased for a dollar at a dollar store) and create a mixture of half water and half vinegar for regular cleaning. You can use this out of the bathroom, too!
How to Do It:
To clean up soap scum in the tub and shower, spray a generous amount of the vinegar/water solution and let it sit for 5-10 minutes and then spray down with hot water (if you have the proper nozzle for it) or a damp cloth.
4) What’s that smell? It may be your shower curtain!
Believe it or not, your shower curtain and curtain liners can harbor germs and bacteria in between the folds if not properly replaced after showering. If you leave the shower curtain open after showering, soap scum and water – as disgusting as this is – marry dead skin cells and can create a smell that reminds you of your high school locker room.
Cleaning the Shower Liner
With 10 parts water and 1 part bleach (once again, we recommend mixing in a spray bottle), spray down your curtain regularly after showering and make sure to close the curtain to allow it to breathe and drain off water properly.
Cleaning the Shower Curtain
Most shower curtains are machine washable. Make sure to check the care label before you do this! If it is not machine washable, follow the instructions on the label and clean accordingly.
Don’t forget to always close the curtain after showering!
5) Tackling Clogs
Is your shower head stream or sink drain feeling a little sluggish? There’s an easy home remedy!
For the Shower Head:
Fill a plastic bag (grocery bag or gallon ziplock) with pure vinegar, immerse the shower head in the vinegar, and secure the bag with a rubber band and let sit overnight. In the morning, remove the plastic bag (pour vinegar into the toilet to dispose AND clean at the same time), wipe of the shower head with a damp cloth, and let hot water run through the shower for 10 minutes.
For the Sink:
Pour 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. The mixture will foam up. Let stand for 5-10 minutes then pour boiling water down the drain to wash out any clogs.
6) The All-Dreaded Toilet Bowl
Toilet bowl cleaning is what makes most people flench, but it doesn’t have to anymore! Regular cleaning will ensure a clean bowl throughout the week.
How to Do It:
Chlorine bleach is an effective alternative to harsh and costly commercial toilet-bowl cleaners. Add 1/4 cup to the toilet bowl, let stand a few minutes, brush with a toilet brush, then flush the grim away. This will not only clean your toilet bowl, but disinfect as well. To remove hard-water rings from the inside of your toilet, pour white vinegar into the bowl and let it soak for an hour, scrub clean, and flush.
If you have toilet seat covers and/or bath mats, we recommend machine washing these once a week on the disinfect setting of the machine, if applicable. If not, a regular wash on hot will work fine.
7) Don’t forget the Tile, Walls, Ceiling
The steam and heat from showering causes the tile, walls, and ceiling to build up with condensation and – you guessed it – germs! A regular cleaning of these three areas will reduce germs, knock out odor, and keep your bathroom sparkling!
How to Do It:
Evenly spray the bathroom tile, countertops, walls, and the ceiling with cleaner (vinegar/water solution) and turn on the shower, cranking the hot water until steam builds (about five minutes). Turn off the water, shut the door on your way out, and let the steam and the cleaner marinate for about 20 minutes. Go sit back with a cold glass of lemonade – you deserve it! After 20 minutes, wipe down all bathroom surfaces with a dry, clean cloth.
8) Clean and swap out hand towels every 3-4 days
Here’s something you might not think of: hand towels harbor germs! Even though you’ve washed your hands before using them, the water can build up in these, especially with heavy bathroom traffic and can get quite germy.
How to Do It:
We recommend swapping them out every 3-4 days and machine washing them on the sanitation setting.
9) Reduce Bacteria Further
A regular wipe-down of your shower with hot water and a towel after each shower session will help reduce bacteria and make your scheduled cleanings quicker and more efficient.
10) End with the Floors
All of the germs in your bathroom circulate through the air and eventually find themselves on your floor. After you’ve given your bathroom the proper scrub down, end it with a good floor scrubbing.
How to Do It:
You can either use your vinegar/water solution or to disinfect further, your bleach/water solution. Start at the farthest corner of the room and clean yourself out. Using a clean cloth or a scrubbing sponge, spray the floor and scrub, taking care to keep your face away from the solution as much as possible. Once you’ve finished, close the door to ensure your pets and family members don’t tread on your floor while it’s drying.
So, there you have it. Now you’re ready to clean your bathroom like a pro!
Want more cleaning tips?
Check out Majestic Building Maintenance’s Home Spring Cleaning Guide.