Bathroom Cleaning Tips

If you ask any woman what her least favorite room of the house to clean is, she will probably say the bathroom.

The bathroom is usually small to begin with and is often over crowded making the job that much more arduous. Cleaning toilets, sinks and tubs and getting to the little nooks and crannies where the "gunk" thrives can be awkward. The sights and smells of a dirty bathroom, a nightmare. But it has to be done, and with regular upkeep, it doesn't have to be an awful experience.

The most important rule of cleaning any room in your home, the bathroom included, is to not let it get "out of hand" or too dirty in the first place. Get your kids, your spouse (and yourself!) into the habit of cleaning up as they go along. The sink, the tub and the shower should all be rinsed after each use. Insist that used towels and dirty laundry are not permitted to linger in the bathroom for days on end, that they must make their way to a hamper or the laundry room before bedtime. This way you won't be bombarded by a weeks worth of wash when it comes time to clean the bathroom.

Before you start to actually clean the bathroom, take everything that does not belong there in the first place out - clothing, magazines, basketballs, Barbies - whatever the case may be. Return these items to their rightful homes and you'll already feel like you've accomplished quite a bit. Next, remove larger items from that bathroom that will make you feel more confined when cleaning - hampers, trash cans, scales, small tables - place them out in the hall and wipe them down with a damp rag. Your next step is to sweep your floor, I know it sounds crazy to sweep first, but this will save you a lot of hassle. There's nothing harder to get off a floor than wet hair. Now you are ready to go in for the kill...er...the clean!

Always start high and work your way down low. Use a damp rag to dust light fixtures and wall hangings first. Next, clean your mirrors, then your shower walls and tub, then your sink, countertop and fronts of cabinets. Of course, the floor is always last.

The Bathroom Mirror:

Spray window cleaner on mirror lightly and evenly, use a dry rag and wipe from top to bottom until the glass is dry. Rubbing alcohol works extremely well on glass, particularly on bathroom mirrors that can have a film of hairspray and other beauty products on them. Keep a separate bottle of rubbing alcohol with a spray nozzle under your sink for this purpose. White vinegar also does a beautiful job on mirrors.

Walls Around Shower:

Spray a liberal amount of basin, tub and tile cleaner all over shower walls. The product needs time to do it's job, read the directions for how long to leave it on before cleaning. Use a small scrub brush and begin to scrub in quick, short circles from the top of the shower wall down to the bottom where the wall meets the tub. Rinse well to avoid build up from the product. If you have sliding shower doors they need to be cleaned as well. Window cleaner will work on well kept shower doors, however if there is a build up of soap scum, you'll need to use a product that contains bleach. The tracks can be easily cleaned by spraying with an all purpose cleaner and scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Warning: If you have not cleaned the tracks on your tub in a while, there's no telling what you'll find when you do!

The Bath Tub:

Once the walls and/or doors are cleaned, move down to the tub. I like to use powdered cleanser in my tub, but any bathroom cleaner will do. Your tub will already be wet from rinsing your shower walls, sprinkle some cleanser to cover the bottom of the tub, scrub it in and around using your scrub brush and let the "paste" it becomes sit for 5-10 minutes before rinsing clean. Faucets can be wiped down with a damp rag. Window cleaner works well to make them shine - spray on and polish with a dry rag.

The Sink and Countertop:

Remove everything from the top of your counter, spray it and the fronts of your cabinets with an all purpose cleaner and wipe with a wet rag. Your sink can be cleaned like your tub, using powdered cleanser, or you can use an all purpose bathroom cleaner if you choose. Be sure to arrange and organize everything that goes back on the countertop.

The Toilet:

Ah, the dreaded task. First things first, flush. Pour a half a cup of bleach into your toilet bowl and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Then using your toilet brush and starting on the inside rim, scrub in a circular motion. Be sure you scrub as deep into the bowl as you can and under the rim. The outside of your toilet can be wiped down with an all purpose cleaner - use a toothbrush to clean around the hinges - they can get pretty gross.

Finally, The Bathroom Floor:

Sweep again, then mop. I like to use plain white vinegar and water on my tile floors, but an all purpose or commercial floor cleaning product will work well.

Cleaning your bathroom does not have to be such a drag, especially if you do it weekly and don't allow it to get to the point of no return. Remember: Get in, get it done, get out!

Nicole Dean is the owner of www.freequickrecipes.com and www.romanceyourhusband.com