Tuesday, March 13, 2012

So You Want To Clean Your Bathroom?

 So today has me cleaning, bustling about my own home and thinking of ways to simplify the way we live. One way to save time and frustration is to spend time on keeping things clean. We all differ in the way that we clean, what products we use, ect. I'm going to share what I think is the best way.  ;) Today's topic. . .the bathroom. Hair, dirt, moisture. Yuck.

You will need:

  • Common Sense 
  • Rubber Gloves
  • Glass cleaner 
  • Magic eraser(s)
  • Method All Purpose Cleaner ( I prefer the mint scent) 
  • A disinfectant
  • Cleaning cloths 
  • Toilet Brush    
Extra Helpful Items:

  • Toothbrush
  • Scrub brush 
  • Elbow Grease 
Time: Depending on the size of your bathroom, around 20 minutes

1.Turn on the lights. Seriously. Even if you have sun light streaming in. Remove rugs, shake outside, vacuum or throw them in the wash. Empty trash. Vacuum or sweep the floor with the broom. You want to do this first because it makes things easier when you actually wipe or mop the floor. Dirt and debris sticks to water, and water is sure to splash while cleaning and get on the floor. It will make sweeping pointless, and can ruin your vacuums motor.

2. (Though optional, now would be the time to pre-spray all the bathroom pieces, including the vanity, tub/shower and toilet. ) Begin with the vanity and scrub the sink. I use a magic eraser and Method products on the vanity, since they are green and not murder on my lungs. Thoroughly clean the vanity before cleaning the mirror. If you clean the mirror before the vanity, you risk splashing on your clean mirror. Dry the vanity.
Tip: Shine your chrome and toothbrush around the faucets/fixtures and drain! Details like this make a room look so much nicer!

3. Remove shampoo bottles/soap/products from the shower area. You want to be thorough. So much builds up under those things!  Scrub your tub or shower in a top to bottom left to right manner. It saves time and ensures that you wont miss a spot. If you have a shower combination, scrub all the walls first before focusing on the tub. Rinse with HOT water and check with your finger for soap scum. If it's still there, it's not clean. You may need to re-scrub a spot or two. This is normal. Put products back in their places after you've wiped them off.
Tip: Toothbrush or scrub brush in the grout every so often even if you don't see mold or mildew. There are still tons of bacteria living in there. Toothbrush around the drain as well.

4. Moving on to the toilet. I recommend a mild disinfectant for the seat, lid and tank. You can use a stronger product in the bowl if you want. Use a curved toilet brush to scrub the inside of the bowl first, make sure to get under the lip of the bowl where dirt and mildew builds up. More detailed scrubbing with a toothbrush is necessary from time to time. Wipe the tank, toilet seat and base thoroughly. Flush.

5. You're almost done! Prepare a mop if your bathroom is big, or get down on those hands and knees. I love my hands and knees for the bathroom because you are getting closer to what is actually dirty. Do what makes sense. It's easier to see things. Spray a disinfectant on the floor and wipe. If you use a lot of hair spray, you'll want to use a scrub brush, or toothbrush any grout. That is the only way it's coming off. So much dirt builds up in those crevices. Start in a corner and clean your way out of the bathroom.
Tip: This is more of a command. Wipe behind the toilet!

6. Take a moment to check over and admire your work. You just improved your house!

  I can't stress enough the importance of details if you want things to truly be clean. Quick de-cluttering and straightening has it's place, but there must be time to focus on the nitty gritty. Not making time for these things just leads to frustration, poor air quality and bacteria build up. Next time we'll focus on the kitchen! Feel free to leave comments or link back. :)


5 comments:

  1. Very good tips! My mom always told me that if you keep your kitchen and bathroom clean daily, your home will feel under control, especially in a big family. Now I know how to clean my bathroom better, any kitchen tips?

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  2. Awesome! I love it Yui! It's so good to see someone else who cleans their bathroom as deeply as me! Although, I'd never thought to use a toothbrush to get in the grout! I am going to use that. I could never figure out how to get in there before.

    Here's neat tip I learned from my mom for rinsing down the shower walls in a shower that doesn't have a removable head.

    If you don't have a removable shower head to spray down the shower walls after scrubbing: fill a cup with very hot water. Then place the cup with the opening right up against the shower wall at the top of the shower. Lift juuuust enough to let the water start to come out of the cup and pour down the wall of the shower. If you lift up just a little, it pours perfectly down the walls to rinse off the soap without splashing all over you or out of the tub! As you have it lifted, drag the cup along the wall of the shower so that the water pours down the whole wall. It works great and doesn't get water splashed all over the place :)

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    Replies
    1. Truth! I love removable shower heads just because they make rinsing quicker. A giant cup is the next best thing.

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