There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to bathroom cleaners. If you use bleach, you should never mix it with ammonia or any other cleaning agent, says Amaro. To disinfect, especially around the toilet bowl and on the toilet brush, add 1 part Clorox Disinfectant Bleach to 10 parts water and keep it in a spray bottle to use as soon as you spot dirt. You should just be careful when using bleach, especially on colored towels, as it will stain the fabric.
What’s the easiest way to clean a bathroom?
For an easy bathroom cleaning routine, buy disinfectant wipes in bulk to wipe down the sink every other day if not every day. This will prevent soap scum and disgusting mold from forming around the drain. Microfiber towels also work quite well, especially on mirrors. To prevent fogging and get a streak-free mirror, Birges recommends polishing the mirror with shaving cream. Birges is also a fan of using a dishwashing brush with a soap dispenser to clean stubborn toothpaste residue in the sink.
If your schedule doesn’t allow for daily wiping, consider cleaning the area around your sink on a weekly basis as this is one of the places where more movement occurs. When it comes to the bathroom, Amaro recommends a proactive approach. “Don’t wait for dirt and grime to build up in your tub,” she says. “Wipe down shower tiles, walls, faucets and plastic shower curtains.” Birges washes her bath towels after three uses and her bath mats once a week. “If they get too wet in between, I hang them outside to get some air so mold doesn’t build up inside,” she says.
For the bathroom floor, a quick pass with a Swiffer mop will pick up hair, dust, and spills.
How do I thoroughly clean my bathroom?
Once you implement the easy-to-follow bathroom cleaning tips into your routine, thoroughly clean your bathroom using the same process you use to clean your home: section by section. Start by clearing away products strewn on the countertop, removing the trash, and tossing towels and bathmats in the washing machine.
If you give your bathroom a thorough cleaning, Amaro recommends removing the toilet seat, drain plugs, and showerheads. “Make sure you get to those tricky areas that you might miss in your routine cleaning,” she says. This is a good time to start going through your cleaning checklists and learning how to unclog the shower drain, how to clean a showerhead, and how to clean a bathtub. Here’s a thorough cleaning routine that turns bathroom cleaning into a science.
Step 1
Perhaps the hardest part of deep cleaning is removing unused junk, both on the countertop and in the medicine cabinet. Yes, that means parting with a tube of mascara you’ve had since before the pandemic. time to throw it. For real. “If something’s past its sell-by date, throw it away!” says Amaro.
step 2
Amaro recommends learning how to properly clean a toilet. First, lift the toilet seat, clean the toilet bowl, and wipe the seat. Amaro emphasizes that you also need to clean the outside of the toilet bowl, all the way to the bottom. You’ll be surprised how much dust and hair collects underneath. For deep toilet cleaning, Birges recommends dripping three denture tablets and then scrubbing the inside of the toilet bowl with a toilet brush and some toothpaste. One of Birge’s favorite tips is to put a few drops of essential oil on the inside of the toilet paper roll to keep the bathroom smelling great long after you’ve cleaned it.
step 3
For household mold in the shower and around the bath, Birges has created a DIY mold removal spray to get rid of mold and prevent it from coming back: mix a cup of white vinegar, 20 drops of clove oil and 20 drops of tea tree oil. Spray this mixture on the affected area, wait 20 minutes and then wipe clean with hot water. You can also use this mixture for ceramic tiles and grout.
step 4
Tackle mirrors to keep them streak-free, especially when they’re prone to toothpaste, makeup splatter and water drips. “When cleaning your bathroom mirrors, turn off any lights directly above the mirror, since the heat from the bulb can vaporize your cleaning solution and cause streaks,” she says.
step 5
Birges mixes one cup of white vinegar, half a cup of dish soap, and one cup of water to make a glass shower door cleaning solution. “Then I spray it on my shower wall and wipe it off,” she says. “This solution is great for removing soap scum, water stains and residue.”
step 6
If you have a litter box in your bathroom, be sure to sweep or vacuum up stray litter and wipe under the crate. You can also use disinfectant wipes to clean the outside of the box. If you have time, take the litter box outside and give it a full rinse, using a designated brush to remove any dirt with unscented soap such as Dawn Platinum Free & Clear Dish Soap.
step 7
When you finish your deep cleaning, you want to make sure you give your cleaning tools some maintenance too. That means your toilet sticks, shelf, spray bottle, old toothbrush, wipers, microfiber towels and any other items you use. Spraying with a disinfecting bleach solution like Clorox Disinfecting Mist will go a long way, especially when it comes to the toilet brush. This will prevent mold and mildew from forming in your toilet brush cleaner holder. You want to make sure everything you use is clean and hygienic from the start. This step is easy to overlook, so take those few extra moments. Your future self will definitely thank you.
