 From Cindy's Porch: Deep Cleaning the Bathroom
Grab the respirator and the rubber gloves we are going into the bathroom!
Our bathrooms are one of the busiest rooms in our home and often one of the most unappreciated. Think about the life of a bathroom. Each morning for about 45 minutes the family storms their way in, does their business, showers, brushes teeth, dries hair, combs hairs, styles hair, shaves, does makeup, fights over the hair brush, and then dashes out onto the next thing. And each morning, mom (or dad) peeks into the bathroom and looks at the after-effects of this storm. Yikes! Wet towels, pajamas, toothpaste splatters, toilet splatters, wet tissues, water on the floor, makeup stuff all over the place, and a mysterious pile of something on the corner of the countertop that stares back at you. Quick, close the door! Perhaps the next time you open the door, the mess will magically have disappeared…LOL! Not too likely.
If you work outside the home, the door does not get opened again until everyone is home from work and school. Then the bathroom is subjected to the evening storm; bedtime baths, more toothpaste splatters, more wet towels, and an empty toilet paper roll that didn’t quite make it inside the waste paper basket. Now the mess is twice as bad!
If you stay home during the day, the door doesn’t get opened again until you have to go. Unfortunately you slip on the wet floor. Fortunately you can grab onto the toilet paper holder to break your fall. Unfortunately, the toilet paper roll comes off the holder, flies up into the air, and lands with a delightful high splash into the center of the toilet (that one of the kids forgot to flush that morning). You continue sliding until you hit the stack of wet towels at the far end of the bathroom. Please don’t ask me how I know this…. big sigh!
Fortunately, it doesn’t take as long as we think to clean up the bathroom.
Unfortunately, it takes a little longer when it needs a "deep clean" but it will save you tons of time later on. Don't dispare, you are not the only person cleaning their bathroom today LOL! If you have little kids set them up on a table with some coloring pages where you can keep an eye on them while you work. If you have bigger kids, get them to help!! I put my kids in charge of emptying under the sink and the drawers. They sort the stuff out while I work on the cleaning and shining. If they have a question about what to do with stuff they just ask. (Note: we do not store cleaning chemicals or medicines in our bathrooms, so everything is safe for our kids to handle. You have to decide what is safe in your home.) If your spouse is looking for a challenge, print out a second copy of this list and let them tackle the extra bathroom (if you have one). Otherwise, just do it yourself. Then you get first dibs on the hot bubble bath at the end of the day. Enjoy!
Are you ready to get started? Print off the list and let’s go!
Step 1: Setting the Stage
- SHOP at home FIRST: grab your cleaning tools. Use what you already have in the home. For example, all-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, a couple cleaning rags, a sponge, toilet bowl cleaner, shower cleaner, scrub brush or old toothbrush, a bucket filled with hot soapy water, empty box, and a couple empty plastic bags.
- MUSIC: Put on some great music. Something upbeat. If your kids are helping you out, let them choose the music while you gather up the cleaning supplies.
Step 2: The "Not Me Five"
- LAUNDRY: Gather up all the dirty laundry. Immediately put it into the laundry hamper. Use one of the wet towels to wipe up the floor so you don’t slip again.
- DIRTY DISHES: Gather up any dirty dishes that may have accumulated in the bathroom. Don’t ask how they got there LOL. Bring them directly to the kitchen. If you have a dishwasher, load them in right away. No point in messing up the kitchen while you are trying to clean up the bathroom.
- TRASH: use one of the empty plastic bags and gather up all the trash. The tissues, the empty toilet paper roll, the makeup sponges, etc. Take the trash out to the trashcan. Get it out of the house right away!
- PAPERS: gather up any papers, newspapers, books, and magazines that have accumulated in the bathroom. Add the old stuff to the recycle.
- STUFF THAT DOESN'T BELONG: get rid of the things that don't belong in the bathroom.
Step 3: Roll up the sleeves, we're GOING IN!!
- Whew - good start! I bet the bathroom is starting to look better already! Since today is a bathroom deep clean we are going to go IN, ON TOP, and UNDER! Normally you would skip directly to Step 4 and continue cleaning just the surfaces.
- GOING IN – The Cupboards under the bathroom sink. Trust me, this is going to go fast (keep your trash bag handy!). Pull everything out from under the sink. Toss the trash, put things you don’t want anymore into the cardboard box, and set aside the things you want to keep. Now, using your all-purpose cleaner, quickly wipe out under the sink and replace the stuff you want to keep. All we keep under our sink are fresh rolls of toilet paper, hair products, our toothbrushes, and bubble bath.
- GOING IN – The Drawers. This goes quick as well. Just go through one drawer at a time. Toss the old makeup, hair products, dead toothbrushes, rusty razors, empty bottles, and other trash. Add the stuff that is still good, but you don’t want anymore to your cardboard box. Now, using your all-purpose cleaner, quickly wipe out the drawer and replace the stuff you want to keep.
- GOING IN – The Medicine Cabinet. Our home does not have medicine cabinets in our bathrooms so this does not apply to us. However, if you have one, gather up the expired medicine. Call your local pharmacy to find out how to dispose of expired medicine properly. You may want to ask about how to properly store the medicines you want to keep. Some of it should not be stored in a hot humid bathroom. Toss the trash. Now wipe out the shelves and replace the stuff you want to keep. Please keep an eye on your pets and kids while sorting through your medicines. Safety first!
- GOING ON TOP – The Counter: Clear everything off the top of the counter. Put the things that you don’t want to keep anymore into the cardboard box. Use your all-purpose cleaner or window cleaner to wipe off the things you want to clean. You would be amazed at all the wet towel lint fuzzies that collects on things that are out in the open in the bathroom. Don’t put the stuff back yet.
- GOING ON TOP – Above the toilet: Clear everything off the top of the toilet and any shelves you may have above the toilet. Again, put the things you don’t want to keep anymore into the cardboard box. Use your cleaner to wipe off the things you do want to keep. Don’t put the stuff back yet.
- GOING ON TOP – The Bathtub: Clear off all the stuff around the bathtub. We have a very small ledge around our tub, so we have gotten into the habit of storing NOTHING around the tub. Shampoos, conditioners, etc. are stored under the bathroom sink. We just grab the bottles when we need them and put them back when we are done. Oops, I digress. Don’t put the stuff back yet.
- GOING ON TOP – Window sills, etc: Take a look around your bathroom. Are there any other spots where you have stashed things? Look at the window sills, above the door, and around the top of the bathtub surround. Gather up all the stuff and wipe these areas down. Don’t put the stuff back yet.
- GOING UNDER – Yikes! This could be gross. We are going down on our hands and knees and gathering all the stuff that is on the bathroom floor. Magazines, magazine racks, weigh scales, trash cans, toilet brushes, toilet plungers, bath mats, bath toys, laundry baskets, towel baskets, toilet paper holders, and whatever else is free standing on your floor. Set them outside the bathroom. Put the things you don’t want to keep anymore into the cardboard box. Then use your cleaner to wipe off the things you do want to keep. Don’t put the stuff back yet.
Step 4: We're rocking and rolling now! Wipe and Clean
- Wow! You are doing great. You got rid of the dirty laundry, the dirty dishes, the trash, you cleaned up under the sink and in the drawers, and now everything else is sitting out in the hallway, and the bathroom is completely empty. Does it echo? LOL. Hellowwwww! Quick, go grab a glass of water, change the music on the CD and you are ready to finish this up.
- This is a trick I learned from Don Aslett’s books. Today’s cleaners cut down on the amount of elbow grease you need to apply. The trick is to let the cleaners do their work for a few minutes before you start scrubbing. Warning: if you have exotic materials in your bathroom such as granite, marble, slate, etc. please read the instructions from the manufacturer on how to clean these properly. My home has standard sinks, etc. and countertops so I can clean them quickly with little fuss and all-purpose cleaner.
 Start with the throne! Apply toilet cleaner to the insides of the toilet. If you are using the blue toilet cleaner, don’t let it sit too long. It can stain the bowl (don’t ask me how I know this). Today, I just use all-purpose cleaner. I spray it inside the bowl and along the waterline. Leave it sit for a few minutes while you tackle the bathtub.
- Next, the bathtub and shower! Spray your bathroom cleaner on the ledge and insides of the bathtub. If you have tiles or a tub surround, spray them with their cleaner as well. I use an all-purpose cleaner for everything. Leave it sit for a few minutes while you tackle the sink and counter tops.
- Next, the sink and countertops! Spray your bathroom cleaner on the countertop, in the sink, and the taps. Let it sit for a few minutes while you finish off the toilet.
- Back to the throne! Using your toilet brush, clean out the inside of the toilet. Scrub along the edges and down into the hole. If you have some really stubborn stains, try a pumice stone to take these out (only works in ceramic toilet bowls). Flush the toilet. Use one of your cleaning rags to clean the top, sides, lid, etc. Use a bit more cleaning spray if you have to. Use an old toothbrush, scrub around the edges along the screws and the floor. There always seems to be a lining of stuff that collects here. It usually comes off pretty easy. Take the cleaning rag you used on the toilet and toss it into the laundry (you don't want to use it on the rest of the bathroom LOL).
- Back to the tub and shower! I take special care on the tub since I enjoy my bubble baths so much. Using a sponge or your cleaning rag wash down the tiles (or tub surround) and the inside of the tub. Remember to clean the ledge, the front of the tub, and soap dish as well. Rinse well with fresh water.
- Back to the countertops and sink! Using your cleaning rag wash down the countertops and the inside of the sink. Take an extra minute to wash the front of the cupboard doors as well (including the door knobs).
- Turn the bathroom lights off and take a quick break. Trust me on this one LOL. Check on the kids, check on supper, grab a drink of water, go for a quick walk. Come back when the light bulbs are cool.
Step 5: Let it Shine!
- Now for the shine! DON’T TURN ON THE LIGHTS YET!! Use your window cleaner and wipe off the light fixture in the bathroom. You are going to be amazed at how bright the room looks when the towel fuzzies are gone. Do this only when the bulbs are cool. I have sprayed window cleaner on hot bulbs and they exploded! Duh!
- When the lights are dry, turn them on. Let’s finish SHINING! Use your window cleaner to get all the toothpaste splatters off the mirror(s). Then shine up the sink taps, the bathtub taps, the towel rack, the toilet paper rack, the flusher on the toilet, the windowsill, the edge of the bathtub, the edge of the sink, the top of the toilet, and any cupboard or doorknobs that are in the room.
- Look up! Do you have any vent fans or other things on the ceiling that could use a quick wipe? Carefully stand on a chair if you have to. Wipe off the towel fuzzies.
Step 6: The Floors
- Sweep or vacuum the floors to gather all the hairs and other bits that have collected. If your bathroom is carpeted skip the next step.
- I hate washing floors. It helps to have your hot soapy water ready in a bucket beside you. Then, just grab the rag and go to it. Remember to wipe along the baseboards and around the toilet. Use your scrub brush or old toothbrush to get all those towel fuzzies that thought they should have a party in the corner behind the door.
Step 7: Don't Quit Now! Let's Quickly Put the Stuff Back
- I made a special trip to the library to sign out some home designer magazines that featured bathrooms. All these bathrooms had a few things in common (besides being larger than my bedroom LOL). First off, there was not a toothbrush to be seen! Nor were their any shampoos or shavers lying around. There were three or four items on the counter around the sink. That was about it. If there were shelves above the toilet, they held very simple bottles of various creams, potions, and lotions. There were no stuffed animals and not one of them had something fuzzy attached to the toilet seat lid LOL. If there was a ledge or shelf around the tub they held a few fluffy towels, some candles, and some natural sponges and brushes (I am not a fan of natural sponges, I feel sorry for the critters that used to live there). Anyways, the key is to keep it simple. Only put back the things that you enjoy looking at and use (and don't mind wiping off every once in a while).
- OK, Time to put the stuff back! This is the step where you can make big changes in your bathroom. The less stuff you have out in the open, the more space you will have in your bathroom. Plus there will be less surfaces for those towel fuzzies to breed on.
- Start with the towels. Hang up the towels you want on the racks. If you keep a few towels on shelves, set them out as well. Try to stay with one color if possible. Otherwise, try alternating two colors. It's OK to use the "good towels." No one will report you to the "I-used-the-guest-towels-for-my-family Police" hee hee!
- Now replace the things that go over the toilet and on any shelves that are over the toilet. The only things that are on our toilets is a ceramic snowman that I fell in love with a couple years ago and a wooden bull my grandmother gave to me when I was a little girl (long story). Both are very easy to wipe clean.
- Now replace the things that go around the sink. Here's a trick. If you have several bottles of bathroom supplies (shaving cream, hair spray, mousse, handcreams, etc) put them into a basket and set the basket in the corner on the counter top (maybe even set the basket under the sink). It keeps all this stuff together, plus you just lift the basket whenever you have to wipe the countertop. Also, we keep all our toothbrushes under the sink. We each have a large jar for our brush, floss, and toothpaste. Everyonce in awhile all the jars go into the dishwasher to get cleaned.
- Now replace the things that go around the bathtub.
- Did you discover any candles, special lotions, bubble baths, or other pampering things that had been pushed to the backs of the cupboard? Set a couple of these out into the open. Light a candle the next time you have a bubble bath. Try some of the new bath salts. Don't just let them sit there and collect towel fuzzies. Now, if you have reactions to some of these bath products or you can't stand the smell of them (some of them really stink!), donate the unopened bottles to a woman's shelter. Other people may be able to enjoy them.
- Did you end up with stuff left over? Take a good hard look at this stuff. Do you really want it in your home? Will you use it? It is really trash? or can you add it to your cardboard box? If you can't decide, just set it back in the cupboard under the sink. No guilt. You can figure out what to do with it the next time you deep clean.
Congratulations, You are Done!!
That's it. Quickly put away your cleaning supplies and enjoy your new room!
Go To "Deep Cleaning the Bathroom - The Guy's Version"
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