Nobody likes cleaning the bathroom, but with a little persistence, this household chore can become a lot less obnoxious. Read this article to find out how to thoroughly clean surfaces, walls, floor, shower and toilet.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Set aside any items that shouldn't be in the bathroom, such as clothes, cups, and trash
Also, move the coffee tables or furniture with casters you use to store things out of the room to clean the floor more thoroughly.
Step 2. Pour some bleach or other disinfectant down the toilet
Put the mop inside to sanitize it.
- Make sure the floor is clear and the window open to let the air change (if you don't have it, turn on the vacuum).
- To clean in an ecological way, mix a tablespoon of baking soda in a liter of water mixed with vinegar (in a proportion of 75/25).
Step 3. Dust
In general, cleaning any room should proceed from top to bottom. Remove cobwebs from the corners of the bathroom and move dust and dirt directly to the floor for later sweeping. It is ideal to use a microfiber cloth to clean the floor, but in the absence of anything else the broom is still fine.
If the walls are covered with wallpaper, wrap the bristles of a brush with a microfiber cloth or thick kitchen paper, dampen it lightly and gently wipe the surface. Dry with a clean rag
Step 4. In particularly dirty areas, clean with a powder detergent
If the bathtub, sink, or areas around the faucets have limescale or dirt build-up, lightly dampen them and sprinkle a grainy product. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes while you do something else - the dirt will melt, so you can scrub much more easily.
Read the product labels and use only the right ones, which will not damage the surfaces. Test them on an inconspicuous spot before actually using them
Part 2 of 3: Cleaning the Surfaces
Step 1. Clean walls, windows and ceiling
If you notice mold, start spraying a bleach or disinfectant solution and let it sit for a couple of minutes. do it on all affected walls. You can also use another cleaner. With a clean sponge or cloth, scrub the surfaces you applied the product to. Rinse carefully to avoid stains and dry with a clean rag.
It would be best to put on rubber gloves while cleaning to prevent your hands from drying out due to the use of harsh products
Step 2. Clean the shower
Spray a cleaner on the walls of the box and on the faucet and leave it on for a few minutes. Spray products specially designed to properly get rid of soap residues from tubs that you haven't cleaned for a long time will come in handy.
- If you live in an area where the water is hard and you see green or brown spots appearing in the shower, it is best to use a cleanser designed to get rid of calcium, limescale and rust. Never use sponges (including steel wool) or abrasive products on porcelain surfaces, as they will ruin the finish.
- Leave the shower head to soak. If it gets clogged up due to limescale buildup or soap residue, you can remove it. Soak it overnight in a vinegar and water solution, then clean it with a toothbrush.
- Finally, clean the walls, taps and shower head with a sponge. Rinse them thoroughly with boiling water and dry them with a cloth. You can polish the faucet with kitchen paper or a rag.
- Do not forget the shower curtains: they too are prone to the appearance of mold. A mixture of 2/3 water and 1/3 bleach (pour it into a bottle with a spray dispenser) can be useful for getting rid of mold stains. An alternative is to remove them and wash them in hot water with a few drops of detergent and bleach.
Step 3. Clean the sink and surrounding area
Remove all soap and toothpaste residues with a few drops of detergent. Rinse the sponge thoroughly as you go. An old toothbrush or cotton swab can come in handy to get rid of the dirt that has built up around the tap.
- Make sure you don't clean the sink and surrounding area with the same rag or paper towel that you used for the toilet. This can cause the spread of potentially harmful germs. To prevent this, use a specific rag, intended only for the toilet.
- Clean the front and top of furniture and dressers. You should use warm soapy water to do this. If you are worried about germs proliferating on these surfaces, add a pinch of bleach.
Step 4. Clean the mirror
Use a window cleaner, rinse it off and wipe off excess water with a cloth or window cleaning spatula. To make it brighter, add a few drops of vinegar to the water.
Step 5. Clean the outside of the toilet
Wipe a cloth soaked in disinfectant on the outside surface. Start with the drain button so you don't go back up and risk contaminating it. Thoroughly wash and rinse the exterior surfaces of the toilet, including the underside, base, seat (both under and above) and hinges. Use a cloth and detergent or other disinfectant product.
Don't forget to use a specially designated cloth to clean the toilet, otherwise use kitchen paper (throw it in the garbage pail, don't dump it)
Step 6. Clean the toilet with a toilet cleaner and a scrub brush
If you let the soapy water act and have a little patience, the dirt will dissolve without pressing too hard. First, coat the inside of the toilet with a viscous acid cleaner, available at the grocery store. Pay special attention: cover the entire inner edge of the toilet, so that the product flows downwards.
Leave the cleaner on for at least half an hour before scrubbing the entire interior of the toilet, even under the rim, with the scrub brush. Afterwards, let the product act a little longer after it has spread well, creating a homogeneous coating thanks to the initial scrubbing. Finally, brush a little more and turn on the drain
Step 7. Sweep and mop the floor
Start at the farthest point from the door. Collect all the dust and dirt that has accumulated on the ground, then wash the ground using a soapy water and bleach solution. Remember to rinse with clean water to remove soap residue - they could make you slip. Do not forget the sides of the toilet, those anchored to the ground. This area is notoriously dirty. Don't forget to clean the baseboards, where a lot of dust usually accumulates.
Step 8. Get an old toothbrush and thoroughly clean hard-to-reach parts
Get rid of all toothpaste stains on the sink. Apply a small amount of bleach or other bleach product to your toothbrush and use it to scrub. Helps to reach areas that are tight or need a very deep cleaning.
Part 3 of 3: Keeping the Bathroom Clean
Step 1. Open the window or turn on the vacuum
Keeping the bathroom ventilated discourages mold growth, speeding up daily cleaning and letting more time pass between particularly deep ones. You should remember this every time you get out of the shower, so the bathroom will always be dry and the humidity will not take over.
Step 2. Dry the shower with a towel after using it
To make sure mold doesn't build up in the shower cubicle between cleanings, take a minute to mop each time you wash. Combined with opening the window or turning on the vacuum, this method will help you have a mold-free bathroom.
Step 3. Keep it tidy
You can use small tricks to remedy the clutter. If clothes pile up on the floor, put a dirty laundry basket or even a cardboard box. Use a toothbrush holder or cup to keep them tidy. Store items in an old shoe box under the sink so you don't leave them lying around in the room.
Step 4. Use the toilet brush
As clean as the toilet looks, the minerals contained in the water can stain it, so a stiff-bristled mop regularly is best. If you do it even just once a week, cleaning up will be much easier and more sporadic.
Step 5. Remove the toothpaste stains
These residues accumulate in the sink and also on the mirror, making the bathroom look dirtier than it actually is. Make sure you clean up immediately after smudging with toothpaste, washing it and rinsing the sink; finally, dry it with a cloth.
To save time, do it while shaking the mouthwash - you'll kill two birds with one stone
Advice
- Rinse the sponge or brush several times as you go. Change the water you use to wash ashore when it gets dirty. The goal of cleaning the bathroom is to get rid of the dirt, not drag it around the room.
- There are so many cracks and tiny hidden parts that cannot be reached with a sponge or cloth. You can use a cotton swab or toothbrush (only meant for this purpose, of course!) To take care of these tricky corners and clean between the tiles.
- Remember, mold's number one enemy is bleach. Often a few drops are enough to remove these stains without even rubbing.
- You can prevent your bathroom mirror from fogging up by using simple shaving cream. Just apply it to the glass and rub it. It shouldn't leave any marks or stains. It works wonders.
- The detergents that are used to eliminate calcium, limescale and rust can also be sprayed on the shower head to remedy the fillings in the holes due to limescale accumulations. This way, the water pressure will be higher. For best results, apply one a few times a week after taking a shower.
- Don't forget to clean the ceiling. You can use a water-based bleach solution poured into a spray bottle to get rid of mold stains in this area as well.
- After thoroughly cleaning your bathtub thanks to the instructions in this article, you can use a special no-rinse cleaner each time you wash to keep this area clean without too much effort.
- Scrub with a bleach-soaked toothbrush between the tiles to get rid of any dirt that has built up.
- A squeegee squeegee makes mirrors look really clean, without water stains.
Warnings
- Never mix bleach and ammonia! Even sponges that have come into contact with bleach in the past can react to ammonia and generate the poisonous chlorine gas.
- Read product labels carefully to make sure they can be mixed with bleach. Some contain ammonia, so always proceed with caution.
