How to Clean the Bathroom and Keep it Clean

While we’d all love a sparkling clean bathroom like those put in the spotlight on commercials, few of us are able to make this claim. Even though this is the room where we escape to tidy up, the fact remains it takes time with all the different surfaces and how often it’s used throughout a day.

If you’re like me, it’s not one of my favorite rooms in the house to clean. Fortunately, there are ways you can keep bathroom surfaces spic and span using natural cleaning products.

You may have to do some serious deep cleaning first, but if you follow some tips for efficiency from there on out, you can make cleaning the bathroom a breeze.

Get the Deep Cleaning Out of the Way

Go ahead and bite the bullet to get the deep cleaning done first. If it’s been a time since you and your bathroom have gone face-to-face, the process might take a while. After this, you’re in a great position to efficiently and quickly clean the bathroom, and keep it clean for much longer if you keep up on it.

Below are some natural recipes and tips to speed up the cleaning job and make it much more efficient.

Natural Homemade Cleaning Recipes

This recipe is good for cleaning countertops, tile, showers, soap scum, cabinets, mirrors, some floors and toilets and it’s natural.

White Vinegar and Water

• 1 Cup White Vinegar
• 1 Gallon Water

Mix the vinegar with the water. Vinegar is natural disinfectant and deodorizer. And don’t worry about the smell, it will dissipate quickly. Using this on floors will leave them squeaky clean and your countertops sparkling. There is no rinsing involved as no filmy residue is left behind.

If you have any marble in your bathroom, take care not to let the vinegar come in contact with it. Vinegar is acidic and can etch and dull your beautiful marble finish permanently If it does come in contact, rinse immediately.

Baking Soda Paste

A baking soda paste is a good way to clean the shower tiles, tub and sink from gunk such as: dried shampoo, soaps, toothpaste, etc.

Simply mix water into the baking soda and make a paste with a consistency like toothpaste. Maybe not so thick.

Cleaning Bathroom Tub, Tiles, Grout and Sink

Use a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water to clean the tub and surrounding tiles. Using this on a regular basis will help cut back on the soap scum. I actually keep a spray bottle in the shower and use it periodically after my shower to clean before using the squeegee.

The baking soda paste can be used for weekly cleanings.

For cleaning grout, pour hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle; just enough to get the job done as it will turn to water when exposed to light (that’s why it’s in a dark bottle). First sprinkle baking soda on the grout then spray with the hydrogen peroxide and gently scrub with a toothbrush or grout brush.

Cleaning Shower Doors

Standard white vinegar is an excellent solution for water spotted, stained shower doors. Using the recipe above for shower doors, spray the doors, leave for about 30 minutes then wipe down, rinse. Repeat if necessary before drying.

A damp Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works wonders also. Be sure to rinse with plain water and dry.

Cleaning the Toilet

The vinegar and water solution can work wonders here. If stains are particularly bad, use straight vinegar and let it sit for a time before cleaning. Finish off cleaning the toilet by scrubbing thoroughly.

If stains are not coming out, try the baking soda mixture or gently use a pumice stone. Just keep the pumice stone wet or it will scratch the porcelain and cause is to get rough and dull which can then quickly cause staining. If you have a colored toilet, a pumice stone can scratch the surface.

Do not use a pumice stone on a fiberglass, plastic, marble or laminate surfaces.

Cleaning Bathroom Floors

Using the vinegar and water recipe can deep clean most floors quickly and offer a sanitizing effect. Keep in mind that marble and vinegar do not mix well.

Cleaning Bathroom Countertops

Again, using vinegar and water works well here. If you have granite or marble counters, however, don’t use this solution.

For granite and marble surfaces, all you really need is plain water to clean then dry the surface. If you need a little something more, in a spray bottle mix warm water and a gentle dish soap then rinse and dry.

Cleaning Mirrors and Glass

The vinegar and water solution will work well here. It’s best to use a lint-free cloth or brown packing paper, a clean cotton sock pulled over your hand works good to.

Spray the cloth first to avoid drips/spray from the cleaning mixture getting behind the mirror. This is especially true if you have a framed mirror, over time could damage it.

More Tips for Maintaining Your Clean Bathroom

You can make the job much easier by using these tips:

Reduce Humidity in the Bathroom

Mold and mildew can thrive in bathrooms. Poor air circulation, high humidity, warm environment and low light make an ideal environment for mold and mildew.

To reduce the humidity in the bathroom, use the fan and if you have a window, open it a bit to help with circulation.

Drying Surfaces After Use

Finished in the shower? Always squeegee whenever possible in the bathroom shower. If you don’t have a squeegee, just grab an extra towel and quickly wipe down any wet areas on the floor, walls and shower door after each use. This will help reduce the buildup of dirt and soap scum. That’s always a good thing!

If you have granite or marble surfaces, be sure to wipe them down as standing water, product chemicals can dull, etch and mar surfaces.

Multitasking

Give the toilet bowl a quick brushing while you’re waiting for the shower to heat up in the morning. Wipe down counters while you’re brushing your teeth. Wipe down the sink quickly after each use.

Mopping Regularly

Just run the mop through the bathroom about once a week to keep up with what a quick towel drying doesn’t handle.

Using a rug can also help keep makeup, hairspray and other beauty products from hitting the floor surface.

Keep Soap Scum from Shower Walls and Glass Shower Doors

Wiping rain-x can on shower walls and glass shower door can help prevent soap scum and hard water stain buildup. Just be careful not to get it on the floor as it is very slippery.

Use Liquid Body Soap

Use liquid soap in the shower instead of bar soap. Soap scum forms with the regular use of bar soap combined with body oils, skin and other debris.

Keep the Drains Clean

Pour about 1 cup baking soda down the drain. Follow with 1 cup of white vinegar. Cover drain and let sit for 15 minutes. Boil a full tea kettle or if you don’t have one of those, boil about 4 cups water then carefully pour the water down the drain to help dislodge any gunk.

This can be done to any drain in the house.

Keeping a bathroom clean doesn’t have to be impossible or overly time consuming. Just get the deep cleaning out of the way and use efficient maneuvers the rest of the time to maintain a sparkling appearance.