Wednesday, April 9, 2014

How to Clean a Bathroom

No one likes cleaning the bathroom, but by keeping up with it, the job becomes much less painful. Read on for some tips in efficiency in keeping your surfaces, walls, floor, shower and toilet sparkling clean.



Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Clean

  1. Remove all the items that don't belong in your bathroom. Take out everything that doesn't belong, such as clothes, cups, and trash. Also move out any little side tables or movable storage cabinets so that you can clean under them.
  2. Pour some bleach or another disinfectant into the toilet bowl. Put the toilet brush inside the bowl, helping to sanitize the brush for cleaning.
  • Make sure the floor is open and the fan is on to ensure proper ventilation.
  • For a green alternative, mix a tablespoon of baking powder into about a quart of 75/25 mix of white vinegar and water.
         3.  Dust. In general, when cleaning any room, start from the top down. Clean cobwebs in the             corners of the bathroom, and brush other dust and dirt directly onto the floor to sweep up             later. A duster works great for this, but you can also use the broom.
    • If you've got delicate wallpaper, wrap the bristles in some toilet paper or paper towel and slightly wet it to
         4.  Apply any scrub powder to especially dirty areas. If you've got lime and build-up in the tub,           sink, oraround faucets, damp those areas slightly and sprinkle with scrubbing powder like           Comet. Letting it sit for 10-15 minutes while you do other things will help to work loose the           dirty patches and make your scrubbing go much more smoothly.
    • Be sure to read the label and ensure that you're using an appropriate product and won't damage your surfaces. Test it out on a non-visible spot before you actually use it.


    Part 2 of 3: Cleaning Surfaces

    1. Clean the walls, windows and/or ceiling. If you have mold on the ceiling start with spraying a water bleach/disinfectant solution on it and let it rest for a couple of minutes, do the same with the walls ( if they are tiles) or use another cleaning product. With a sponge or a clean rag, scrub the tile surfaces you've sprayed. Rinse it carefully to avoid any stripes and dry it with a clean rag.
    • It's a good idea to wear rubber gloves while you're scrubbing, to keep your hands from drying out if you're using harsh products.
        2.  Clean the shower. Spray cleaning product on the shower walls, and the shower head and             let it rest for a couple of minutes. Spray cleansers made especially for getting rid of soap           scum work very well on tubs that haven't been cleaned in a while.
    • For hard water areas that are prone to green and rust-colored stains, a cleanser made for eliminating calcium, lime and rust is probably what you need. Never use abrasive cleaners or green abrasive scrub pads or steel wool on porcelain fixtures, as they will quickly dull the finish.
    • Soak the showerhead. If eventually the showerhead becomes quite clogged with hard water build up or soap scum, you can remove it and soak it overnight in a vinegar/water mixture, and then clean with a toothbrush.
    • Go back over the shower and scrub the walls, faucet and shower head, rinse well with the hottest water and or dry with a towel. You can shine the faucet with a paper towel or a towel.
    • Don't forget the shower curtain; it is also prone to mildew. A solution of about 2/3 water, 1/3 bleach in a spray bottle can be handy for getting rid of mildew spots. Or you can take it down and wash it in hot water with a small amount of soap and bleach.
         3.  Clean the sink and counter area. Scrub all the soap scum and tooth paste off with a small            amount of  cleaner, rinsing your sponge thoroughly as you go along. An old toothbrush or            cotton swabs can be handy for getting the junk out from between the tap and handles.
    • Be sure never to clean the sink and counter area with the same rag or paper towel you used to clean the toilet. This can spread leftover disease-causing germs to your sink and counter area. To prevent this you can use a specific rag which you use to clean only the toilet.
    • Wipe off the fronts and tops of cabinets and drawers. You'll probably want to use hot, soapy water for this purpose. If you're worried about germs on these surfaces, add a bit of bleach to your soapy water.
         4.  Clean the mirror. Use cleaner, rinse it and wipe the excessive water off with a towel or                  squeegee. To add a shine to your mirror add a bit vinegar to the water.

         5.  Clean the exterior of the toilet. Wipe the outside, starting with the flush handle so as not to            re-contaminate it, with a cloth soaked in disinfectant cleaner. Thoroughly wash and rinse              all exterior surfaces of the toilet bowl, including the underside and flared base, the top                  and underside of the seat and lid, and the hinges and their mounting area with a cloth                  and detergent or similar cleaner.
    • Don't forget to use a cloth specially assigned for cleaning the toilet, or a paper towel (throw it away, don't flush it).

          6.  Scrub the bowl with a toilet brush and flush. You probably won't have to scrub hard: let the            soapy water and patience dissolve the problem. Coat the inside of the bowl with a                        viscous acidic cleaner generally sold in an angle-necked bottle. Take special care to                 cover the entire inside edge of the rim it'll run down toward other areas.
    • Allow the cleaner to soak for half an hour or more before scrubbing the entire bowl including under the rim with a toilet bowl brush, let it soak a little longer after it's been well-distributed though thinned by the initial scrubbing, then scrub some more and flush it away.
         7.  Sweep and mop the floor. Start with the farthest point from the door. Sweep up all the                  dust and debris you've cleaned so far and let fall on the floor, then mop using hot soapy                bleach water.Remember to rinse the floor with clean water to remove slippery soap                      residue. Be sure to get along the sides of your toilet bowl where it is anchored to the                    floor. This area is notoriously dirty. Don't forget to clean the base boards or base molds              these places usually accumulates a lot of dust.

    Part 3 of 3: Keeping the Bathroom Clean

    1. Run the fan. Keeping your bathroom ventilated will discourage the growth of mildew, keeping your big cleaning sessions few and far between. Always run the fan after you get out of the shower, to dry out the bathroom and keep the moisture from clinging.
    2. Wipe down the shower after you use it. To make sure mold and mildew doesn't build up in the shower in between big cleaning sessions, take time to wipe it down every time you take a shower. Combined with running the fan, this should keep your bathroom mildew free.
    3. Keep it tidy. Much of what we call "mess" is really just clutter. If clothes accumulate in your bathroom, put a hamper, or even a cardboard box in the bathroom to collect dirty clothes. Use a toothbrush holder or a cup to keep your toothbrushes in order. Keep other supplies in an old shoebox under the sink to keep the surface tidy.
    4. Use the toilet brush. Even if it doesn't look dirty, minerals in the water can stain the bowl, so it's a good idea to brush the toilet down with a sturdy toilet brush fairly regularly. If you do this even just once a week, your bigger cleanings will be much easier and infrequent.
    5. Wash toothpaste down. Toothpaste stains and build up in the sink and even on the mirror can make a bathroom look dirtier than it needs to be. Make sure you clean up after your toothpaste, washing it down and rinsing the sink out, then drying the bowl of the sink when you're finished.
    • To consolidate tasks, do this while you mouthwash for an added dental benefit.

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