Since you rely on your bathroom to keep your body clean, it's fair to say that it should be the cleanest room in your house. Due to water, steam, and added grime, your space can easily become home to bacteria, fungus, and unwanted odors (gross but true). That's why we asked Carolyn Forte, about how to clean your bathroom from top to bottom.
Forte says to prevent mildew and other buildup, it's best to deep clean your space at least every one to two weeks, depending on how often you wipe down your shower, sweep the floor, or disinfect faucets. With that being said, toilets, sinks, and other high-traffic areas should be cleaned at weekly. In an effort to lighten the load (you have laundry and grocery shopping to do, after all), there are little things you can do on a daily basis to make for a cleaner space: wipe up any spills or splatters on the mirror, keep the sink and countertops dry, and wipe down the toilet seat and faucet handles every two to three days.
When the time comes that you need to give your entire bathroom — whether it's a powder room or master bath — a big refresh, follow these tips and tricks on how to clean a bathroom.
Tile Grout
Especially if you have a tile-lined shower, keep grout from becoming dingy and yellow by giving it a good scrub weekly. When you notice grout haze (if you know, you know), follow this tried-and-tested guide:
• Mix 3/4 cup household chlorine bleach with 1-gallon water. Or for a ready-made option, try CLR Fresh Scent Bath and Kitchen Cleaner.
• Wearing rubber gloves, use a stiff brush to apply the formula to one small area at a time. Be careful not to let the liquid splatter on you or surrounding surfaces.
• Let sit for several minutes, then scrub and rinse.
Sink
Not only is your bathroom sink one of the first places to show gunk and grime — think: hair strands and toothpaste buildup — but it also harbors tons of germs. Here's the best way to clean your bathroom sink:
• Spray a disinfectant bathroom cleaner, like Clorox or Lysol, all around the bathroom sink and wipe with a cloth or sponge.
• Spray or wipe faucet handles with a disinfectant spray or wipe, allowing them to remain wet for the required time on the package to kill germs.
Toilet
Not only do you want your toilet bowl to stay sparkling white, but you also want to make sure the seat and handle are free of germs. Cover all the bases with this easy step-by-step guide:
• Generously apply a toilet bowl cleaner from brands like Lysol, and let sit for up to five minutes before scrubbing with a stiff-bristled toilet brush. Then flush.
• Wipe down the toilet seat and handle with disinfectant wipes, including Clorox or Lysol.
• Remember: Toilet brushes need cleaning, too. After use, let the toilet brush dry out of the caddy and spray with disinfectant.
Bathroom Floor
You shouldn't wait until you see dirt and grime to clean your bathroom floor. Because flooring can easily be stripped of shine, Forte recommends using low-sudsing cleaners to avoid leaving behind any residue that'll dull shine and attract future soil.
• Spray floors with CLR Bath and Kitchen Cleaner, if it's safe for your surface. If fumes are bothersome, be sure to open bathroom windows and door, and turn on the fan if you have one, to bring in fresh air and hurry the drying process.
• For dirty grout that doesn’t improve with the multi-purpose cleaner, put a bleach-containing cleanser such as Soft Scrub Gel Cleanser with Bleach on a brush and scrub. Rinse and wipe dry.
• If you don't want to get down and dirty, opt for an adjustable steam mop. Choose "high or scrub" for tough jobs, or "mop or medium" for day-to-day cleanings.
