How I Clean a Bathroom

Now that's an eye catching title isn't it? LOL

Oh well, I would be interested in how others do this disgusting job so I thought I'd post mine.

My life in the cleaning area of my home was changed forever when I read this book:

SPEED CLEANING by Jeff Campbell and The Clean Team




While I don't follow the book to the letter, it gave me some great ideas for simplifying the cleaning process. And of course there's Flylady's "Swish and Swipe Daily" routine that makes a huge difference.

This past Saturday I cleaned both our bathrooms more thoroughly than usual... that would be because they NEEDED to be cleaned more thoroughly than usual!

These are the cleaning supplies I used:




1. Spray Cleaner, Any Brand
2. Powdered Cleanser, Comet or Ajax (store brand doesn't work as well)
3. Bathroom Cleaner, Scrubbing Bubbles or Store Brand.
4. Cleaning Cloths. Several of them. Old towels cut into cleaning size pieces work great.

These are the steps I followed:

1. Remove bath mats, shake them out outside, wash if needed. Remove dirty hand towels and put them in the laundry pile.

2. Grab trash bag from trash can while you're at it, and bring another empty bag back with you. (Recycled Grocery Bag)

3. Spray the tub and shower walls with the bathroom cleaner. I prefer the "Scrubbing Bubbles" brand, but this Dollar General brand works ok. This can be doing its work while you clean other areas of the room.

4. Spray toilet under lid, on lid, behind lid and on the sides and top. Wipe off with cleaning cloth. (piece of old towel, old dishtowel, purchased cloths, whatever) I don't have to have any particular brand of spray cleaner. I just happened to have Lysol on hand. I probably bought it on sale with coupons. Even the store brand of spray cleaner is fine.

5. While you're down there spray the floor around the toilet, behind, etc. To quote the book, "We like to only be eye to eye with the toilet once, so clean the floor around it while you're there".

6. Sprinkle Comet or Ajax powder in the toilet and swish with a toilet brush. If the bowl is stained with rust or whatever, use "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner. Its great for that and only cost about a dollar.

7. Using a wet washcloth, clean the tub and shower wall that have been soaking in "Scrubbing Bubbles". Rinse well If needed, some Comet or Ajax powder can be used in the tub, if needed. Again, rinse well.

8. Put away any "hygiene gear" left on the vanity top by certain family members. Spray vanity top with the spray cleaner. Wipe down with a clean cleaning cloth. You can wipe off the mirror with the damp cloth if needed. Sprinkle Comet or Ajax powder cleanser in the sink. Clean with the same washcloth you used in the tub and rinse well.

9. Do you need to wipe off any walls, like around the light switch? If so spray with the spray cleaner and wipe with the cloth. "If it isn't dirty, don't clean it!". Any time the cloth gets too dirty or wet, get a new one.

10. Then finish the floor. If there's not a lot of dirt and debris on the floor, don't sweep it. Just spray the floor lightly with your spray cleaner, working your way out of the room. Use a cleaning cloth to wipe all the floor, moving any dirt and debris with you as you go. You can clean the dust boards or bottom part of the wall while you are down there too, if needed. Again, if its not dirty, don't worry about it. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you may need more than one cleaning cloth.

I have to interject here that its getting harder and harder to crawl around on the floor like this. I will have to do this differently as I get older, but for now it is the easiest way for me to clean the floor well.
11. Check the bathroom for supplies. If needed, bring in a supply of toilet paper, soap, and shampoo, etc. We keep our towels under the sink in the vanity cabinet. I make sure there are plenty of clean towels and washcloths available.

12. Put bath mats back down, and put out clean hand towels.

13. Put all your cleaning cloths in the laundry pile to be washed. They can be used over and over again.

Upkeep: My toilet brush sits in a container that came with it that sits in a corner. I put tiny amounts of leftover shampoo in there with a little water. Occasionally during the week I will swish the toilet with the toilet brush which bubbles up nicely in there with the shampoo. I will wipe under and around the lid with a piece of folded up toilet paper.

I wipe off the vanity top and inside the sink with a wet washcloth when needed between thorough cleanings.

Occasionally remind my guys: "If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be a sweetie and wipe the seatie". LOL