by Margaret Butterfield

Created on: October 06, 2010   Last Updated: October 07, 2010

Keeping a bathroom clean is no easy task. We use this room to take care of washing and other hygiene, which brings in foreign material, dirt, and waste from our everyday life. Contrary to popular opinion, this filth just doesn’t go away. Some of it can settle right into the space, causing the room we cleanse in to become dirtier than we are! However, armed with the right supplies and routines, the bathroom can stay a place to relax, unwind, and stay clean!

To begin, one must go through and throw out all the trash in the bathroom. I’m talking about used paper goods, wrappers, and expired medicines/makeup. Go through every drawer and cabinet in the bathroom so that only those things that you will use and are safe to use are in the bathroom. Once all this trash is cleared, think about what you use in your morning and evening routines. Better yet, make a morning and evening routine, and then place those items where they are in your immediate view or reach, preferably together. This order will not only help speed up your routines, but also will minimize the products you use so that trash does not accumulate.

Once you have these products organized, there needs to be a place for the actual cleaning items. My cleaning kit for my bathroom includes the following:

•   Clorox wipes: all surface cleaner that disinfects and really cleans well (buy a big tube and go crazy)

•   Arm and hammer all-purpose spray cleaner: Another all surface cleaner I find useful to use in the shower for those deep cleans.

•  Tilex daily shower cleaner: Use this after every shower to maintain a clean shower. It’s a fresh deodorized scent that helps minimize scrubbing your shower/bath when it’s time for an all-over cleaning

•  Lysol toilet bowl cleaner/toilet brush: There’s no fun way to clean a toilet, and no great smelling way either. Careful of the fumes with this one.  

•  Swiffer duster/wet-jet: These are for the floor. Sweep up dry hair and dust and then use the wet jet

•  Sponge: Always a good backup for the wipe

•  Broom: If you don’t have a dry Swiffer

•  Dustpan: Good for that small debris

•  Plastic bags: For your trashcans to keep it from growing germs (a helpful trick is to bundle 5 or six bags under the current one, and

• Febreeze Airfreshener: Always a nice touch—the shades, spray, cones, potpourri, plug ins, or candles all work well.

Clean in whatever way you see is easiest, and maintain this every week. You will notice that cleaning becomes less of a chore and you have a cleaner bathroom. Make sure to clean the window in your bathroom as that can be a source of dirt and bugs. If you don’t have a window, make sure you have a fan installed to clear out all that excess, moisture from the shower.

Some good products for germ prevention are hands free and pump style hand sanitizer, soap, and toothpaste.

One last word of advice, when looking to prolong the life of your toothbrush (which should be replaced every three months or immediately after any illness), keep it in your medicine cabinet with or without a cap casing, and if looking for a quick and efficient cleaning, soak the head in hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours. Happy and healthy cleaning!

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