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The grout is a mess; you can barely see yourself in the mirror, and the medicine cabinet is overflowing with so much junk you can hardly close it. It’s that time of year when we feel compelled to spring clean our homes. Let’s give our bathroom the overhaul it deserves.
Table of Contents
Spring Cleaning Your Bathroom
Start by reading Strategies For Successful Spring Cleaning, which provides you tools and tips for decluttering your home so you can focus solely on cleaning the bathroom.
- Make sure you leave the window open and the room well ventilated.
- Before you get started, gather all of the supplies you’ll need to tackle the bathroom. Preferably you have a well-stocked cleaning bucket, if not make sure you don’t have to go looking for anything.
- Listen to music, an audiobook, or a foreign language tape. Have something on that is enjoyable to you so the time passes more quickly.
Cleaning Resources: Creating Your Cleaning Bucket
What You Need:
- Vacuum with attachments
- Mop
- Small bucket with handle
- Swiffer with extender pole
- Cleaning cloths (microfiber, cotton)
- Sponges
- Scrub Brushes
- Your favorite cleaners
- Shelf liners/drawer dividers
- Trash can liners
Cleaning Resources: The Best Cleaning Tools To Get The Job Done Fast
Let’s Get Cleaning
1. Empty Trash
Clean out the trashcan in the bathtub with all purpose disinfectant. Dry with a clean cloth, place clean liner into can and set aside.
2. Remove All Laundry
Remove all laundry from the bathroom and launder all bath mats and rugs.
3. Dust Down The Ceiling and Walls, Spot Clean or Wash Walls
Using your Swiffer Extender Pole, dust ceilings, corners and walls. Determine if your walls need to be washed or just spot cleaned. Remember to wipe down air vents, doorknobs, doors, and switch plates. Pay attention to behind the sink for splatters of toothpaste and cosmetics and remove the stains from these areas.
Cleaning Resources: Real Simple Tips and Techniques for Cleaning Painted Walls
4. Clean All Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans
Take down any other light fixtures and gently wash and dry them before replacing. Try using a fabric softener cloth to dust light bulbs and other areas where you don’t want to expose to chemicals or water. Vacuum fan vents.
5. Remove Window Treatments
Take down draperies, curtains, and blinds to wash or have cleaned according to the manufacturer’s directions. Vacuum and clean windowsills and corners. Wash the insides and outsides of the windows. Take down and rinse off screens, before replacing.
Cleaning Resources: How to Clean Windows Like A Professional
6. Dust and Clean All Wall Hangings
Use a microfiber cloth or your Swiffer to dust down art and photographs. Occasionally these items may need to be washed. Wipe down with a slightly damp rag, being careful not to let any liquid seep behind the frame and damage the photo. Remove the glass if possible and wash in warm water to remove dust, dirt, and debris. Thoroughly wipe dry glass before putting it back into the frame.
7. Scrub The Shower and Tub
Remove everything from the tub/shower. Remove shower curtain and liner too. Apply shower/tub cleaner and allow to sit before you start scrubbing. Let the product do the majority of the work for you. I like to use Mr. Clean Sponges on fiberglass, tile, and glass. It removes the dirt, grime and soap scum buildup with almost no scrubbing.
Wash tub/shower walls and door (use grout brush in-between tiles as needed). Clean shower rack/soap dishes. Rinse off walls of tub/shower and dry with cloth or let air dry. Shine chrome. Replace items. Hang new or washed shower liner.
To clear a clogged showerhead, you have two options. You can remove the showerhead, soak in diluted vinegar and boil in water, or you can fill a plastic bag with diluted vinegar, place it over the showerhead so it sits in the vinegar and tie the bag closed, letting it sit overnight to break down the water deposits.
Cleaning Resources: A Simple Method for Cleaning The Shower Liner
8. Clean Mirror and Vanity/Medicine Cabinet
Wash the inside of medicine cabinets, linen cabinets, etc. Use dollar store bins to organize the inside of the closets. Line the shelves with shelf paper.
To clean the vanity spray bathroom cleaner in sink, soap dish. Spray countertop with all-purpose cleaner. Scrub sink and use grout brush along faucet and drain. Rinse the sink. Wipe the vanity countertop and front of cabinet fronts. Clean mirror by spraying glass cleaner on soft cloth and buffing dry. Shine the faucets.
9. Clean the Toilet
Clean the inside of the toilet with toilet bowl cleaner, disinfect outside of toilet. Wipe dry. Don’t forget the handle, crevices on the outside, and the underneath.
10. Sweep and Mop Floor
Fill bucket with ¼ cup all-purpose cleaner and water to prep for floor cleaning. Wash the floor with solution in the bucket or use the Swiffer system I recommend and allow to dry. Replace rugs, bath mat and wastebasket.
With this step by step system you bathroom will be thoroughly spring cleaned and ready to welcome the warmer weather months.
