Spring cleaning the bathroom

 

This is the second in the series on spring cleaning and this time we will go into detail on how to spring clean the bathroom.

The first step in spring cleaning the bathroom is to throw out all old toothbrushes, floss, drinking cups. Remove the shower curtain and liner. Wash the curtain according to the manufacturers instructions, the liner can be washed with a load of towels. Do not put either in the dryer, hang wet after the tub/shower walls have been cleaned.

Start at the top and work down. First get the cobwebs in the corners and dust the edge of the ceiling and the wall. Wash down the door jams and the door using dawn and water. Next wipe off the top of the shower stall or the shower curtain rail. Dust the overhead vanity lights and bulbs. If the bulbs are really dusty, take out the bulb ( when cold) and wipe with a damp cloth.

Clean and organize the Vanity

Using empty bins, empty all the draws and cabinets, sorting and throwing half empty bottles away as you go.With the vacuum hose clean out the draws and the cabinet bases, then using a multi purpose cleaner wipe clean. Line the draws and shelves if desired. Any stubborn marks or sticky messes use hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle and let it sit for 5 minutes before cleaning.

Start replacing the items in the draws. Use draw trays to organize and keep things neat. Then replace the items in the cabinets, again organizing using small plastic drawer sets to keep like things together and organized.

Next tackle the medicine cabinet. Take everything out. Check the best before dates on all medications. Dispose of out of date medicine carefully, don’t just flush down the toilet or throw away, there are places that will take outdated meds, check with your pharmacy.

Take out any removable shelves and wash in warm soapy water, wipe out the rest of the inside of the cabinet, then replace the shelves when dry . Replace the contents, again organizing as you go.

Cleaning the Toilet

Now to the real cleaning. Start with the toilet as this is often the most disliked part of cleaning bathroom. Using your favorite bowl cleaner squirt it under the rim of the toilet. If you have rust  spots or really bad stains  take a 12oz can of Coca Cola and pour into the toilet. Let it sit for 30mins and clean as normal with a toilet bowl brush.If you have a hard water ring, a pumice stone can be safely used on porcelain. Wet the end and rub onto the ring to scrape it off.

Next clean the outside of the toilet. Using either hydrogen peroxide or something like Mr. Clean, spray from the top of the tank, front , top, sides, top of the seat, under the seat, rim of the bowl, front and sides of the toilet. Using a clean dry cloth, wipe down the toilet in the same order you sprayed it. Get the base last. Spray the base and clean, wipe the floor around the toilet , getting behind the base, and the baseboard behind the toilet. If you have any strong urine smells, use hydrogen peroxide on the base and the floor after mopping and let air dry. This will help neutralize the odors.

Cleaning the Shower /Tub

To clean the shower or the tub run hot water and fill a plastic pitcher with hot water and dawn dish soap. Spray the shower and glass doors with you favorite cleaner. Let the product sit for 5 minutes, then using a scrubbing sponge and the Dawn and hot water start at the top of the walls and work your way down, then rinse with hot water. Dry with a soft cloth after rinsing. Do one wall at a time in the shower , then get the base.

Go Green

For a “green clean”use  1/2 cup of warm vinegar and 1/2 cup of blue Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray everything and let it sit for 5 minutes. For mold and mildew use 2  tablespoons of borax to 1/2 cup of vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle and again let it sit for 5 minutes before wiping and rinsing.

Cleaning Sinks and Counter tops.

If mirrors are large the best way to clean them is to use warm soapy water and a squeegee.If you have over head lights on the vanity turn off the lights, this will help prevent streaks and cloudiness. Any lines or streaks can be cleaned using a little Windex and a clean lint free cloth.

If there is a ring in the sink or build up around the faucets, use a little CLR or lime-away. If you have granite/natural stone counter tops then try a mixture of baking soda and water mixed to a paste around the faucets. A pumice stone can also be used on a porcelain sink to clean a hard water ring on the sink. Clean all the counters  with hot soapy water and clean the doors  and draws of the vanity unit. To shine the faucets either use lemon oil or cut a lemon and rub on the faucets.

And Finally..The floors

Vacuum or sweep the floors, getting behind the toilet. Rehang the shower curtain. On your hands and knees wipe down all the baseboard either with soap and water or with the Dawn and vinegar solution. Then mop the floors using hot water and vinegar. Wring the mop out well so the floors dry quickly and evenly.

Now you have spring cleaned the bathroom…. go sit down and rest….that was hard work!!!