Cleaning Bathrooms
There probably isn`t anyone who likes to clean bathrooms, but bathrooms
need to be cleaned once a week without fail, unless of course you like living
with staph germs and mildew and all other manner of gross things. So just
count on making it part of your Saturday morning routine and you and your
mother will be happy.
I think starting with the sink is best: it`s kind of like washing dishes:
start with the least dirty and progress to the most dirty. I like to use
spray foam cleaner: it is really easy and kills germs. You spray it on,
let it sit, scrub with a sponge, and rinse it clean. You should dry your
faucet and handles with a towel so they don`t spot. You can use the same
stuff for the bathtub and shower walls. If you have a lot of soap scum or
hard water stains, you could try something made to clean that, but be careful:
some of those products will ruin your chrome fixtures. Always read all directions
on cleaning products before you use them.
Another good cleanser to use is Bon Ami. It won`t scratch and it gets built-up
gunk off, but it can be hard to rinse.
To remove mildew, the best thing to use is chlorine bleach in water. You
will need to make the solution strong: 1/4 cup bleach to 1 cup water. Wear
rubber gloves and use a sponge. Squeeze the sponge out well so it doesn`t
drip. Remember, bleach will ruin your clothes or towels or whatever colored
cloth it comes in contact with by leaving white spots. Wear old clothes
for this job. You do have to rinse the area you clean with this solution
in clear water. You are not saving any money by buying fancy mildew removers:
they are basically chlorine bleach. Make your own. Mildew usually occurs
along caulking, on ceilings, on tile grout etc.
Cleaning toilets does not have to be a nasty job, but it will be if you
only do it once a month. First of all, make sure there isn`t anything in
the toilet. Yuk! Then use either Sani Flush or something like it. Again,
don`t use too much. Let it sit for awhile and work, then use a good toilet
brush and scrub all around the bowl, under the rim and in the back. When
it is scrubbed well, flush the toilet and use the clean water to rinse your
brush. Shake it off and hang it or store it away where it will dry.
You aren`t done yet, though. You need to use a sponge or a rag and cleaner
to wipe the seat, top and bottom, and the lid. Then wipe the edge of the
bowl, the back of the bowl, and last, wipe the outside including what can
be one of the nastiest places to clean on a toilet: the bottom near the
floor. For some reason, some men (or boys) sometimes miss. Rinse your sponge
in the soapy wash water often.
When you clean the bathroom, remember the mirror needs to be cleaned, the
shelves and other surfaces need to be dusted or wiped down and the floor
needs to be swept and mopped. Clean out soap dishes and wash off door knobs.
And cleaning day is a great day to remember to put out clean towels all
around. You use this room a lot and it needs to be clean for your health.
Spray air freshener is no substitute for a clean bathroom.
Wash the mirror with the same solution you use for windows. Occasionally
the insides of your medicine cabinet, linen closet or other storage areas
in the bathroom should be cleaned, too. Empty them and wash off surfaces
with a mild dish detergent solution or disinfectant cleaner. Let them dry
thoroughly before you put the towels etc. away.
Lastly, the
bathroom floor should be cleaned and mopped often. Sweep (or vaccum) the
floor at least once a week. Mop as needed, every two weeks or so.