With this Step-by-Step Cleaning List
Written by American Standard on March 12, 2020, updated June 2021
If you’re like 52 percent of people, you might dread cleaning the bathroom. With these simple and effective bathroom cleaning hacks, you’ll never struggle to get into spring cleaning mode again — and your bathroom will never look better!
Health and Safety First
This spring cleaning season, be sure to look after your bathroom and yourself. As you start cleaning take the following precautions into consideration:
- Don’t mix cleaning products. Certain chemicals can react to create toxic fumes or burn your skin.
- Keep your bathroom well ventilatedno matter what cleaning products you’re using.
- Protect yourself against chemicalsby wearing rubber gloves and eyewear.
- Wear old clothes to clean.Chemicals such as bleach can discolor fabrics.
- Don’t use abrasive cleaners and tools.These can damage the items in your bathroom.
- Fully remove cleaning products after use as they can leave a residue if they are not wiped or rinsed off.
How to Clean Your Bathroom Step by Step
Vent
The phrase out of sight, out of mind often applies to the bathroom vent. These vents are usually found high up on the wall, which means you might not have noticed how much dust, mold, and mildew they have accumulated. Give your vent a thorough cleaning inside and out. Just remember to shut off the circuit breaker before you get started, and get help if you use a ladder!
Bathroom cleaning hacks:
- Soak the vent cover in warm water and dish soap
- Wipe the blades with a damp cloth
- Remove the dust from inside the vent with a toothbrush
- Use a vacuum nozzle attachment to suck up the dust
- Replace the cover only when it is completely dry
Cabinets and Countertops
Bathroom cabinets and countertops can easily become cluttered with medications, products, and other daily essentials. This in turn makes it harder to clean your bathroom. This spring, seize the opportunity to clear out these areas for a cleaner bathroom and greater peace of mind.
Here’s how to organize your bathroom counter and cabinet:
- Remove everything and clean the areas with a damp cloth
- Discard any products that are empty or past their use-by dates
- Place new items at the back of your cabinet so you finish open products first
- Only keep the bare essentials on the countertop
Sink
The sink drain has more bacteria than any other part of your bathroom, so a deep clean is just what the doctor ordered. You only need a few minutes to transform this part of your bathroom into a sparkly, germ-free space.
Bathroom cleaning hacks:
- Pour white vinegar down the sink and flush with hot water
- Clean faucets with disposable disinfecting wipes to avoid spreading germs
- Use dental floss to remove the grime from where the fixtures join the sink
Toilet
When we think of cleaning the bathroom, the most obvious task is to clean the toilet. With these tips, you can clean your toilet without too much bending.
Bathroom cleaning hacks:
- Clean the seat and handle with disposable disinfecting wipes
- Pour one cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl and brush
- Let the baking soda sit for about 30 minutes before flushing
Shower
Cleaning your shower can be a big job. It doesn’t just include the shower head, but also the tiles and grout on the walls and floor of the showering area. Fortunately there are a few tips and tricks to get great results without too much manual labor.
Bathroom cleaning hacks:
- Spray tiles with a cleaning spray and then turn on the shower until it steams
- After 20 minutes, wipe the tiles with a cloth
- Scrub stained grout with a toothbrush dipped in bleach, then rinse well
- Place your shower head in a bowl of white vinegar for a few hours
- Remove the shower head and rinse well
Bath
A soak in the bath is all the more satisfying after you have spring cleaned your bathtub. The best part is, these tips include only natural cleaning products.
Bathroom cleaning hacks:
- Spray the tub with a solution of 50% white vinegar, 50% warm water
- Apply a baking soda and white vinegar paste to stains
- Apply a borax and lemon juice mixture to rust stains
- Rinse the tub well after 30 minutes
Does your bath need more than a deep spring cleaning? There are a few options you can consider.
Reglazing: This is a great way to spruce up a relatively new bathtub with some scratches. A specialist will sand down the surface of your bathtub and fill in any cracks. They will then apply primer and paint before buffering. This process can only be done once, however, and can’t fix any significant issues.
Adding Bath Liners: Liners can improve the look of bathtubs that have large cracks and missing tiles. The style and shape of liners are limited, so you wouldn’t be able to line an old, free-standing bathtub or customize to your heart’s content. But be careful, because between the original bathtub and the liner is a known mold/mildew growth site.
Replacing Your Bathtub: Although it’s the most expensive option, replacing your bathtub is the best way to get exactly what you want for your home and lifestyle. That’s the ultimate fresh start!
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