Spring Cleaning Your Bathroom: Tips and Advice
When that winter snow finally melts away and the mercury rises, one of the best ways to welcome the warmer weather and sunny days is spring cleaning. Many people dread the annual clean-up chores, but if you approach spring cleaning as an opportunity to banish the winter blues and make a fresh clean start, it can actually be somewhat enjoyable and rewarding.
While cleaning the living room and bedrooms generally requires a little more than a good dusting and changing out the linens, cleaning the bathroom is a bigger chore. With a good plan and the right tools, the job will go quickly and easily, and soon you’ll be enjoying your fresh, sparkling clean bath.
Gather the Right Supplies
Start by assembling a cleaning kit so you’ll have everything you need to tackle the bathroom. Fill a basket or bucket with cleaner, paper towels, sponges and gloves. You’ll also need garbage bags and containers to hold items you want to donate or store, as well as a broom, mop and dustpan. A new toilet brush will also help get the commode sparkling clean.
You can save money and protect the environment at the same time by making your own cleaning supplies at home with products already on hand. A mixture of white vinegar and water will clean most surfaces effectively. If you want to disinfect surfaces, use bleach. Make your own disposable cleaning wipes by soaking half a roll of paper towels in a plastic container filled with a quarter cup of vinegar or cleaner and half a cup of water.
Start With a Purge
The expired medication. The half-used tube of cellulite cream that didn’t work. The misguided lipstick purchase. Most bathrooms are a graveyard of unwanted or unnecessary items like these, and the first place to start a spring cleaning project is by getting rid of all the extra stuff that is not used and unnecessary to keep. Safely dispose of medications — some communities offer prescription collection sites — and toss anything that is old, dried up or simply not going to be used again. If you have unopened items that you don’t plan to use, donate them to a local homeless shelter.
Don’t forget to inspect your towels and other linens in the bathroom as well. Invest in a new set of towels if your old ones are thin, unraveling or dingy.
Sweep and Scrub
Once you’ve gotten rid of the excess stuff in your bath, the next step is to tackle the cleaning. If you have a build-up of soap scum, mold or mildew in the shower or tub, apply a cleaning product to help get rid of it while you tackle other areas of the bathroom. Those products often require a soaking period to work effectively. Toss the shower curtain and bathroom rugs into the wash as well to get rid of dirt and odors.
Start at the top of the room, removing any cobwebs or dust accumulation in the corners. Wipe down the walls with a damp sponge to remove dust and grime. You may need to scrub some areas, like light switches and the areas around towel bars and the toilet paper holder to remove dirt and germs. Sweep the floor to get rid of dust and debris, paying close attention to the areas behind the toilet, along the vanity and under heaters.
Once you’ve cleaned the walls, clean the other surfaces in the room. Use a soft bristle brush to scrub around the base of the toilet and edges of the sink, as well as the tub and shower. If you have special tile or other surfaces, follow the instructions for cleaning those surfaces to avoid damage.
When everything is clean, mop the floor using an appropriate cleaner. Replace the shower curtain liner if necessary, re-hang the curtain and replace the rugs, and sit back, relax and enjoy your fresh, clean bathroom.
Spring cleaning is an ideal time to make any small changes to your bathroom, like replacing lighting or fixtures, or changing the paint. Even a small change, like new sconces or a new faucet, can make a room feel brand new, so explore your options. You might just find that spring cleaning is something to look forward to every year.
About the Author: Lindsay Bowden is an organizational expert who has helped hundreds of clients reclaim their homes from clutter. She helps them navigate sites like Decor Planet to find attractive and functional organizational solutions.
