It has happened to almost everyone. Someone drops by unexpectedly and the first thought that goes through your mind is, “Is the bathroom clean enough for company?” Almost all of us have been embarrassed by the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of our bathroom, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are a few tips to help keep your bathroom company-ready and sparkling clean every single day.
Five Tips to a Clean the Bathroom
1. Keep your bathroom sinks and counters clear. Cosmetics and supplies should ideally go in a drawer or cabinet. If you don’t have either, or there is just not enough space in them, put your health and beauty items in a basket or on a tray on the counter. It is much quicker to clean a sink or counter if you don’t have to move a dozen items out of the way first.
2. Keep cleaning supplies nearby. The best place is in a basket or bucket under the bathroom sink, but if that is impossible, find corner of the bathroom in which to tuck a small pail of supplies. Even on top of the toilet tank is an acceptable place to keep your supplies.
3. Your cleaning caddy should include: toilet cleaner, shower and tub cleaner, a scrub brush for the shower, paper towels, disinfecting wipes (if desired) glass cleaner and spray disinfectant cleaner for the sink and counters. These should be only for the bathroom. If you have to gather your supplies from all over the house, you will be less likely to clean as frequently as you ought to.
4. One reason people don’t clean as often as they should is that it can become a big, nasty, onerous task. However, if you clean it a bit every day, it never turns into a huge, disgusting chore. This daily cleaning should not take more than five minutes, but it will leave your bathroom sparkling for any unexpected visitors.
So every day, here is how you clean: First, pick up all the clutter from the bathroom. Put away the toothpaste, wring out the wet washcloths and hang up all the towels. Second, with a disinfectant wipe or damp paper towel, wipe down the sink, faucet handles, and counter. Third, using the same wipe or paper towel, swipe the toilet handle, the seat and the rim of the toilet. Toss the towel in the trash. Take another paper towel and spray a bit of glass cleaner on it. Wipe any smudges off of the mirror. Then wipe around the base of the toilet. Toss this towel in the trash. Change to a fresh hand towel at the sink.
5. Once a week, if there are two people using that bathroom or twice a week if there are more than two people using it, you will want to do a deep cleaning. Do all of the above in the five minute bathroom clean-up. Then, clean the inside of the toilet, with toilet cleaner. Wipe up all surfaces of the outside of the toilet. Change the bath towels to fresh ones. Scrub out the tub and shower area with the shower cleaner and scrub brush. The sink areas should already be cleaned from the 5-minute clean up. This deeper cleaning will likely not take more than 15 minutes altogether.
In just five minutes a day, anyone’s bathroom can stay spotless using this system. It is not complicated, but it does take a little bit of planning and the daily initiative to get it done. Never be horrified at the idea of surprise visitors again.