Your Ultimate Guide to Bathroom Cleaning: A Streamlined Approach
When it comes to household chores, cleaning the bathroom is often seen as one of the most daunting tasks. However, I have to admit, it’s become my favorite! There’s something oddly satisfying about scrubbing away soap scum, wielding a fancy toilet brush, and even tackling the toothpaste residue that resembles buttermints in the sink. (Apologies if I just ruined those for you!) Living with guys certainly adds a unique twist to this endeavor, as you might expect. But let’s be real: if there were a magic button for the bathroom to clean itself, I would be the first to hit that button multiple times! Until then, we must tackle this task manually—whether we like it or not.
To make cleaning chores—and any other less-than-desirable tasks—more manageable, establishing a solid schedule and system is essential. Trust me on this one! Today, I’m excited to share my cleaning system with you. No one should have to spend more time than necessary scrubbing toilets and sinks, right? It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
After years of trial and error, I’ve honed my cleaning process into something easy, efficient, and quick. In fact, I can typically clean a bathroom in under 10 minutes! To make your life even easier, I’ve created a printable bathroom cleaning checklist that you can keep in each bathroom as a handy reminder. This checklist is also perfect for teaching others in your home how to clean—especially that teenager who claims to be bored all the time!
To access the checklist and all the cleaning recipes featured in this post, along with many other useful resources, check out the FREE Resource Library. Simply sign up, and the password will be on its way to your inbox!
Before diving into the cleaning, take a moment to go through your cabinets, drawers, and medicine cabinet to purge expired products, duplicates, and items that can be stored elsewhere. If you’re looking for budget-friendly ideas to spruce up and organize your drawers, don’t miss my post on organizing kitchen drawers—these tips work wonders in the bathroom as well.
Let’s Supercharge Your Bathroom Cleaning Routine!
Clear Your Bathroom Counters
This is a simple yet effective step to make your bathroom cleaning process easier right from the start. Before establishing any cleaning schedule, take a moment to remove everything from your bathroom counters that isn’t absolutely necessary—and keep it that way! This is especially important during cold and flu season when germs are more prevalent. A clear countertop not only simplifies cleaning but also rewards you with an uncluttered and organized bathroom space.
Set Up a Cleaning Schedule
Now that your surfaces are clear of unnecessary clutter, designate a specific day of the week as your bathroom cleaning day. I find it helpful to assign a theme to each day (e.g., cleaning bathrooms on Monday, bedrooms on Tuesday, etc.). This approach eliminates guesswork and makes keeping up with household chores much simpler. You’ll be surprised at how effective a set schedule can be in reducing stress!
Designating specific days for specific tasks can be a game-changer. It allows you to organize your days with greater efficiency, ultimately making life less stressful. Miss a week? Don’t be hard on yourself; it’s easy to pick up where you left off!
Keep All Your Bathroom Cleaning Supplies Handy in a Caddy
A well-stocked cleaning caddy is a lifesaver for various household cleaning jobs. While it’s particularly useful in the bathroom, it can be effective throughout your entire home. When setting up your cleaning caddy, ensure it’s just the right size to hold all your supplies comfortably—not too big, not too small. It should be tall enough to prevent bottles from falling out while you’re moving around.
You might consider using a small plastic bucket or a sturdy plastic basket with compartments. Always shop your house first; you may already have the perfect container on hand! Whether you opt for a caddy with compartments or not is up to you. Plastic is easy to clean, while metal baskets may rust over time.
All of my cleaners, sanitizers, and air-freshening sprays are homemade. Why spend money on expensive cleaners that may contain questionable chemicals when making your own is so simple? Plus, if you run out, it’s incredibly easy to whip up a new batch!
What’s in my basket? Non-toxic cleaning is a priority for me, and that reflects my choices for cleaning supplies. These homemade cleaners are gentle on the budget, the environment, and your lungs! You can find the recipes for my favorite homemade cleaners, along with printable labels, in the FREE Resource Library.
- Thieves cleaner or homemade toilet cleaner
- Homemade glass/all-purpose cleaner
- Homemade sanitizer spray
- Baking soda
- Microfiber cloths
Additionally, don’t forget a broom and dustpan!
A Simple Bathroom Cleaning System
A well-thought-out sequence of steps is crucial for making this system effective. Always work from top to bottom and from cleanest to dirtiest. After refining my system over time, here’s what I’ve found works best:
- Gather all towels and washcloths, and toss them in the wash.
- Clear the countertops.
- Spray the mirror with glass cleaner.
- Spray the sink, counter, toilet seat and lid, as well as the bathtub and/or shower with sanitizer spray. (Letting both the glass cleaner and sanitizer spray sit for a couple of minutes makes the job much easier.)
- Use either 1 cap of Thieves cleaner (a little goes a long way) and sprinkle baking soda in the bowl to follow or your homemade toilet cleaner of choice—let sit.
- Wipe the mirror(s) with a designated microfiber lint-free glass cleaning cloth.
- Wipe the vanity, sink, and tub with a different microfiber cloth.
- Scrub the toilet bowl, including the top rim. Wipe the rim and other porcelain parts with toilet paper, discard in the toilet, and flush. Wipe the seat and lid with a designated microfiber cloth.
- Sweep the floor, empty the dustpan in the trash, and empty the trash can.
- Steam clean or mop the floor.
Helpful Tips: Remove and toss all of your towels and washcloths in the wash before you begin. Hang them back up in your freshly cleaned bathroom once they’re done. Wipe vertical surfaces, like mirrors and shower walls, from top to bottom in an “S” motion to avoid going over clean areas with a dirty cloth. Write the ingredients for homemade cleaner and disinfectant sprays on the labels of the bottles, so you’ll always have the recipe handy when you need to make more. Keep baking soda in a container that allows you to sprinkle it on; a Parmesan cheese dispenser works wonderfully. Alternatively, you can use a clean jar with holes poked in the lid. I use one of my trusty ball jelly jars.
Why Microfiber?
Each component of my bathroom cleaning system was chosen for its safety, ease of use, and effectiveness. I used to prefer cotton cloths for cleaning, but have recently transitioned to microfiber. Why? Microfiber cloths outperform cotton ones in every way when it comes to cleaning. Thanks to their unique fiber structure, they excel at picking up microbes and all kinds of other “cooties” (yes, that’s a scientific term!). They also require significantly less water and cleaning solution. Moreover, since they come in various colors, you can easily assign a specific color for each cleaning task, such as red for the dirtiest areas, green for sinks, and blue for mirrors. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which colors you choose, as long as you maintain consistency.
I prefer a slightly larger cloth and have chosen microfiber kitchen towels for that reason. You can find them at your local dollar store or Walmart. While glass spray bottles aren’t strictly necessary, they do work best for storage; just keep in mind that lemon essential oils can break down plastic over time. Glass bottles come in various sizes and colors, and I prefer ones that hold just over 2 cups for easy portability. Plus, they look quite nice, don’t you think? To save money, you can repurpose glass distilled vinegar bottles or similar ones and add a spray trigger from a dollar store bottle.
In between deep cleanings, give sinks and mirrors a quick wipe-down daily or as needed. I’ve been using this system for nearly a year, and it has transformed this once-dreaded chore into a breeze. It’s efficient, effective, and eliminates running out of cleaners, unpleasant chemical odors, and unnecessary waste!
If you’re interested in moving away from toxic chemicals in your home but don’t know where to start, I hope this post inspires you to make the switch to easier and more affordable cleaning solutions. Don’t forget to grab your copy of my handy printable sheet with all my favorite and super easy cleaner recipes in the FREE Resource Library! For more information on where to find high-quality essential oils, check out the essential oil buying guide.
More Helpful Cleaning Tips and Recipes
How to Make Homemade Citrus Cleaner for Pennies
DIY Cleaning Recipes You Will Want to Make
How to Clean a Thermal Coffee Pot the Easy Way
How to Make Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer Spray
While you still have to clean using this system (sorry!), I believe that it will significantly simplify your life. Following the same steps every time you clean will reduce the time you spend scrubbing and take the dread out of this often-unpleasant chore. I’d love to hear how it works for you! Have you ever tried a cleaning schedule? Do you have any helpful hints or tips that have made your life easier? Share your thoughts in the comment section! And why not join our community on TheWittyGrittyLife Facebook group? Feel free to follow me on Instagram for an authentic glimpse into daily life. Until next time!
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