Cleaning the bathroom can feel like, at times, the surliest of all chores — especially when it comes to tackling soap scum, mould or the plethora of things that can go wrong with the shower or toilet.
But it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom.
Here are some simple tips and hacks that will have your bathroom looking like it was professionally-cleaned without having to spend hours scrubbing, or break the bank.
When it comes to getting the bathroom sparkling, the one thing we all ask is: 'How quickly can I get this done?'
Unfortunately, with bathrooms being the ultimate bacteria host — E. coli, for example, can be found within 1.8 metres of the toilet and in the sink — there really is no shortcut. It just comes down to timing.
The good news is you don't need to deep clean your bathroom every week.
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It's recommended to disinfect your toilet and shower weekly, and the bathtub fortnightly. If you have shower curtains, aim to disinfect them every week to avoid mildew, which can cause irritation in the skin, eyes and throat for some people.
Alongside this, aim to swap out your bath towels and mats every other day — they become loaded with staph and faecal bacteria (to name a few) and, if your bathroom doesn't have a fan or allow for towels to fully dry between uses, these bacteria can grow alongside any fungi or mildew associated with dampness.
A key to cleaning your bathroom quickly when you do have to sanitise everything is to stay on top of small things throughout the week.
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If you keep your shower dry in between uses and wipe down the counters every few days, all you'll need to do is clean the toilet, floor and sink on your scheduled cleaning day (as well as giving the others a quick once-over).
If worse comes to worst, remember: a dry shower is a clean shower and a squeegee is a man's best friend.
There is no one miracle product, but keeping vinegar, bleach and baking soda in your cleaning kit are definitely essentials.
A high-quality all-purpose cleaner can be used for more than just bathroom counters, which means you don't need to buy as many cleaning products when you do your weekly grocery shop. Glass and surface cleaner is also very versatile.
White vinegar is a natural disinfectant that is cheap and can effectively clean surfaces that are full of germs and bacteria. Whether it's clearing clogged drains, sanitising surfaces or banishing soap scum, this pantry staple can be used in almost every room in the house — even for mopping floors.
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Bleach is a triple threat essential, particularly for the toilet as it gets rid of germs and odours and brighten surfaces.
Another must-have is baking soda, which can be used to polish and scrub stained or dull surfaces, like your bathroom tap. Additionally, it can be sprinkled on the bottom of garbage cans to act as a deodoriser and soak up bad smells.
When it comes to using chemicals, make sure you're using these products in a well ventilated area, and wear gloves and a mask to protect yourself.
Getting a professional-level clean at a fraction of the cost is, quite frankly, the best of both worlds — but it does take time and a bit of elbow grease if you don't know what you're doing.
Here's how to deep clean your bathroom efficiently and effectively.
To maximise your time, first be sure to remove all items in your bathroom, including towels, hand soap, toilet paper and bins, from their usual spot instead of as you go. This gives you a blank canvas to work off.
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Next, dust corners, vents and light fixtures and then sweep or vacuum the floors, being sure to pick up any hair or other debris.
Apply an acid-based cleaner to your shower and bathtub if you have a lot of build-up, otherwise an all-purpose cleaner will do if you clean it regularly. Let it soak as you tackle other surfaces with either the acid-based cleaner or all-purpose cleaner and microfibre cloths or sponges, including towel racks, shelves, baseboards, doors, blinds and windowsills.
The best technique is to work in sections, going from top to bottom and left to right.
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With warm water, fill a bucket and mix in your chosen cleaning solution for the floor. Let that sit as you lightly scrub build-up and loose dirt from your shower and bathtub with your microfibre cloth or sponge. Make sure you wipe all floors, walls and other surfaces before rinsing with water.
After rinsing, replace all items you removed from your shower and bathtub, wiping them down as you go, then close the shower door (or shower curtain). Be sure to spray and wipe down your shower door and any glass surfaces — including mirrors — with glass cleaner.
The next stage is to clean your vanity areas by wiping down the sink, taps and counters with all-purpose spray and wipe and a clean cloth.
For those that may have build-up surrounding the sink or any soap dish, use a harder sponge to loosen it before wiping it clean. Cabinet surfaces can have their dust removed with a water-dampened cloth.
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This next step completely depends on how often you clean your toilet. If you regularly scrub the inside of your toilet, then using all-purpose cleaner should be fine. But, like with your shower and bathtub, if you don't and build up does exist, then use a toilet-specific cleaner before scrubbing with a toilet brush before flushing the toilet.
For the outside of the toilet, spray with all-purpose cleaner then wipe with a clean cloth.
Finish your bathroom deep clean off by mopping the floor and replacing your bin and towels.
Everyone knows that when it comes to cleaning your shower, soap scum, grout grime and cloudy surfaces are the go-to jobs — but, if you have a glass shower door, there may be a spot you've been missing.
Don't neglect the plastic strip on the bottom of your glass door, which can grow mould and become home to germs. Take the strip off and wipe it down when you notice it getting a bit grubby.
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Another hack for when you may have run out of glass cleaner is to brew some black tea and spray it cold on mirrored surfaces like windows and shower screens for a streak-free result.
One of the easiest hacks is to fill a dish scrubber with vinegar and dishwashing liquid and wipe down after every use. Doing this often means you'll avoid having to deep clean the shower as often.
If you're pressed for a solution for getting rid of persistent bathroom grout, try mixing a Domestos-like product and baking soda into a paste and applying to the grout (and soap scum) with a toothbrush — it's so strong you may not even need to leave it on for that long before brushing it off.
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Of course, you can also simply pour toilet cleaner on the grout and let it sit for a few minutes before getting down on your hands and knees and scrubbing to lift the dirt off.
The best thing about being able to use vinegar and baking soda to clean your bathroom is, aside from the fact that they are not harsh chemicals, they are probably sitting in your pantry.
Aside from the grout paste and vinegar dish scrubber hacks, if you have a hankering for using vinegar and feel like being productive while you're snoozing away, tie a sandwich bag full of vinegar around your shower head and secure it with an elastic band.
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Leave it overnight to get rid of the watermark build up on the nozzle. In the morning, all you need to do is wipe off the residue.
Baking soda is also an eco-friendly drain cleaner, which can clear clogs without polluting the water system with harsh chemicals.