....buuut....unfortunately most people do not. Most people (I'm sounding like such a nerd!) like to hop into the shower to wash/rinse and get out of the shower. And really, I don't blame them. We're all on a time crunch.
That's okay too. It's those that keep me in business! I realize not everyone is a neat freak like me.
There are plenty of good quick tips to help yourself, your housekeeper or whoevever is in charge of cleaning your bathroom, keep your bathroom clean or easier to clean when it comes time to give it a good scrub-down. It doesn't have to be expensive or too time consuming.
1. Keep a cheap dollar-store toilet brush tucked behind the toilet and every few days, after flushing, give the bowl a little swishy-swish so that there isn't a build-up of you-know-what. Keep some vinegar and/baking soda under the sink and toss a little bit of both into the bowl before swishing if you so desire. This way the bowl doesn't get smelly.
2. Keep some old rags and/or paper towel under the sink in a cheap basket as well as a spray bottle of half vinegar/half water and give your toilet (and behind the toilet ) a spritz of your cheap-as-heck cleaner and give it a quick wipe down every week or two. This way, all that hair (and I don't get how a toilet attracts hair like it does) won't be an eyesore and make you scrunch your face every time you look at your biffy pot.
3. Keep a little squeegee hanging or set on the floor in your shower and give the walls a swipe after each shower. This is more for the people who shower every single day. Seriously, it takes under 60 seconds to run that thing along your shower walls and shower floor and you or your house cleaner will thank you for not having to scrub soap scum off the walls. Besides, this also helps with mold and mildew and makes your shower last longer...A LOT longer. Bathrooms generally mold and rot and need renovation first above all other rooms in the house.
...another thing I see some people do is spray down their showers with shower spray that you can "spray and walk away".... Ummm...I'm not so sure if that really does anything. I see people that use it (or so they say) and there's still a nice layer of shampoo and soap on the walls when it comes time for me to deal with their bathroom.
4. With that basket of rags under your sink and your cheap cleaner, spray down your mirror and sink/counter and give a quick wipe down at least once a week. It only takes a few seconds and it doesn't have to be perfect.
5. AND please, please sweep or vacuum your bathroom floor sometimes! Nothing like going into a bathroom (of a house that gets cleaned regularly) and they clearly skip cleaning the bathroom floor. I guess some think it's a small floor and nobody will notice. Have you looked behind the door?? I think I saw a mouse...no wait...it's your body hair in the shape of a guinea pig! Aaaack! I almost fell off the pooper!
6. Use your bathroom fan. Have it running before you jump into the shower and let it run for at least 20 minutes after you're done in the shower. Also, leave your shower door ajar so it dries and moisture doesn't get trapped and eventually rot the moldings and/or frame of the shower stall. If you've got a shower curtain, close the curtain slightly after use so it doesn't have folds where moisture and mold like to grow. You can also throw the curtain and the liner into your washing machine every now and then with some detergent and bleach to help control mold. Every six months to a year, just buy a new curtain and liner if it's not cleanable anymore or if it's falling apart.
7. Have a place to hang wet towels.....over the side of the tub, the shower rod, the shower door...or install more towel rods or hooks. Also wash or change those bath and hand towels every week. Believe me when I tell you that they make the bathroom stink like moldy dog biscuits. Same with the mat in front of the shower.....hang it to dry please...or wipe yourself dry as you step out of the shower so there isn't a sloshy puddle on the floor or bath mat. The mat will stick to the floor because that's how it will dry day after day.
Simple cleaners, like I mentioned earlier, are a spray bottle with half water/half vinegar. You can squirt some dish soap in the bottle too. Or 1 part rubbing alcohol mixed with 3 parts water also with a squirt of dish soap. You can add essential oils to the mix if you're feeling a little crazy! These are cheap and easy to mix up AND you probably already have these items in your home--if not, pick them up at the dollar store or your grocery store the next time you're shopping.
To clean grout, I put CLR into a spray bottle and spray the area and rub with an old toothbrush or kitchen scrubby. You can also dip a toothbrush into baking soda, spray with vinegar and scrub away. It takes some time but if you do it regularly it should only take a minute or two to catch all those black or brown spots in your grout.
With our busy lives we don't take care of our homes like Grandma and Grandpa used to. I get that. But I do believe that we need to take a few minutes and take care of these things sometimes. Our health and money rely on cleaning our living spaces.
Do you want to know how many homes my husband and I looked at when we were searching for a new(er) house, that looked beautiful at first glance but then we noticed rotting bathroom baseboards? Or a soft spot in the floor in front of the shower? Or a water stain on the ceiling? We knew that it was gonna cost us more money right out of the gate!
I'm no cleaning guru so if you have any other tips, let me know!
