Bathroom Cleaning 101: What you Need, What to Use and How to Use It

Heather says:

Thursdays mean clean bathrooms here on Home-Ec 101. Don’t believe me? Please check out the printable weekly chore chart or look at the every popular sticky note right there ↑. (If you’re reading this via the Home-Ec 101 Newsletter, well you’ll just have to click through to the site to see what I’m talking about.)

What if you’re a Home-Ec n00b? Don’t be ashamed, we all start somewhere and not everyone’s parental units taught them basic life skills like cleaning toilets.

It’s okay, it’s what keeps me employed*. (Parents, don’t teach your kids anything, I’d like to be useful for the NEXT generation, too.) I kid, please teach your kids to clean. . . Please? If for no other reason to get a break from doing it yourself for a few precious years. As my own kids slowly begin taking over chores, I’m beginning to think that’s what empty nesters actually miss, the ability to cajole, bribe, or sometimes even just ask someone else to take over the chores we hate.

Today we’re going through a bathroom cleaning how-to. (Would anyone like this in video format? I can probably pull that off now)

Remember how to clean like a professional?

Say it with me: Top to bottom, left to right, dry to wet.

Before you choose your bathroom chemicals, I’d like to point you in the direction of the Home-Ec 101 Guide to Household Chemicals (I got rid of the ones you probably wouldn’t even think about using in the bathroom) DO NOT MIX BLEACH with anything. Got it?

How to Use Chlorine Bleach Safely
How to Use Rubbing Alcohol Safely
Hydrogen Peroxide and Oxygen Bleach (You’ll probably only use this stained grout)
Is Synthetic or Distilled Vinegar the Same as Cider Vinegar for Cleaning?
Is Vinegar a Safe Alternative for Chlorine Bleach
Use Caution with Homemade Cleaning Solutions and NEVER Mix Bleach and Vinegar
How to Use Bar Keepers Friend
What is Sodium Percarbonate (back to the grout)

So, let’s gather our bathroom cleaning supplies (this is for a heavy duty, deep clean, you don’t need ALL of these items every time, keep what you use daily in the bathroom if possible)

Broom (if the exhaust fan is dusty, you may want a foxtail or whisk broom and step ladder, or grab an old pillow case and put that over the broom straw)
Vacuum preferably with a soft bristled brush
Rags
Paper Towels or coffee filters or newspaper -for the mirror / window
Bucket
Mop
Grout Brush -if you have tile
Acid Based All-Purpose Cleaner
Bar Keepers Friend -not for use on acrylic
Q-Tips
Squeegee -optional
Window Cleaner
Carnuba Wax – optional
Fan -if there isn’t a window / exhaust fan… bathroom cleaning should always be done in a well-ventilated situation.

Take a deep breath (always a good idea BEFORE going into the bathroom), load up your playlist -I swear I’m going to get the Home-Ec 101 Cleaning Playlist done one of these days, until then, here’s my “fun list” on Spotify, yes, I like Glee to an embarrassing degree, we all have our dirty little secrets.

Now open the bathroom door all the way and then open the window or turn on the exhaust fan.

I clean a lot of bathrooms – three at home and six at work. Thankfully my kids generally aren’t as nasty as drunken men, but sometimes. . .

Clear the room. Put all of the items on the vanity or counter somewhere else. Take any rugs that need to be washed the laundry, unless you tend to clean down the rabbit trail and in that case, just ditch them outside the door. Do the same for any hanging towels. Don’t forget to clear out the “library materials,” too.

Start at the top.

Put the pillow case over the broom straw and knock down any cobwebs. Grab your foxtail or the vacuum with the soft bristle attachment and vacuum the exhaust fan.

Wipe the light fixtures with a rag, if they are particularly gross, run them through the dishwasher or use glass cleaner applied to the towel, not sprayed onto the fixture to clean the globes and all purpose cleaner to clean the fixture itself. Accidentally break a light bulb off in the socket? We can help. Replace any burnt out bulbs while you’re in there, unless that would make your ADD go into high gear, yes, I’m looking at you,