Easy Bathroom Cleaning Tips

While bathroom cleaning might seem like a big, time-intensive job, it doesn't have to be. With these easy bathroom cleaning tips, daily buffing will take less time than brushing your teeth.

Generally, every surface in your bathroom, except the mirror(s), can be cleaned with a single disinfectant cleaner. 
These easy bathroom cleaning tips will have you in and out in minutes rather than hours.

Essential Bathroom Cleaning Supplies

Disinfecting wipes stashed under the sink is the perfect way to clean almost any surface in this busy room quickly. 

Between cleanings, you can keep the bathroom smelling fresh by placing a scented fabric softener sheet in the wastepaper basket. Or, put a dab of fragrance on a lightbulb. When the light is on, the heat releases the fresh scent.

Before you start cleaning, gather your arsenal of bathroom cleaning supplies. (These products should all be naturally stored out of little hands' reach.)

• Tub of disposable disinfecting wipes

• Tub of disposable glass and window wipes for mirrors and fixtures
  

• Ready-mop with disposable wet floor wipes

• All-purpose nonabrasive cleaner

• Scrub brush with a good grip for scouring tub and tile

• Household squeegee (hung in the shower)
  

• Toilet brush with caddy (choose an enclosed caddy that you can fill with an all-purpose cleaning solution to keep the brush fresh)

Now, we'll cover each bathroom area in detail: the sink, tub, shower, and toilet areas. 

Easy Bathroom Cleaning Tips for the Sink Area

To keep your sink area cleaner and reduce soap slime, use liquid soap in a pump instead of bar soap. Wipe the sink down several times a day. In fact, if you use the sink, wipe it clean before leaving—every time.

Similarly, after applying makeup or brushing your teeth, use a tissue or your hand and running water to remove any traces of your presence.

This includes hair, girls. I wipe it with a sink-side tissue. Then, it goes into the trash. Ditto for counter surfaces.

Each week, disinfect the sink, counter, light switches, and doorknobs with a disinfectant cleaner; wipe clean and shine mirrors and chrome fixtures with a glass cleaner; and empty and wipe wastebaskets clean with a disinfecting wipe.

Use a disposable wet mop cloth to keep bathroom floors clean and hair—and dirt-free. Several include disinfectants, which are a good choice for this room.

Keep the package under the sink, and at day's end, wipe up tracked-in dirt so tomorrow's shower will have you emerging on an (almost) squeaky clean floor. 

Easy Bathroom Cleaning Tips for Tubs and Showers

To keep your tub clean, rinse it out after each bath. After the bath water drains, swish around some fresh water to loosen and remove any soil or soap residue.

Take a minute to squeeze water out of the washcloth and hang it on the tub spout or a bathroom hook. Deep cleaning is a must weekly, and it includes disinfecting the toilet, tub, shower, sinks, and drains. 

One trick I used to make toilet disinfecting a more frequent but much less cumbersome chore is to use an enclosed toilet brush caddy that I fill with water and a half-cup of bleach and place beside the toilet.

That way, I can swoosh the bowl with a disinfected brush daily.

I choose cleaners based on how well—and quickly—they work. Bleach is an absolute must-have for weekly potty-room disinfecting, so bleach-containing toilet and tub/shower cleaners are my top choice.

My faves include Disinfecting Wipes for cleaning sinks, light switches, handles, knobs, and countertops; Clorox or Swiffer brand (type) ready-mop products that you just put the mop/wipe on and then toss; and Soft Scrub with bleach for disinfecting and cleaning tub, shower, and all bath tile.

Here's the easiest way to keep your shower area clean: Squeegee shower surfaces before toweling off. It takes just 30 seconds to wipe away soap or shampoo.

Scour the tiles and grout around your shower each week to prevent mold and mildew. Also, remember to clean your shower curtain.

Send washable curtains and liner to the washing machine for a spin with bleach to remove mold and mildew.

Before rehanging:

1. Soak in a salt-water solution to prevent mildew—clean plastic with a laundry pre-wash spray.
2. Spray along the top, letting it run down to cover the curtain.
   
3. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then rinse.
   

Easy Bathroom Cleaning Tips for Toilets

Bathroom cleaning tips for toilets: To keep your bowl clean, pour a half-cup or so of bleach into the potty each morning or evening and let it sit. 

This will help keep harmful germs in check. (Never combine bleach with a toilet bowl cleaner! The two combined release dangerous fumes.)

And, of course, store your bleach out of the reach of little hands. If you have pets, ensure the lid is down to avoid accidents.

Also, wipe the toilet seat and rim daily with a disposable disinfecting wipe. And always put down the toilet lid before flushing. 

Besides being much more pleasant to look at, a closed potty, when flushed, doesn't send stirred-up, ahem, unpleasantries spiraling into the air where they can land on your sink, counter, or toothbrush. Ugh.

Vacuum or sweep the floor. Then, mop the floor clean. Empty the trash can and take the bag with you as you go. These easy bathroom cleaning tips will have you in and out in (almost) no time.