CLEANING THE BATHROOM is nobody’s idea of a good time, and sometimes we can end up putting it off for way too long. 

While it may feel good to procrastinate, not cleaning the bathroom will only lead to an even harder job in the long run, so you might as well get in there and get through it in the most efficient way possible.

You can’t ignore the bathroom if you want to make sure your home always feels comfortable and clean. In this week’s Taskmaster, we’re looking at what you can do to stay on top of cleaning your bathroom, all while keeping stress to a minimum. 

Bathroom early, bathroom often

One of the big mistakes we make with cleaning the bathroom is avoiding doing a proper clean on it until the job has become almost insurmountable. You’ll find that if you clean your bathroom once a week, many of the problems associated with the task will be significantly less intense. 

There will be fewer odours to deal with, less cleaning to do, less rubbish to clear out and cleaning the bathroom will suddenly feel like little more than a regular chore. 

Cleaning the bathroom regularly will also make it more of a habit, and make it seem less like a task that you dread and put off.

Take everything off the surfaces

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Leaving items on surfaces is a surefire way to make sure that you don’t actually do any proper cleaning. If you leave your surfaces covered by shampoo bottles, mirrors, make-up bags, toothpaste, and whatever else is cluttering up your bathroom, then there will be a number of spots that you won’t get to.

Once you’ve got all your surfaces clear — the window ledge, the cistern, the sink, and any shelves in the bath or shower — spray them down with multipurpose cleaner and wipe them clean with a microfiber cloth. 

Clearing the surfaces is also a great way to declutter, as it will help you take stock of whether certain products are empty or unnecessary. As a preventative measure, it’s best to keep your bathroom as free from clutter as possible. 

Deep clean the toilet

There is simply no way around it. A toilet in a family home requires regular deep cleaning, and for this job more than most you need to make sure you have the right equipment at your disposal. First and foremost, rubber gloves are absolutely essential. Using a proper toilet cleaner, apply a generous amount to the inside of the toilet bowl, letting it sit for five-ten minutes before going at it with a toilet brush. 

Once you’re done, flush the toilet to clear away any further build-up, spray and wipe down the outside of the toilet with disinfectant and a disposable cloth then wash your hands like crazy and get the hell out of there. 

When cleaning the floor, make sure to also spray the area at the base of the toilet with disinfectant. 

Bath and shower

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One preventative measure you can take is keeping a squeegee hooked onto the wall of your shower so you can wipe down any glass surfaces in your bath/shower and avoid hard water stains. 

If you haven’t cleaned your bath or shower in a while, there may be some build-up of debris that you’ll need to get rid of. Fill a bucket with very hot water and use commercial cleaners or home solutions like vinegar or baking soda to scrub the bathtub or the floor of your shower.

Avoid using harsh solutions like bleach, ammonia, and other powerful chemicals, which cause fumes and lead to the irritation of the skin or eyes. Cleaning the bathroom often will reduce the need for the more severe products.