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Mold is Not a Vibe
It happened. You turned your back on the bathroom, and now your shower has its own ecosystem.
If your house is like mine, the bathroom is like a revolving door, and it can get nasty if left unchecked. Here’s how to keep it all under control.
Bathroom Basics
Some people have a tub only, some people have a shower only, and some people have both. For the sake of brevity, I’m just going to call the cleaning pod a tub.
In a perfect world, a bathroom is wiped down daily. However, life is life, and it is far from perfect.
If you have the time, try to wipe down the sink and toilet, and sweep the floor daily. Hang up the bath mat between uses so it can dry. Shower curtains and glass doors are easier to keep looking good with a little daily upkeep.
Because mildew is the main enemy of the shower liner, closing it after every shower so it can dry will help inhibit mildew growth. A daily shower spray or a spray with a 1:4 mix of vinegar and water will also go a long way in keeping the mildew growth to a minimum. Vinegar has a strong odor, but it will vanish over time.
Glass shower doors can be kept looking clean if a daily shower spray, vinegar spray, or a squeegee is used after each shower, especially if you have hard water. Otherwise, hard water deposits can cause a spotty haze or even permanent etching on your doors.
Deeper Cleaning
Aim to give your bathroom a good scrub down once a week. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Broom and dustpan or vacuum
- Cleaning cloths and/or sponges
- Paper towels
- Bathroom cleaner or all-purpose cleaner
- Glass cleaner
- Toilet bowl cleaner or toilet wand with disposable scrubbers
- Rubber gloves (optional)
First, a note about a viral cleaning trend making its rounds on social media:
DO NOT USE TOILET BOWL CLEANER ANYWHERE BUT INSIDE THE TOILET BOWL.
Although this is a popular suggestion to deal with grimy and rusty tubs, most toilet bowl cleaners contain hydrochloric acid. They can permanently damage the finish on your tub or the tile and grout in a shower enclosure.
If you own your home and insist, test a small area first to make sure it won’t damage your tub. Renting? Remember, you probably put down a security deposit that you’d like to get back.
Orange stains in tubs and sinks are often due to water with high iron content. To remove the stains, look for a cleaner specifically designed to remove rust, like Bar Keeper’s Friend, CLR, or Iron Out. I’ve also seen suggestions for a paste of lemon juice and baking soda. Because I don’t currently battle rust, I can’t verify if this works. Let me know how it goes if you decide to try it!
Where to Start
Clear any clutter: Remove anything that doesn’t belong and put bathroom items in their designated space. If you don’t know where something should go, put it in the first place you would look.
Sweep or vacuum the floor. Remove obstacles like rugs and the wastebasket. Be sure to get under baseboards and behind the door. Spot clean any spills or scuffs if you’re not doing a full mop.
Spray the tub with cleaner. Let it sit while you’re working on the sink and toilet.
Clean the bathroom mirror. You can use glass cleaner and paper towel or a damp microfiber cloth, followed by a dry cloth.
Wipe down the sink. Use a cleaning cloth or sponge and cleaner to wipe the surface, getting behind the faucet and around the drain plug. Dry the surface with a clean cloth.
Squirt toilet bowl cleaner into the bowl. Let it sit while you’re working on the tub. If you’re using a wand with a disposable scrubber, let it sit in the bowl to activate the cleaner.
Scrub down the tub: A sponge with a scrubby side works well on soap scum. If your cleaner has dried up a bit, you can spray more onto the surface of your tub. Because we have hard water, my glass shower doors still get hazy. To keep the minerals from etching the glass, I use Bioclean Hard Water Stain Remover to remove the spots that build up over the week. Rinse well with a shower sprayer or water cup.
Shower Liners: If you have a liner and it’s funky, you can clean it one of two ways:
- Throw it in the washing machine with a couple of towels. Don’t put it in the dryer; the vinyl will melt. Just hang it back up to dry.
- Spray with a 1:4 mix of vinegar and water. The vinegar will neutralize the mold.
Scrub the toilet. Use the brush or your toilet wand to clean the entire bowl, focusing on the upper rim and the flush valve (the hole through which water flows when you flush). If you have neither, glove up and use a clean cloth. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth or disinfecting wipe, then dry it with a clean, dry cloth.
Finish it off: Empty the trash, top off the toilet paper, and spot clean cabinets and cupboards. If the floor needs to be mopped, do that part last. Use old towels to mop up any water, sweep again if necessary, then mop.
Level Up
Clean out the medicine cabinet (Monthly): Toss expired products/medicines and empty containers. Remove everything to wipe down shelves, returning the items when complete.
Clean out cupboards and cabinets (Quarterly): Remove all items and thoroughly vacuum, wash, and dry shelves before replacing items. Remove expired items and things that can be donated.
That’s it for a clean bathroom. Good work!
Next Up: Laundry Lessons: A Complete Guide to Laundry
