Keeping a clean house is a challenge that almost every homeowner deals with. At times, it can even feel overwhelming and impractical. And if there’s one room that’s especially frustrating, it’s the bathroom.
Bathrooms have a way of getting filthy fast. If you wait until things get super messy, you’ll quickly become discouraged and lose all motivation to take action. But you don’t have to let things spiral out of control. (Nor should you willingly let it happen.)
With the following carefully implemented tips, habits, and routines, you can keep your bathroom clean. As a result, you’ll spend less time ruminating over the grime and more time relaxing in your own personal spa.
1. Kiss Moisture Goodbye
Moisture is your worst nightmare. It’s one of the reasons why bathrooms become so filthy so fast. Want to keep your bathroom clean? Find ways to fight and remove moisture, such as:
· Keep a squeegee in your shower and wipe down shower doors and walls each time you finish using it. By removing excess moisture, you give mildew less to work with. This won’t prevent mildew altogether, but it will significantly delay growth.
· Try opening up a window and/or turning on the fan while showering. This helps the majority of the moisture escape, as opposed to clinging to walls, ceilings, mirrors, etc.
· Don’t have windows in your bathroom? Consider running a dehumidifier to suck moisture out of the air.
· Don’t leave shower curtains bunched up. Always spread them out so that moisture doesn’t become trapped in the folds and creases.
If you do these three things, you’ll find that you have much less to clean over time. (Your bathroom will also feel and smell cleaner.)
2. Keep Cleaning Supplies Close By
Most people fail to clean their bathroom frequently enough because of a lack of convenience. You can remove this point of friction by keeping cleaning supplies on hand at all times.
Preferably, cleaning supplies should be kept in a bathroom linen closet or underneath the sink. When you have them within reach, cleaning requires a lot less effort. You just reach into the cabinet, pull out the supplies, and get to work. (Contrast this with having to walk downstairs and sort through a bucket of cleaning supplies in the back of the laundry room.)
3. Be Smart With Bathroom Habits
Identify your two or three biggest sources of bathroom messes and neutralize them. You’d be surprised how much this improves your overall cleanliness and eliminates the need for regular cleaning.
For example, is shaving a big problem? Do you leave whiskers all over the counter and end up with a sink that doesn’t drain well? By improving your shaving habits, you can avoid clogging the drain and spend less time cleaning up after yourself.
4. Invest in Better Storage
Bathroom organization is a serious problem for many homeowners. Not only do you need to increase your storage capacity, but you need to be smarter about how you utilize storage space.
Rather than just throwing everything into the drawers and cabinets of your bathroom vanity, add shelving, storage totes, and drawer organizers. Inside the shower, use hooks and shelves to organize soap, shampoo, conditioner, scrubbers, etc. Everything should have a home!
5. Take 5 Minutes Daily
It doesn’t take a lot to keep your bathroom clean – if you’re consistent. Spend five minutes per day – preferably immediately after you finish your morning routine – and give all surfaces a quick clean. This includes the shower/tub, toilet, sink, floors, and other areas that see regular, daily use. That’s all it takes!
6. Do a Monthly Deep Clean
If you’re good about doing a five-minute daily clean, very little mess will accumulate over time. In fact, you can get away with only doing a deep clean every month or so. (And in most cases, this deep clean won’t require much elbow grease.)
Take Charge of Your Bathroom
Don’t let your bathroom become a pit of muck and mire. By implementing a regular cleaning routine, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing at least part of your house is under control. The next step is to roll this momentum into the other rooms of your home – like your bedroom, kitchen, and living areas.
