Bathroom Maintenance

Do you ever look at your toothbrush head and ask yourself, “When did I change this last?” This is a situation that happens all too often. We ponder if we are getting the best use out of our toothbrush and then we question ourselves on other items in the bathroom: wash items (such as back scrubber and loofahs), makeup brushes and then you look up at the exhaust fan - gross, when was that cleaned last? Do you have a little one that frequently bathes with bathtub toys? Have you cleaned those lately?

Another situation that is all too familiar is that bathroom sink not draining properly. And is there ever a good time for this to happen? No. I always say that time is money, right? If you have time on your hands to stop your busy schedule and unclog a drain, then more power to you.

There is much more to maintaining a bathroom than the weekly cleaning. The bathroom is used daily and can be considered a harsh environment considering your needs. Use these ideas to keep your bathroom in top condition and add the items to your calendar accordingly.

Bathrooms should be cleaned hygienically once a week. If you have a space close by to keep bathroom cleaners, you will be more inclined to use them. These times are a guideline for you to use. The number of people and usage involved will increase the need for possible maintenance. This is roughly the calendar that fits my needs, adjust yours according to your needs.

Weekly

Shower Doors should be cleaned with a vinegar and water solution once a week. Place equal parts of this solution in a spray bottle and generously spray on the shower door. Use a squeegee to clean off the solution and, if needed, wipe off any additional solution with a lint free towel.

Bath Towels should be washed after 2-3 uses or more frequently, if you desire. These should be hung to dry completely before placing them in a laundry basket or pile for washing. It is not the best idea to air dry towels as their job is to hold water. Dry these on medium high heat until thoroughly dried. Washcloths should be washed after each use. Hang them to dry and collect throughout the week to place in a wash load. It is not advisable to use any kind of fabric softener with towels or washcloths as this product will inhibit their ability to efficiently hold water.

Vacuum Bath Mat, remove to mop the floor underneath.

The Toilet should be cleaned weekly. If you desire a bit more attention to this part of your bathroom, consider using toilet bombs during the week. Mix the following: 1 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 c citric acid powder. After this is thoroughly mixed add 20 drops of peppermint essential oil. Mix well. Mist spray water sparingly until the powder is moistened and sticks together. Pack these in a mold and let dry overnight. Gently remove them from the molds and store them in a sealable container. When using these, place the bombs in the toilet, allow to sit for 5-10 minutes and then flush. And please, please use the lid of the toilet when you flush. It is there for a reason.

Take a note if you have water that seems to be leaking around the base of the toilet. This could be a sign of a broken seal and can become a larger problem if not taken care of. You can research and possibly do this repair on your own. If you are not comfortable with this type of a job, do not hesitate to contact a plumber.

Every Two Weeks

I have a Bath Robe that I use after I shower. It is white which allows me to wash in hot water with some bleach.

Monthly

If you use a Shower Liner, consider getting a fabric one. The fabric ones are only a few more dollars and will last literally forever. The great thing about the fabric liner, is that you can wash it in the washer in hot water (with bleach if it is white) and hang it back up to dry. Doing this frequently keeps from mold and mildew from building up. You won’t have to be concerned about the soap film build up either!

It should go without saying that your bathroom trash should be removed every week with your regular cleaning. The Trashcan itself should be washed with warm soap and water and dried.

Wash your Bath Mat in the washer and hang to dry (if advised on the label) otherwise, place in the dryer. It is not advised to use any kind of fabric softener with an absorbable bath mat.

Makeup Brushes and Makeup Sponges can be cleaned with soap and water and should be dried upside down. The This is very important as they are in contact with quite a few germs and bacteria from the face. Dry them upside down so as not to let the water drain down into the wooden handles. You can find the device that I use here.

If you have small children that play with Bathtub toys, they should be cleaned at least once a month, maybe more depending on your use and how dirty your children get. Place these in a clean kitchen or laundry room sink with a mixture of bleach, soap and water to soak for approximately an hour. Drain the water and rinse the toys well. Let them dry completely on the counter before placing them back in their “home”.

If you have a soaking tub with jets, the jets should be cleaned once a month. You can do this by filling up the tub with water (above jet level so that the jets will circulate the water comfortably). Add 1 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of Castile soap. Run the jets for 15 minutes. Drain the tub and refill to the level from before. Turn on the jets again for ten minutes. Drain the tub and use a toothbrush to scrub the jets to remove any debris. Rinse any dirt down the drain and wipe the tub with a cloth.

Change out your luffa, back scrubber and net sponge if these items are disposable. If your luffa and sponge are made from natural materials (Ghord plant and Sea Sponge) wash them in a mixture of 1 cup of warm water and 1 tablespoon of baking soda. Let the sponge soak for 15 minutes, rinse and then let air dry.

Depending on your use, you may desire to wash your hair brush in a solution of warm water, castle soap and baking soda. Soak in a sink with this solution for approximately ten minutes, agitate to clean and then rinse thoroughly. Allow to dry completely with the bristles turned down so not to let the water soak down into the handle.

Every Three Months

The Shower Head can get a build up of minerals and calcium depending on the water quality in your area. If you are able to unscrew the shower head, great - otherwise, place a plastic bag containing vinegar over the shower head and fasten with a rubber band. Soak overnight and remove in the morning. Wipe the fixture with a damp cloth.

Replace your Toothbrush or electric toothbrush head attachment.

Clean the air intake to your hair dryer.

Use a drain tool such as this one to remove any hair or debris from both the shower drain and the sink drain. After removing the most debris that you are able, use a combination of 1 cup salt and 1 cup baking soda. Pour this down the drain. Slowly pour vinegar (1 cup) down the drain. It will react with the baking soda and do what it does best - clean. After a few minutes, follow this with hot water (about 8 cups should be sufficient). Be sure to use a soft cloth to wipe down the drain and surrounding area.

Every Six Months

If you have a Window in the bathroom, open if when needed to circulate fresh air in the room. This will help keep the growth of mold and mildew at a minimum. Depending on where you live and your environment, the window frame and tracks will collect dirt. You should aim to vacuum and clean out these tracks of the window, at least, every six months. Also, during this cleaning, remove and wash your Window Treatments. Don’t neglect these as the fabric holds moisture well.

Declutter your Drawers and Cabinet. You should remove your items, discard anything that needs to go, and clean by vacuuming and wiping down with a clean cloth. Discard any old and expired products at this time. Be sure to reorganize when you replace your items. You will be surprised that you may find items that you haven’t used in a while.

After turning off the breaker that serves electricity to the bathroom, remove and clean the cover of your Exhaust Fan. Use a vacuum to remove any dust and debris that may be in the fan area.

Annually

Have an electrician thoroughly service and check the exhaust fan annually.

Clean the Tile Grout with a mixture of 3/4 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of peroxide, 2 cups of water. Mixture should be somewhat thick. Place directly on the grout and let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub with a brush if necessary. Rinse with a sponge and allow to air dry before resealing the grout. Appropriate solutions for resealing grout can be found at your local home repair store.

The drain traps that are underneath the bathroom sink should be removed and cleaned once a year. This is a fun job - not, but it is important. You will want to remove all of the items from beneath the sink, place a medium sized bucket under the pipe and use a wrench to remove the “J” shape of the pipe. The bucket should be positioned under to catch the sitting water and debris that you will be expecting. Rinse the pipe out (in ANOTHER SINK as you have disassembled this one) and replace back on by screwing in firmly. Now - drain the stuff in the bucket and place the clumpier items in the trash. It is probably not a good idea to re-pour them down the sink that you just cleaned.

Every Five Years

It is usually advised to remove and replace the caulk in your bathroom once every five years. If you see any signs of mold or mildew, the caulk should be replaced at this time.

Note that this schedule is a basic standard to go by. You may see the need to adjust according to your location, number of people using the bathroom and other factors. Once you have started to use this schedule, you will understand what works best for you and your household.

Special shout out to Toni Hammersley for writing The Complete Book of Clean. I have used her homemade recipes and ideas here and am happy to pass them on to you.