Preparing your bathroom for colder months is an extensive process and includes many different tasks. Essentially, it is deep cleaning and the purpose of it is to make regular cleans easier and less stressful. It also has a protective function, ensuring your bathroom is a germ-free, healthy place for all family members. To help you organise your activities, we put together a bathroom cleaning guide at the beginning of autumn.
Replenish the Supplies
Your first step would be to check what cleaning supplies you have left and replenish what has run out or is running low. Also, you might want to get some extra products to assist in your daily cleans – shower door spray is a great idea. It prevents the formation of hard water stains on the glass and metal surfaces. Get new sponges, cleaning cloths and perhaps, floor disinfecting wipes.
Clean Mould and Mildew
During the summer mould and mildew growth can be intense, especially if there was not enough ventilation in the bathroom. There are specific cleaning products that can help with this and are sold in most big stores. Alternatively, you can try using some white vinegar. Although it may help, it doesn’t guarantee the best results. Acetic acid is generally weak, so you might need a stronger agent.
Declutter Tops and Cupboards
Remove all unnecessary items from the countertops – scruffy toothpaste tubes, bits of hand soap or anything else that doesn’t really belong there. Go through the toiletries you keep in stock in the cupboards too. Some of them may have expired and the rest may simply need a rearrangement.
Sanitise the Sink, Shower Cabin/ Bath and Toilet
You will have a lot of work in different areas of the bathroom, so to save time and be more efficient, you should multitask. Apply the appropriate cleaning product to the sink, toilet and bath or shower cabin. Let it develop for 15-20 minutes and use that time to work on something else. After the development period is over, clean thoroughly those places and do not forget to apply sanitiser. Sanitisers kill bacteria, if you want protection against viruses too, you should use a disinfectant in addition.
Clean the Shower Head
Shower heads get clogged sometimes if hard water is not cleaned regularly. There’s a toxic-free hack that many keen cleaning enthusiasts swear by. Use a plastic bag filled with vinegar, place the shower head inside and secure it with a rubber band. Let it stay like that for half an hour and then gently scrub with a clean cloth. If that doesn’t work, use a conventional shower head cleaner from the shop or get the professionals to finish the job.
Wipe the Mirrors
While you are waiting for agents to develop, you can wipe the mirrors. They can accumulate some dust or have hand stains, especially if your children can reach them. Make sure you use a soft cotton cloth to avoid any scratches on the surface.
Wash the Mats and Rugs
If you have small rugs and mats in the bathroom you can just pop them in the washing machine and get them all fresh and clean. This, of course, will depend on the material they are made of and the manufacturer instructions. If machine washing is not recommended you can hand wash them in the bath or try a professional service.
Wash the Shower Curtain
The shower curtain will need some refreshing too. You can wash it on the spot, but make sure to take it out of the bathroom to dry. Leaving it there while wet can make it mouldy and it can develop a bad smell. Use a disinfectant spray on it at the end, as well.
Clean the Exhaust Fan
Very often people forget to clean their exhaust fans in the bathroom and this is the main cause behind the fast formation of mould and mildew. Dusty exhaust fans do not work properly and cannot provide good air circulation. If wiping is not enough, try using the vacuum cleaner to remove all dust and dirt stuck to the fan.
Disinfect the Bin and Toilet Brush Holder
The bin in the bathroom gets emptied regularly, but it also needs a good wash and disinfection once in a while. Warm water and soap are good enough to clean it. You can use disinfectant wipes afterwards to seal the protection. The same applies for the toilet brush holder, which is often one of the grossest places in the bathroom. Wash it thoroughly, dry it and put a few drops of tea tree essential oil as a natural disinfection with long-term effect.
Mop and Sanitise the Floor
The last step of your big autumn bathroom cleaning is mopping and sanitising the floor. Do not use bleach. It is an outdated method, which can be very harmful to your health and in most cases it is not necessary, especially at home.