How to tackle that overdue bathroom clean-up

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It happens to the best of us; you've left it a month or more without cleaning up the bathroom, and the grime has finally got to you. There's no shame in it, as our lives get more and more hectic it's easy to let some things fall by the wayside, and cleaning is often one of the first to go, but it is important, and so today we're going to show you how to fix it.

While big clean-ups can seem intimidating, it doesn't have to be as difficult as you might think. In fact, with our handy guide, your bathroom will be sparkling clean and smelling fresh in no time at all. The most important thing is to go in with a plan; figure out all the different things you need to do, what order you're going to do them in, and then just get in there and do it. Luckily for you, we're going to take the care of the planning part, so that all you have to do is read this article and get to work!

1. Clear the drains

The first step is to clear out all of the drains; this means using drain cleaner in the bath, shower, and sinks. The reason we do this first is because you want to pour the cleaner down the drain and leave it to do its thing for a while, so that while you wait you can undertake the next step or two. 

There are lots of cleaners available on the market, but if you're concerned about the environment baking soda and vinegar will work just as well, simply pour it down the drain, give it a few minutes, and then follow it with some boiling water. This should remove the need for using a plunger on any clogged drains, but if there are any stubborn remnants you may need to do exactly that.

2. Clear everything out of the bathroom

The next step is to take everything out of the bathroom that isn't nailed down. This means any ornaments, decorations, bathroom supplies like shampoo and soap, towels, bathrobes, flowers- everything. Then you'll want to wash everything you've taken out of the bathroom—though you can do this as you go—as when the job is done you're going to want everything you return to be fresh and clean. 

Throw all the towels, washcloths, robes, and any other bathroom linens in the washing machine, and wipe down everything else; you'd be surprised at how much grime a shampoo bottle can pick up!

3. Clean the toilet

It time to get this out of the way, it's everyone's least favourite job, so it's good to get it done early. Thoroughly clean your toilet inside and out, that means the bowl, the seat, and the entire base. It's important to get right around the toilet, as neglected corners can pick up a lot of stains and grime, and cause foul odours that can be very difficult to place. It's also a good idea to lift the lid off of the tank, and check that there isn't any mould growing, and if there is to quickly deal to it.

4. Take care of the shower

Next you're going to want to wipe down the entire shower. Most showers will be constructed from sleek materials like tiles or porcelain, so if you're having trouble reaching those hard-to-get spots, you can simply use a long handled mop. Make sure you pay special attention to any shelves for shampoo and soap as they can get deceptively dirty!

5. Clean the sinks and bath

Next comes the rest of the bathroom fittings like the sink and the bath, and this may be when you need to get the heavy duty cleaning products involved. Stains on porcelain can be pretty stubborn, especially if you leave them for a long time, so make sure you give them a really thorough scrub, paying special attention to the faucets, another great hiding place for bacteria and mould.

6. Wipe down the walls and surfaces

After you've taken care of all of the bathroom fittings, the next step is to give the walls a good wipe down. Again how you do this will depend on the materials involved, if your bathroom uses floor to ceiling tiles then you can run a mop over the entire thing, but otherwise get yourself a sturdy step ladder so that you can reach all of the corners and give the surfaces a really meticulous wipe. This is also when you're going to want to wipe down any shelves, cabinets, or other furniture in your bathroom.

It's also important not to forget the ceiling; moisture rises and takes a lot of grime with it, and it's not uncommon to see mould growing on a bathroom ceiling, so it's crucial that you take care of it.

7. Give the floor a good mop

We're almost there! The last little bit of cleaning to address is mopping the floor. We do this last to prevent leaving footprints everywhere, so start at the back of the room, and work your way towards the door. Once the floors are done leave the windows and the door open, and don't enter your bathroom for maybe an hour or so as you wait for all of the surfaces to dry.

8. Draw a long hot bath

Once the room is dry return everything you took out of the bathroom to its right place, light a couple of candles, pour yourself a glass of wine, and take a long hot bath; you deserve it!

And there you have it, a sparkling clean bathroom. It's really not as bad as it seems, but to avoid having to do a massive spring clean we recommend giving your surfaces a quick wipe down as often as possible to ensure that the task doesn't get out of hand. If you want some clever tips for keeping the rest of your house clean, we've got you right over here!

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