7 Steps to a Clean Bathroom

Today's message is thanks to Jeff Campbell of TheCleanTeam.com

How to Clean Your Bathroom In 20 Minutes Or Less

Think you can't clean your bathroom in under 20 minutes? Think again. The key to a sparkling bathroom is regular cleaning and organization. You probably already know that. But do you know how to achieve that goal?

Here are the 7 essential -- and easy -- steps for getting the job done. (Quickly.) Before you get started, make sure you have the essential tools on hand. This includes cleaning cloths, scrubbing pads, toothbrushes (for those hard to tackle spots bathrooms are famous for), liquid or powdered cleanser, all purpose cleaner and mirror/window cleaner. All set? Now just turn on your stop watch and let the time fly!

Step 1: Shower Power
Soap scum and hard water deposits are two of the hardest substances to clean (No kidding!, you're probably thinking.) Here's how to knock out that scum without busting your bum:

Use a product that is specially designed to attack that scum. Tile Juice and Scum Bum are examples. Apply and scrub from top to bottom using a circular motion. Scrub the plumbing hardware as you come to it.

If you have shower doors, scrub with your tile cleaner along the inside of the doors. Use a toothbrush to get out the gunk lodged in the tracks. Leave the outside of the doors for Step 5.
Use a powdered or liquid cleanser to scrub your tub (less is more here) and then switch to a toothbrush to break up any mold growing where tub meets the wall.

Once you have scrubbed every surface in your shower, only then should you rinse it all thoroughly with cold water. Start with the walls and doors; end with the tub. If you don't already have a detachable showerhead, consider investing in one: It will make your life *much* easier.

Total cleaning time: 6 minutes.

Step 2: Make Your Sink Shine
Move on to cleaning out the bowl of your sink with the same technique you used to clean your tub. Lightly apply the cleanser with a scrubbing pad, using circular motions. Only clean the bowl of your sink. Do not clean your faucets or your vanity. You'll get to that in Step 6.

Total cleaning time: 1 minute.

Step 3: Tackle Your Toilet Bowl
For cleaning and disinfecting the toilet bowl, some like to use cleanser. Others go straight to bleach. Still others prefer the natural route: baking soda followed by a vinegar chaser (it foams -- your kids will love to help with this part!) Whatever your preferred cleaning material, make sure you scrub thoroughly around the bowl and under the rim. As you flush, hold your toilet scrubber under the water flow to rinse it clean, too. Only clean the bowl of your toilet. Do not clean the outside -- you'll get to that in Step 6.

Total cleaning time: 2 minutes.

Step 4: Mirror, Mirror on the Wall
Shine all the mirrors in your bathroom by spraying them with a glass cleaner and wiping them with a lint-free cloth. Work from top to bottom and make sure the surface is completely dry when you're finished. If you're still using messy newspaper to get a streak-free finish, give cloth a try. It will make your life easier and leave your fingers cleaner.

Total cleaning time: 1 minute.

Step 5: Shower Power, Part Deux
If you have shower doors, now is the time to clean the outside of them. (Or, if you are one of the lucky ones with a curtain, you can go straight to the next and final step!) Shine the outside of the doors just like you did the mirrors, with glass/window spray and a dry, lint-free cloth. Usually the only area of the door that needs cleaning is where people touch the door to open and close it.

Total cleaning time: 1 minute.

Step 6: Think Sink (and Toilet)
Using a dry, clean cloth and an all-purpose spray, clean the top of your vanity and shine your faucets. For stubborn spots, use your toothbrush. Now turn your attention to the seat and outside of your toilet. Spray the seat (top and bottom) and the lid, plus all those plastic joints. Scrub quickly and wipe clean with a damp towel. Don't forget about that grubby area at the bottom of your toilet. Too gross to clean? Turn to your ally the toothbrush for making quick work of this unpleasant task.

Total cleaning time: 4 minutes.

Step 7: Finish With Floor-ish
You're nearly done. Don't lose steam now! There are lots of ways to clean a floor, but there's only one way to clean a bathroom floor: The old fashioned way (aka, on your hands and knees). Start in the back corner of the bathroom and work your way to the door. Spray all-purpose cleaner as you go, wiping it up with dry cloths. As your cloth gets littered with hair and other bathroom debris, fold your cloth in half. When there's no more cloth to fold, grab a new one.

Total cleaning time: 2 minutes.

You're done! You did it! Now that wasn't too bad, was it? Take a moment to admire your handiwork and check your stopwatch. If all went well, you've got 180 seconds to spare in your 20-minute allotment. If you went over 17 minutes, don't worry. Doing this every week means you'll get many (many, many) chances to shave your time. Save even more time by using a shower squeegee after each shower!