Dos and Don’ts of Keeping Your Bathroom Clean and Organized

Dos and Don’ts of Keeping Your Bathroom Clean and Organized

You can’t put off cleaning your bathroom forever (unfortunately). The bathroom is one of the most used spaces in the house, so it can accumulate lots of clutter, dirt, and grime after just one week. Only a deep cleaning with tons of strong products will help you when all the gross stuff sets in. If worse comes to worst, you may need to call a professional for intervention.

 

Don’t wait until mold and mildew develop and grow a family in your bathroom. Make time every day to do a little decluttering and then every week to do a thorough cleanup. And let these dos and don’ts help you maintain a clean and organized bathroom.

 

Do Prepare Your Cleaning Supplies

 

Cleaning your bathroom can progress faster when you don’t have to go back and forth the supply closet to get the tools and supplies you need. Prepare a caddy of all the cleaners, products, and tools you need for the job before embarking on your cleaning crusade.

 

A cleaning caddy should have the essentials, like glass-cleaning spray, disinfectant, toilet cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, rubber gloves, and trash bags. Some cleaning products are only compatible with specific materials, so make sure you’re using the right product to clean your wooden cabinets or granite sink. Get to know your everyday cleaning products to learn how to use them properly.

 

Don’t Use Cleaners with Toxic Ingredients

 

Many people are unaware that many of the cleaning products they use in their homes contain ingredients that are toxic and harmful to their health and environment. Some cleaning products emit fumes that may induce asthma and cause respiratory problems in otherwise-healthy people.

 

There are also products with carcinogens, irritants, and toxins. Avoid cleaners with ingredients, like phthalates (a known endocrine disruptor), perchloroethylene (a neurotoxin), and sodium hydroxide (extremely corrosive, can cause burns).

 

EWG, or Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, has listed over 2,000 cleaning products that are safe to use.

 

Do Maximize Your Bathroom Space

 

If you have a tiny bathroom, then you understand the value of every inch of space. Even if your bathroom is spacious enough, it can quickly get cramped when the clutter accumulates. Fortunately, there several ways to maximize your bathroom space and keep it organized at the same time.

 

Install hooks on open walls to hang towels and allow used ones to dry. Add a tension rod inside the cabinets so you can just hang cleaning products. Organize the contents of drawers by using dividers.

 

Maximize cabinet space by installing hooks or hanging racks on the door. Use a tiered cake stand to save space and organize the skin-care and makeup products on your bathroom counter.

 

A cosmetic interior upgrade, like painting your bathroom walls a soft color and adding indirect lighting, can also make your tiny bathroom appear bigger.

 

Don’t Hoard Expired Products or Empty Containers

 

Clever hacks to maximize bathroom space won’t be effective unless you let go of the things that are cluttering your bathroom. That’s right; you need to throw out expired skin-care items, makeup, hygiene products, and cleaning products cluttering your counter and cabinet.

 

While you’re at it, you should also raid your medicine cabinet for expired tablets and medication and throw them all away. Also, check if you have empty products to dispose of.

 

Do Allot Time for Products to Work

 

A lot of bathroom cleaners, like the ones for the toilet, floor, and tub, need time to soften dirt and grime stuck on the surface. Most products don’t need more than 30 minutes to work their magic.  Be patient and wait them out.

 

If you rinse the product too early, some dirt or stain won’t be thoroughly cleaned out. You can let the product sit overnight if you genuinely don’t have the time (or patience) to wait.

 

Don’t Waste Your Time Waiting for Cleaners to Work

 

During the waiting time for cleaners to work, you can start decluttering your bathroom cabinets and drawers. You can also wipe the bathroom mirror, windows, and shower door. If you still have time, you can throw your dirty laundry in the wash or organize the items on the counter and inside the cabinets and drawers.

 

Playing your favorite playlist while waiting and doing your chores can make it more fun and enjoyable. You won’t notice the time when you’re enjoying the music and getting engrossed in what you’re doing.

 

Do Clean as You Go

 

It’s easy to neglect your chores with so many things to do, but you need to do them eventually if you don’t want to live in a cluttered and unhealthy environment. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to clean your bathroom often, what you can do is to clean a little every day.

 

Hang your used towel on a hook or on the towel bar to let it dry, and put your dirty laundry inside the basket. Leave the exhaust fan on for 15 minutes after you take a shower, and ventilate the bathroom to avoid mold development. Return things to their proper places after using them, and pick up after yourself.

 

Don’t Neglect to Prevent Future Mess

 

Problems that can create a ton of mess can happen in the bathroom. Leaking pipes and fixtures are relatively common. You can fortify your plumbing pipes by covering them with foam insulation.

 

As for faucets, don’t use too much strength when you twist the tap. Check them regularly too to make sure the handle is tight and secure.

 

Toilets and drains can also clog up. Avoid flushing solid waste down your toilet. If you can’t stop everyone in the house from doing that, consider installing one with a macerating pump, like the SaniPlus toilet, to grind wastewater and allow it to flow to your sewage system or septic tank smoothly.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Cleaning your bathroom can be a pain, but it’s a necessary chore to keep your home environment healthy. Don’t let dirt and clutter accumulate before you do anything. It will only give you more work and worries later on.

 

Do prepare nontoxic cleaning tools and supplies before starting, and give cleaners time to work correctly. Finally, don’t forget to install measures to prevent future problems (and mess), and do clean up after yourself when you’re done using the bathroom.