How to Clean a Bathroom

Bathrooms may very well be the most-used room in your home. Consequently, they can easily become the dirtiest room, a petri dish for germs, mildew and scum build-up. In order to make cleaning your bathroom as easy and painless as possible, help yourself out by keeping up with minute, daily tasks rather than waiting to do a floor-to-ceiling monthly cleaning. Consider the basics of bathroom cleaning to help keep the most-used room in your house from becoming a scuzzy-looking, breeding ground for germs.

Daily attention to details is key

Showing your bathroom some daily love can keep the weekly or monthly cleaning from being such a hateful chore. For a noticeable decrease in the time it takes and the elbow grease required for a total power clean, keep up with the following daily tasks:

1. After each shower or bath use, rinse soap residue off shower walls, the curtain or door, and the tub if you have one. If you took a bath, put some soap on a sponge and run it around the inside where rings usually form, and then rinse.
2. Squeegee the walls or glass shower doors after you rinse.
3. Close the shower curtain so water doesn't stay in the folds. This should eliminate mildew build up.
4. Ventilate. Use a fan during, and 30 minutes after, your shower or bath. Open a window. If your bathroom doesn't have a window, definitely be sure to use the fan whenever you bathe, and keep the door open to let in light, eliminating the possibility of mildew growth.
5. Run a damp cloth, sponge or paper towel over your counters and faucets after each time you use the sink.

These tasks are simple, easy and take seconds, but will prove very helpful for saving you time when you decide to power clean. If you aren't planning on doing a total floor-to-ceiling clean each week or every other week, a quick vacuum or sweeping of the floor can further help keep the room picked up and clean.

Brushing, bleaching and how to keep breathing

You can't put off a total cleaning forever. So, when you decide to bring out the big guns--toilet bowl cleaners, bleach, vinegar, store-bought products and power brushes--there are some general things you should remember to make sure your bathroom doesn't become toxic:

1. Ventilation is key when it comes to keeping your bathroom clean. Ventilation is also of utmost importance when you are dealing with cleaning chemicals, even if it is a home remedy that includes bleach and vinegar.
2. Wear rubber gloves when dealing with any kind of cleaning products.

If you are particularly sensitive to harsh chemicals, look into eco-friendly products. Choosing environmentally-friendly products has become very popular, so you should be able to find them easily.

Cleaning and costs

If this hasn't convinced you that cleaning your bathroom can be a simple and quick, DIY-task, then hiring professional cleaners might be the option for you. Maid and cleaning services abound and can be hired to do weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly house cleanings. You can even hire a service just to do your bathroom.

Depending on the size of your bathroom or home, as well as how often you require service, many cleaning services charge by the hour. Don't be surprised to find maid services that charge up to $75 per hour.

But seriously, only you know how much cleaning your bathrooms need--and how much your time is worth to you.