A Guide to Sanitizing Your Bathroom for House Guests
If you’re preparing to welcome guests, a thorough house cleaning is in order. One of the most crucial areas of your home to clean is the bathroom. Read on to learn some tips on efficiently sanitizing the bathroom — and sprucing it up for your visitors.
Get Ready to Clean
Preparation is key when it comes to housekeeping. Make sure you’re comfortable by dressing for the occasion in comfy casual clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. For example, you could wear women’s lounge pants with an old tee while cleaning.
Gather your cleaning supplies into a bucket or caddy for easy carrying. You’ll likely need several sponges, paper towels or fabric cloths, and cleaner for each part of the bathroom. There are all-purpose cleaners on the market for the tub, shower, and toilet to save money and shelf space. For maximum sanitizing power, look for bathroom cleaners with antibacterial properties. Before using any cleaning product, read all label instructions for safe use and never mix cleaning products.
Take Everything Out
Rather than trying to clean around things, take all items out of the bathroom. Remove the items from your sink and take the shampoo and conditioner bottles out of the shower. You can stash the items in a tote until you’re ready to put them back. Take a few minutes to go through your toiletries and toss out any empty bottles or items you don’t use. You’ll also want to remove the shower curtain and hooks from the rod so you can clean them.
Bust the Dust
Once you’ve taken everything out of the bathroom, wipe down all surfaces with a dust cloth, feather duster, or paper towels. If the floor is dusty, you can use a broom and dustpan to sweep it or remove the dust with the bare floor setting on your vacuum. Removing the dust from the room will make cleaning each part easier. For dusty walls, ceilings, and high corners, use a duster with a telescoping rod so that you don’t have to break out the stepladder.
Sanitize the Sink
Spray your sink with the cleanser of your choice. There are antibacterial bathroom cleansers from many brands, and some are all-natural. Let the product sit for a few minutes to allow the antibacterial properties to work. Then, use a damp sponge or cloth to wipe the surface clean. Depending on the product you use, you may need to rinse with clear water. If you’ve got dull chrome on the sink, you can use a vinegar and water solution to brighten it up and impart shine. Dry the sink with a soft cloth.
Clean the Tub and Shower
For the tub and shower, you can use an all-purpose antibacterial cleanser. However, if you’ve got a lot of dirt and grime, you may need a specialized product with foaming action. As with the sink, allow the product to sit for a few minutes for optimum results. If scrubbing is required, use a non-abrasive sponge. Make sure you don’t use anything that could scratch the finish of your tub. Run the shower or faucet on the hot setting to wash the cleanser down the drain and allow the tub to dry.
Rinse your shower curtain hooks off with hot water. When it comes to cleaning your shower curtain, you can toss it in the washing machine on the gentle cycle. Don’t tumble dry; instead, hang the curtain back up to air dry. You can also machine-wash your bathroom rugs and mats.
Tackle the Toilet
The easiest way to clean the toilet is with a long-handled scrub brush. There are toilet-cleaning products in stores that consist of a handle and disposable toilet-cleaning sponges that attach to the head. With a push of a button, you can discard the used scrubber into the trash can without ever having to touch it. After cleaning the toilet, you can finish off by dropping a toilet-cleaning tablet into the tank. These tablets help fight bacteria and odor, and they release a fresh scent with every flush. Some even color the water blue or green.
Mop the Floor
The last thing you should do before replacing all the items in the bathroom is to mop the floor. You can use hot water and mild detergent with the mop of your choice or a sweeper equipped with a damp disposable cleaning pad. If you’re working with a small bathroom, you can even hand-mop the floor with a damp cloth or sponge.
Accents and Amenities
After the floor is dry, you can replace all the items you took out before cleaning the bathroom. Toiletries can be displayed in canvas storage bin for easy organization. Finish the job by adding some accent items and amenities to the space. For example, you could place a tray of decorative soaps on the sink for a functional decoration or use hand soap that comes in a fancy bottle. Fluffy bath towels are a must-have; display them in seagrass baskets for an organized look.
In a short time, you can sanitize and decorate your bathroom for house guests. They’re sure to appreciate your thoughtfulness and the clean, orderly space.