Most of my readers know that I try to be efficient. I’m not one of those women who just LOVES to clean. I do love a clean house and once I get going I feel great that I’m doing it, but if I can take less time cleaning the same space, I’m all for it. I’ve come up with a system that makes cleaning both of my bathrooms take less than 15 minutes.
Deep cleaning the tub and shower takes longer but if you want to quickly go over them it will only take an additional few minutes to the 7 I’ve mentioned. I’ve included how I clean the tub and shower as optional steps if you have the time.
What you will need:
Grab some paper towels or washable rags. I used paper towels in this example but often do use cloth rags that I can wash and reuse.
You’ll also want to have rubber gloves, and cleaning supplies for the tub, shower, toilet, mirror, and counter. You can use vinegar and baking soda to do everything you need in the bathroom. This also saves time and money. (However, if someone in your household is sick you will want to use more powerful disinfectants.)
Start the stop watch and begin.
1. Quickly take everything off of the countertop (put it away), lift the rugs (shake them out), and pull the garbage can and everything that goes on the floor and counters out of the bathroom. I just set mine outside of the bathroom on the floor.
2. Apply cleaning solutions in this order.
- the shower walls (optional)
- the tub (optional)
- the toilet bowl See how to do this with baking soda and vinegar here
- the toilet rims and base
- the countertop
- the mirror
Vinegar water can be used on the mirrors, if you have glass around the shower it will clean that, on the toilet rims and base, countertops, sink, and the floor. I use the baking soda in the toilet and tub. See how to clean the toilet here. For the tub, clean it similarly to the toilet, just sprinkle about 3/4 Cup all over the tub and pour about 2 cups vinegar on top. It will fizzle up and clean well while fizzing.
3. Now work in reverse. Clean what you put the cleaning solutions on last. Grab a paper towel and clean the mirror. Then clean off the countertops and the sink.
Next, use a brush and clean the bowl of the toilet, grab a few more paper towels and wipe the toilet rims and base (working from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest).
4. Then get on your hands and knees and spray the floor with vinegar water. Clean starting from the furthest corner working your way out to the hall. If you added cleaner to your tub and shower quickly scrub and wipe them up last.
5. Replace the rugs and garbage can.
And you are done.
Follow these steps quickly and you will have a clean bathroom in 7 minutes or less.
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Great tips!! I hate spending time cleaning so when I can find quick ways to do it, I am happy!! 🙂
been using this recipe for more than 30 yrs. never buy chemicals. happy camper.
Awesome! Thanks for the feedback!
We love vinegar as a cleaner, but I’ve never tried baking soda! I’m excited to try it!
Great tips, thanks for sharing!
Kimberly- Thanks for stopping by and checking the post out, I appreciate it!
I hate cleaning the bathrooms! I have four boys, so as you can imagine it is a nightmare. Thanks for the tips, can’t wait to try them out!
Carrie- Wow four boys, that does sound like a lot of cleaning! Thanks for the comment!
Love to clean with vinegar as well. Keep my shower surround and shower curtain liner clean by spraying down with a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water after every shower. Use a dish wand filled with a 50/50 solution of Dawn dish soap and vinegar to clean the tub sides and floor. Do this at the end of your shower and the tub rinses as you do. The tub area stays clean and shiny.
Susan- What great ideas to keep up on the cleanliness of the shower and tub. If they aren’t kept up with they get pretty grimy after awhile. Thanks for the ideas!
How much dawn vs vinegar do you use in the wand? I love this idea.
This is the routine I follow also. The only difference is I use vinegar and alcohol in a spray bottle for toilet, sink, mirror and I use vinegar and Dawn in another spray bottle for tub and shower. I use paper towels all the time also because you can just pitch the germs. I use some toilet paper on some parts of the toilet because it seems to catch hair better (yes I know, gross!!)I like the baking soda for the tub idea! Much more economical that toilet bowl cleaner.
Sandy- Great ideas! Thanks. I never thought of vinegar and alcohol but I bet that sterilizes even more. Vinegar and Dawn is a great idea too. Thanks.
Remember never to us vinegar on marble! It will eat away at the stone.
Thanks for the tip. I appreciate it.
A routine bathroom cleanup can keep bathroom looking fresh and clean without too much effort.I too use baking soda to clean bath tub and toilet….Thanks a lot for sharing nice tips to effectively clean bathroom.
Maria- You’re welcome. Thanks for the comment.
What’s in the vinegar water just water and vinegar? how much?
Its about half vinegar half water. The proportions (as long as the vinegar is half or more) doesn’t really make a huge difference.
I really love this site. Help me a lot for me choosing the best Tips for my house. Thanks!
I have heard a lot of suggestions about cleaning the toilet. If it is really dirty I have found that dropping 2 lysol tablets into the tank and leaving it for about a hour. Flush and your toilet will be self cleaning every time you flush.
Best regards!
South Tottenham Carpet Cleaners Ltd.
Thank you for starting this flow of great information from all your readers. I had forgotten some of them and need to try again – tired of spending money on new products that don’t always work as well as needed, especially on limited Senior incomes.
I saw this post and went home to try it out on my bathroom sink (which was very dirty). I plugged the drain, filled it with a splash of vinegar and added about a tablespoon of baking soda. It instantly got to work and I used some paper towels to rinse both mine and my fiance’s sinks. It worked magically! I couldn’t stop cleaning everything in the bathroom. Thanks for the awesome tips 🙂
Spray WINDEX or any glass cleaner on the rim of the toliet, let sit for 3-5 minutes then wipe.
Great idea, but I’m surprised that no one has commented about using washable (reusable) cleaning cloths/rags rather than paper towels. More economical and more environmentally friendly.
Great tip. I actually do often use towels and rags. I typically use paper towels on toilets but yes, it is more economical. Thanks!
Something else related to your topic: the toilet brush. Your choice is a good one — all plastic/nylon. Don’t EVER use one with the nylon bristles twisted into two heavy wires. When the bristles smash, the wire framework scratches your porcelain bowl. Dirt and bacteria get in the scratches making it harder and harder to clean as you get more scratches. Mine is a plastic handle with nylon yarn for the head — very porcelain friendly.
Great comment Thank you!!
hello I havent got face book, but would like to have your tips available to me I am a pensioner 73 years old. & would love all the $$$$ saving tips.
Thank you Margaret
Great routine! I just want to add something we’ve done in our home as well to reduce clean up. We have a special needs son and cleaning up after him can get pretty tiring. Out of necessity we’ve had to create what we call a Urifunnel. It’s a portable urinal for boys and men who need assistance. It helps prevent splashing and definitely reduces cleanup time like the rest of your tips.
You can check us out at http://urifunnel.com
Great idea! Thanks for sharing.
Is that travertine in the picture? Been wondering if vinegar is ok on the travertine tiles? And if not what other non toxic would work.
Thanks! I’m about to 7 minute my bathroom when I finish this post!
It is travertine tile. It’s help up well! Vinegar is very gentle. Good luck!
Thanks for helping out, great information.