How to Speed-Clean Your Bathroom in 30 Minutes or Less
Here's how to effectively use that precious half an hour to spruce up your wash room and make it sparkly clean
Don’t we all love a shiny, sparkly, clean bathroom? There’s a smell of freshness that wafts from a spick-and-span space. Usually, the time consumed in cleaning a washroom can pull you down – there are so many areas that need to be tended to: “How can I do a swell job but in good time?” Which is why this ideabook could be helpful. Here we approach the shower and bathtub, showerhead, shower partition, sink, WC, countertops, mirrors and floor, and tell you how you can multitask, save time and give this room a good, proper wash in 30 minutes or less.
Put away the towels and rugs
It’s best to replace your hand towels and washcloths at least every two or three days. Pick up all the old towels, hand napkins and rugs, and toss them in the washing machine. Put the fresh towels inside the cabinets.
It’s best to replace your hand towels and washcloths at least every two or three days. Pick up all the old towels, hand napkins and rugs, and toss them in the washing machine. Put the fresh towels inside the cabinets.
First task, the WC
Drain the tank and shut off the water supply while you are cleaning the WC. Take a paper napkin or a microfibre cloth, damped with disinfectant or vinegar, and wipe the tank, flusher, lid, and the top and bottom of the WC rim – this area usually gets neglected during regular cleaning sessions, so make sure it is wiped properly. Now pour a cup of toilet cleaner (or the quantity mentioned in the specifications on the product) into the bowl, and brush minimally around the sides (just enough to spread it around), inside the bowl and under the rim. Move to the next task and let it sit for some time. Don’t spend more than 5 minutes doing this.
Tip: You could even consider unscrewing your toilet seat so you can clean all of the crevices on it and on your toilet, although it will be more time-consuming.
Drain the tank and shut off the water supply while you are cleaning the WC. Take a paper napkin or a microfibre cloth, damped with disinfectant or vinegar, and wipe the tank, flusher, lid, and the top and bottom of the WC rim – this area usually gets neglected during regular cleaning sessions, so make sure it is wiped properly. Now pour a cup of toilet cleaner (or the quantity mentioned in the specifications on the product) into the bowl, and brush minimally around the sides (just enough to spread it around), inside the bowl and under the rim. Move to the next task and let it sit for some time. Don’t spend more than 5 minutes doing this.
Tip: You could even consider unscrewing your toilet seat so you can clean all of the crevices on it and on your toilet, although it will be more time-consuming.
Second, the shower or bathtub (or both)
If you have a bathtub, fill it up with warm, soapy water (add bleach, a tub cleaner, or a DIY natural house cleaner). Now start scrubbing its outer walls and base and let it sit while you approach the other areas. If you have a shower, then secure a plastic bag filled with vinegar around the shower head to get rid of all the calcium buildup. The shower partition usually gets a cloudy coating due to soap and moisture. Rinse it with plain water and use a squeegee or a sponge to wipe it, and then scrub it with soap or a homemade solution. Rinse the glass screen immediately after scrubbing, else it can get stains or marks from the soap or cleaner. This task should not take more than 10 minutes.
Tip: For a homemade shower panel cleaner, mix a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide, a half-cup of isopropyl alcohol, one teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap in a spray bottle. Next, fill the bottle with water and, after closing it, shake the bottle slowly to combine the ingredients without making them foam up.
See how these shower enclosures bring a wow to bathrooms
If you have a bathtub, fill it up with warm, soapy water (add bleach, a tub cleaner, or a DIY natural house cleaner). Now start scrubbing its outer walls and base and let it sit while you approach the other areas. If you have a shower, then secure a plastic bag filled with vinegar around the shower head to get rid of all the calcium buildup. The shower partition usually gets a cloudy coating due to soap and moisture. Rinse it with plain water and use a squeegee or a sponge to wipe it, and then scrub it with soap or a homemade solution. Rinse the glass screen immediately after scrubbing, else it can get stains or marks from the soap or cleaner. This task should not take more than 10 minutes.
Tip: For a homemade shower panel cleaner, mix a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide, a half-cup of isopropyl alcohol, one teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap in a spray bottle. Next, fill the bottle with water and, after closing it, shake the bottle slowly to combine the ingredients without making them foam up.
See how these shower enclosures bring a wow to bathrooms
Third, the sink
Before tackling the sink, first pour baking soda or vinegar down the drain and pour plenty of hot water to clean out the drainage pipe. You can get rid of hard water stains around your faucet by wrapping it with a vinegar-soaked paper towel. Next, use disinfectant wipes or microfibre cloths to scrub the faucet, bowl, under-bowl and surrounding area – not only will this help get things sparkling clean, it’ll also get rid of any lingering bacteria. It’s 5 minutes at the max for this task.
Before tackling the sink, first pour baking soda or vinegar down the drain and pour plenty of hot water to clean out the drainage pipe. You can get rid of hard water stains around your faucet by wrapping it with a vinegar-soaked paper towel. Next, use disinfectant wipes or microfibre cloths to scrub the faucet, bowl, under-bowl and surrounding area – not only will this help get things sparkling clean, it’ll also get rid of any lingering bacteria. It’s 5 minutes at the max for this task.
Fourth, move to the countertop
Pick up toiletries, napkins or any appliances/gadgets and store them in your cabinets before you start cleaning.
Liberally spray every inch of your counter top and cabinets with a product cleaner, liquid soap or a homemade solution and wipe it clean. Spray a glass cleaner onto your mirror and wash the entire area squeaky clean. Another 5 minutes and not a minute more.
Check out these 10 statement-making bathroom mirrors
Pick up toiletries, napkins or any appliances/gadgets and store them in your cabinets before you start cleaning.
Liberally spray every inch of your counter top and cabinets with a product cleaner, liquid soap or a homemade solution and wipe it clean. Spray a glass cleaner onto your mirror and wash the entire area squeaky clean. Another 5 minutes and not a minute more.
Check out these 10 statement-making bathroom mirrors
Almost done
Use the last 5 minutes to spray, flush and give the last, final wipe. Approach the WC, let the tank fill, give the toilet another scrub and flush. Drain out all the water from the bathtub and rinse. Make sure all soap or cleaner has been washed off from the glass partitions, counter tops and tub. This will, of course, leave the floor wet and dirty. Which is why this is the last area that you need to deal with.
Take a damp mop and clean the floor – make sure you mop in corners, behind the WC, under the sink, below the vanity where most of the hair and dust collects. Give the floor another scrub with a dry cloth now. Finally, light a candle or keep a bowl of fresh flowers or potpourri to keep the bathroom looking fresh, clean and sparkling.
Tip: If you have stubborn mould build up in your bathroom, you could try one of these DIY solutions. Use one part bleach and two parts water. Or mix one cup borax with 3 litres of water. Use either of these solutions in a small area first to test it out before you use it on the entire mould-affected areas.
Read more:
A Thorough, Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide
Tell us:
How do you deep-clean your bathroom? Do you have any tips and tricks? Tell us about them in Comments below.
Use the last 5 minutes to spray, flush and give the last, final wipe. Approach the WC, let the tank fill, give the toilet another scrub and flush. Drain out all the water from the bathtub and rinse. Make sure all soap or cleaner has been washed off from the glass partitions, counter tops and tub. This will, of course, leave the floor wet and dirty. Which is why this is the last area that you need to deal with.
Take a damp mop and clean the floor – make sure you mop in corners, behind the WC, under the sink, below the vanity where most of the hair and dust collects. Give the floor another scrub with a dry cloth now. Finally, light a candle or keep a bowl of fresh flowers or potpourri to keep the bathroom looking fresh, clean and sparkling.
Tip: If you have stubborn mould build up in your bathroom, you could try one of these DIY solutions. Use one part bleach and two parts water. Or mix one cup borax with 3 litres of water. Use either of these solutions in a small area first to test it out before you use it on the entire mould-affected areas.
Read more:
A Thorough, Room-by-Room Cleaning Guide
Tell us:
How do you deep-clean your bathroom? Do you have any tips and tricks? Tell us about them in Comments below.
Sponsored
Let’s get started. Before you get cracking (and timing yourself), make sure you keep all the cleaning products and tools handy. This way you won’t waste time and will be able to get the task over with within the designated time. So, find the soap, toilet cleaner, glass cleaner, gloves, scrub pad, sponge, plastic bag filled with vinegar, brush, bucket, wipes, broom, and plenty of dustbin bags, and keep them at the ready. Put on your gloves and get going.
Recipes for non-toxic, eco-friendly cleaning products