There’s never enough time to give the bathroom a thorough clean. Between scrubbing the grout, spritzing the mirror and wiping the shower screen, hours can go by before we call time on our chores. If only there were a way to make cleaning the bathroom easier!
That’s where we can help. We’ve rounded up 7 low-effort habits that you can adopt for a spotless bathroom. They each take 30 seconds or less to do and they all contribute less mess, grime, limescale and mould.
Using a squeegee in the shower
Always keep a squeegee in the shower so that you can give the glass and walls a quick swipe once you’re finished. By taking 30 seconds to brush this water away, there’s less limescale and watermarks forming afterwards.
You should also swipe any shelves free from water to clear any soap scum. And don’t forget to give the floor a quick once-over after you step out – there’s often a lot of water puddled here that contributes to mould growth in the bathroom.
Flushing over the toilet brush
You almost don’t want to look when you unsheathe the toilet brush. If any ‘residue’ gets caught in the bristles and is then stored back in the holder, you’ve got the mother load of bacterial growth.
There’s a speedy way to clean your toilet brush though. First, whenever you use it, make sure you flush the toilet water over the brush once you’re done. This gives it a quick rinse. Second, whenever you apply toilet cleaner, leave the brush to soak in the water – 10 minutes is all you need for a good cleanse. When you flush, scrub the brush around the walls for good measure.
You’re not finished, though – you still need to clean the holder! To do this, just drain whatever has puddled in it and then add a couple of drops of your toilet cleaner with a cup of cold water. Leave to soak for 10 minutes (you can do it in the same time that your brush soaks) and then rinse.
Taking advantage of the steam
You might think it’s a nuisance to be greeted by a foggy mirror when you step out of the shower. But this condensation is handy when it comes to cleaning; in fact, it can speed things up!
Just use that same squeegee from your shower on the mirror to give it a quick wipe down. You can spritz a solution on nine-parts water to one-part vinegar on top of the steam for some cleaning power if you’re dealing with toothpaste splatter. Just be aware that you will need to open the door or a window to stop the mirror steaming straight back up again once you’re done!
That same steam (and vinegar solution) is handy for wiping away watermarks from the chrome tap, glass bathroom scales and chrome towel rails. So use it before you lose it!
Removing empty bottles as you go
As you’re stepping out of the shower, take 10 seconds to grab any near-empty bottles that have been lingering in the shower caddy. These take so long to drip the dregs out of, that they often get abandoned and forgotten about, gathering soap scum and bacteria while they wait.
If you’ve got more of the same product, tip what’s left into the new bottles so it gets used, then recycle the packaging. What’s left in the shower should only be what’s used daily, so move any specialised hair products or exfoliators into the bathroom cabinet until they’re needed. Otherwise, they only make the shower more difficult to clean.
Using your shower spray in the sink
Daily shower sprays are spritzed in the shower to limit limescale and soap scum – you apply it throughout the shower once you’re finished and there’s no need to rinse away. It works by breaking down residue (like soap scum and oils) while leaving a protective barrier behind, preventing limescale from forming.
It’s generally suitable for use on glass, porcelain, enamel and chrome, so why not make use of it in the sink while you’ve got it to hand? Giving your sink a quick once over with your shower spray can prevent soap scum and limescale from forming just as it does your shower. Sure, you use your sink more often, and it will be rinsed away more quickly but giving it a fresh coating each day can help it stay cleaner for longer, and it takes seconds to apply.
Just make sure your shower spray is suitable for use on the sink first, depending on what it’s made from.
Mr Muscle Mr Muscle Platinum Shower Shine Spray, Pack of 6
Keeping bin bags under the bin
To save time and encourage empty bins, it’s always worth keeping a small roll of bin bags under the bathroom bin. That way, when the time comes to empty it, you don’t have to root through the cabinet under the kitchen sink.
If you’re dealing with a smelly bathroom bin, swap the bin bags out for a tablespoon of bicarb. It will actively deodorise a smelly space and you can vacuum it up after 3 months with the crevice attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
Cracking open a window
It takes seconds to do but it makes all the difference. Opening a window will ventilate your bathroom and release any moisture that sitting on the walls and ceiling. That means mould and bacteria are less likely to grow.
No windows? You can speed up the process by opening doors (and opening windows elsewhere), turning on the bathroom extractor fan or placing a dehumidifier outside of the room. Above all, you want to keep the room dry to discourage bacterial growth.
Bathroom cleaning kit
