No one wants to do it but here are tips for deep cleaning your bathroom – Utica Observer Dispatch

By Deb Cabral| Special to the Observer-Dispatch

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The bathroom can be one of the most germ-filled rooms in the house. Even when the room looks neat and orderly, germs can be lurking everywhere. Here are some strategies for giving the bathroom a good, old fashioned deep cleaning.

Start with the shower. Its best to start at the top with the showerhead. Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and place it over the showerhead, using a rubber band to hold it in place. Leaving it overnight, remove it in the morning and run the shower to rinse it. The showerhead should be as clean as a whistle. Clean the tub and tile with your bathroom cleaner of choice and wipe with a microfiber cloth. If you have a shower door(s), make a paste of baking soda and vinegar and rub the mix with a sponge on both sides of the door and inside the track. Let sit for 30 minutes to an hour and rinse. Put the shower curtain and liner in the washing machine on delicate with detergent and a small amount of bleach. Spin dry both items on low. Clean the shower curtain rings by soaking them in the sink with dish detergent and a splash of bleach. Now your shower will be fresh and clean.

Tile, countertop, walls and ceiling. A build-up of soap and even dead skin cells can be on all of these surfaces. Gross, but true. Spray all of these areas with an all-purpose cleaner. Turn on the shower and run the water until it causes steam for at least five minutes. Then shut off the shower and leave the room, closing the door behind you. Let the steam do its work for at least 20 minutes. Then wipe down all surfaces with a clean cloth. Use a microfiber mop to reach the high spots.

Dont forget the grout. Grout is porous and can be a haven for bacteria. Using a toothbrush and bleach, scrub all the grout, especially those that may be discolored. Let the bleach sit for a few minutes and rinse with hot water. For those that do not like to use bleach, hot water and vinegar will do the trick too, but leave it on for at least an hour before rinsing. Open the window to keep fresh air coming into the room, if you choose to use bleach.

Save the best for last (not really!) the toilet. Pour a full cup of baking soda into the toilet and let it sit for 10 minutes. Using a toilet brush (my favorite is one that IKEA sells for $1.99), scrub and clean all areas of the toilet and then flush. Dont forget to clean the toilet brush. Poor bleach over a sink onto the brush works best, but if youd prefer not to use bleach, vinegar and hot water can be a suitable substitute. Using a Lysol wipe, clean the seat and all of the outer parts of the toilet, including the base. Then wash down with a rag with hot water and dry.

Wash the hand towels. Its best to wash your hand towels on the sanitizing setting, if your washing machine has that setting, especially during the pandemic. Replace hand towels every few days to avoid the spread of bacteria. Clean the towel bar as well.

Having a clean bathroom helps keep bacteria at bay and you and your family healthy!

Look for more tips from Deb in the Observer-Dispatch every Sunday and on her websites decluttercoachdeb.com and dceffconsult.com. You can follow her on social media and watch her TV show Organization Motivation! organizationmotivation.com.

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No one wants to do it but here are tips for deep cleaning your bathroom - Utica Observer Dispatch