7 Bathroom Cleaning Mistakes You Need to Stop Doing Right Now
Make this household chore easier with these tips from interior designer Angelica Dumalus
Given all the tasks we need to finish at home, we try to find ways to make household chores fun and bearable. While some hacks get the job done, there are must-dos that do more harm than good. Take for example cleaning the bathroom—do you look forward to it? The smallest and wettest room in the house can be challenging to clean, especially if you want to maintain the hotel-like ambiance. How often do you clean your T&B? According to interior designer Angelica Dumalus, it should be done once a week and that you should sweep the floors daily. “It’s also good if the owners have a habit of ‘cleaning as they go.’ It will promote a cleaner lifestyle for the household,” she adds.
To be able to clean the bathroom efficiently, we need to note the common causes of clutter so we can address each accordingly. “The main culprit is usually the lack of cabinets or a storage system in the bathroom. There are homeowners who have tons of toiletries and need to use baskets or cabinets to hide these away,” shares Angelica. Aside from the lack of storage bins, there are those who still use old and torn towels, some who don’t use hampers, and a few who just leave dirty clothes on the floor. To help you ace cleaning the bathroom minus the stress, Angelica shares a list of cleaning mistakes you need to avoid and handy hints you can work on to keep it spotless:
1. Forgetting to clean the shower curtain
Just because it gets wet doesn’t mean it’s clean. “Most residents who have shower curtains tend to forget to clean this when they scrub their shower area. If you’re using a fabric lined shower curtain, you can throw it in the washing machine and call it a day. However, if you have the plastic lined ones, bleach usually does the trick,” suggests the designer.
2. Not taking care of the lavatory countertop
The lavatory is one of the first things you’ll see the moment you step inside the bathroom. Aside from keeping all our toiletries on top, we also tend to forget keeping the actual lavatory in good condition. “If you have a built-in lavatory counter setup, most likely, you have a granite stone finish. It is best to maintain its quality by having it professionally polished and sealed every two years. This way, you avoid getting bacteria buildup from the porosity of the granite,” Angelica explains.
3. Not wiping the water spots on glass and chrome surfaces
Water spots and streaks can instantly ruin the overall look of your bathroom. After using the bathroom, make sure you wipe the counter, glass, and chrome surfaces immediately to avoid water stains. “Given the hard water we use in our homes, it’s best to wipe it down dry,” says Angelica.
4. Leaving the toilet brush wet
“After scrubbing the toilet, air dry your toilet brush to avoid any water dripping from your toilet brush holder,” she adds.
5. Forgetting to replace old cleaning tools
To be able to clean the bathroom efficiently, we need to invest in the right cleaning tools. “It’s usually a good idea to buy new cleaning tools for your bathroom, especially if your brushes and sponges are worn out,” says the designer.
6. Keeping the toothbrushes on top of or near the water closet
Since the bathroom is damp and we don’t get to leave it open to let air circulate when it’s not in use, bacteria tends to grow in the space. “By placing your toothbrush near the water closet where you do your ‘business,’ you are prone to sickness. An ideal place to store it is inside your medicine cabinet or somewhere away from open air,” Angelica shares.
7. Using one cleaner for all surfaces
While you can always depend on multipurpose cleaners, you may want to look into the possibility of using different cleaners for different surfaces. “The bathroom has a lot of surfaces and these require different solutions. When cleaning tiles, you can use an abrasive surface cleaner to remove molds and scum; for ceramic surfaces, use non-abrasive surface cleaners with anti-bacterial properties; and for glass and mirror surfaces, use glass cleaners to wipe away any streaks. For proper cleaning, make sure to stock up your cleaning arsenal with these types,” explains the designer.
Ready for your home makeover? Get in touch with interior designer Angelica Dumalus through email at angelicadumalus[at]gmail.com.
