Temperatures are warming up and flowers are blooming, it’s time to do a little spring cleaning. Rinsing porches and cleaning behind furniture is a good start, but what about your bathrooms? How can you get them ready for the warmer and brighter weather coming your way? In this article, I will share some tips with you for sprucing up your bathroom just 
in time for spring.
When doing a deep clean of your bathroom, expect to get in every nook and cranny. Faucets, drains, grout, baseboards, all of it could use a clean every once in a while. Begin by collecting all the supplies you’ll need: bleach, soap scum cleaner, multi-purpose cleaner, rags, old toothbrushes, baking soda, vinegar, glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, a toilet bowl brush, a broom and dustpan, a mop, a trash bag, and last but not least, rubber gloves.
Begin by emptying the trash can in your bathroom, and then start to go through drawers and cabinets. Take one thing at a time, starting with one drawer. Throw away expired medicine, old makeup, stray Q-tips, and anything of the like. If you haven’t used it in a while and don’t see yourself using it soon, go ahead and toss it. Freeing up space will help you better organize the things you do use daily in your bathroom. Once you’ve thrown out as much as you can, remove everything else from the cabinets and drawers and set them out on the ground or in another room out of the way. Use multi-purpose cleaner to spray out all drawers and cabinets. Then, begin to put everything back while organizing by type (example: makeup goes with makeup, hair care goes with hair care, etc). This will make sure that all the items in the same category are in the same place, so you never again have to go digging through multiple drawers to find what you need. Now that the interiors of your bathroom drawers and cabinets are fresh and clean, let’s move on to some of the more nitty-gritty areas of your bathroom.
There’s no doubt that your tubs and sinks get a lot of use and abuse. Between soap scum, hair clogs, toothpaste, and more, these parts of your bathroom will need a little tender love and care. Begin by pouring baking soda down all the drains in your bathroom. Follow it with vinegar to create a homemade drain cleaner that’s safer than the harsh chemicals found in many other products. The chemical reaction between the vinegar and baking soda will both dislodge any clogs that may be hanging around in your pipes, but will also begin to break down the items causing the clogs and will wash them down. For best results, cover the drains after pouring the vinegar so the entire solution stays in the pipes and doesn’t bubble out into your sink or tub. After 2 minutes, run hot water down the drains to further clear any blockages. Now that you have clear drains, you can begin working on the tub, sinks, and faucets themselves. It would be best to put on your rubber gloves now to protect your hands from the chemicals in your cleaning products. Start by spraying soap scum cleaner all around your tub and/or shower, as well as on any of the faucets. Let it sit for approximately 30 seconds, then wet a rag with hot water and get to scrubbing! As you work, rinse the rag periodically to rid it of extra cleaning solution, soap scum, or dirt. When you come to the end of your scrubbing, rinse the entire tub/shower down with hot water, and wipe the faucets down with multi-purpose cleaner to rid them of any streaks caused by the soap scum cleaner.
Countertops, luckily, are simple. Move everything out of your way and spray them down with multi-purpose cleaner, following this with a wipe from a clean rag. Done! Toilets, on the other hand, will take some work. Often, the toilet is the most dreaded thing to clean in a bathroom. But have no fear! You’re armed with rubber gloves, the right cleaning supplies, and the perfect amount of elbow grease to make your toilet gleam. Begin by cleaning the bowl: squirt a generous amount of toilet bowl cleaner around the inside rim and begin scrubbing with your toilet bowl brush. Don’t leave a single nook unscrubbed! When you’re done, flush the toilet and leave the seat up to begin cleaning the rest of the bowl. Use bleach and a fresh rag to wipe down both the seat and the rim underneath, paying close attention to the back of the seat where the lid attaches. Try to get in and around the hinges of the lid to get a fresh start for spring. Finally, wipe down the lower part of the toilet and the floor directly surrounding the toilet with bleach. Voila! A perfectly clean toilet!
We’re coming to the end of our bathroom cleaning extravaganza! Only the floors, mirrors, and any windows remain. For windows and mirrors, simply spray with glass cleaner and wipe down with a rag or paper towel. Your floors, however, will need a little more elbow grease. Begin by sweeping up any dust or hair found on the floor. Then, if you have tile with grout in your bathroom, grab your bleach and an old toothbrush. Pour a little bleach on the floor and use the old toothbrush to scrub in between the tiles on your bathroom floor. This will help lift dirt from the grout while bleaching stains. This could take a while, so buckle down! Once the grout is to your liking, you can simply mop the floor with hot water and multi-purpose cleaner.
And there you have it! A fresh and shining bathroom, ready for spring! Though the term is ‘spring cleaning,’ your bathroom can benefit from a deep clean 3-5 times a year. Bathrooms get heavy use, and deep cleaning more regularly can make the process go faster than waiting until each spring. I hope you’ve enjoyed these tips! If you’re considering remodeling your bathroom, take a look at our website or call us at 614-721-3883. Happy spring, everyone!
For seniors, the bathroom can be a potentially hazardous place in the home. In recognition of National Bath Safety Month, we’re sharing the information that you need to know about bath safety for seniors. Just a few easy modifications can transform the bathroom into a safer space for the elderly.
The National Council on Aging reports that 1 in 4 Americans aged 65 and over fall each year. These accidents can result in a variety of injuries, some of which can be fatal. Slip and fall accidents frequently occur in the bathroom, where the conditions can be slippery. The risks for seniors are real, but luckily there are effective ways to reduce them. By making some changes to create a more functional space for those with mobility and stability issues, seniors can avoid slip and fall incidents in their bathrooms.
A walk-in tub makes bathing a much simpler and safer experience. Having one professionally installed can be one of the keys to helping a senior stay in the comfort of their own home longer. Walk-in tubs are both stylish and functional. Seniors and their loved ones can have greater peace of mind after installing this type of tub.
Standing in the shower can be difficult, if not impossible for some seniors. A comfortable, durable shower seat is an ideal fix. Shower seats can be installed in an existing tub or stall, and there are also movable options, too.
Grab bars make it much easier to sit comfortably on the toilet and to enter and exit the tub and shower. They’re simple to install and provide essential support for individuals with mobility problems. Many grab bars are movable and can be easily and conveniently transferred to other areas of the room and other bathrooms. Others are mounted securely to the wall, making showering safer.
The pathway to the bathroom and the floor of the room should be kept clean and free of clutter. Consider removing small rugs and bath mats that can be trip hazards. Be sure that any rugs that are used have a secure rubber grip on the bottom to keep them in place. This prevents the rug from shifting around on tile and laminate floors.
Entering a dark bathroom is dangerous for seniors. A basic night light is ideal to keep the room illuminated in the evenings for safety. Consider using an LED light with a sensor that will automatically turn on after dusk.
A safer bathroom is easy to achieve with just a few simple modifications. For seniors planning to stay in the comfort of their own homes for years to come, installing a walk-in tub with a seat is an excellent option. Removing clutter, adding grab bars, and keeping the room well lit are all necessary and helpful. Take the steps to transform the bath into a safe room that can remain functional and provide the comfort that individuals with mobility issues need.
Contact us to start planning your safe bathroom remodel today!
Soaking in the bath after a long day is one of the most relaxing ways to unwind in the comfort of your own home. However, a dirty tub isn’t very inviting, and the sight of it can instantly stress you out. These bathtub cleaning tips will have your tub looking brand new in no time, and will have you ready to relax.
Try hydrogen peroxide or bleach. There are many bathroom cleaning products available today, and they all seem to claim that they can remove soap scum, water spots, and other stains. Sometimes the simplest solution is the right one, so give a product with hydrogen peroxide a try. Diluted bleach is another option, but take care not to get it on any towels or rugs, since it can quickly cause discoloration.
Try a natural cleaner. If you prefer not to use too many chemicals to clean your bathroom, try a tried and true natural method. Get an empty spray bottle and fill it up halfway with white vinegar, then fill the rest of the bottle with warm tap water. Shake it up, and then spray it all over the surface of the tub. You can also use it on tile walls. Allow it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes before wiping it off with a soft cloth. After wiping it down, rinse with water.
Clean often. The easiest way to keep your tub clean is by keeping up with it after every shower or bath. Use a squeegee to remove water from the shower walls, and then dry up the tub with a towel or absorbent sponge. This is especially important if you have hard water that leaves mineral deposits behind, as they’re likely to leave water spots. When you notice spots or stains, take the time to remove them right away.
A dirty bathroom is an uninviting one. With these bathroom tips in mind, you’ll be able to enjoy a clean tub whenever you’re ready for a relaxing soak.
As you start planning your spring cleaning strategy around the home, be sure to take a little extra time in the bathroom. With so much moisture, this is one area that will truly benefit from a deep cleaning. Here are some helpful tips on how to get it done right:
Start with a Blank Slate
Begin by taking everything out of the bathroom that you can. This includes shampoo bottles, soaps, toothbrushes, rugs, bath mats, and anything that sits on the shelves and counter tops. Having a blank slate to work with will make it easier to spray down all of the surfaces so that you can give them a good scrub.
Dust and Spray
Take a duster or damp cloth and dust all of the surfaces that probably get overlooked during weekly cleanings, like windowsills, the top of the medicine cabinet, and shelves. Next, use a multi purpose surface cleaner and spray the counter. Wipe it clean with a damp cloth, and move on to the sink.
Spray down the bathtub and shower stall with a product that is designed to remove soap scum and mildew. You may need to do a little scrubbing at this point to get the tiles and tub looking sparkling clean. Don’t forget the faucets and the mirror, which can be wiped down with a basic glass cleaner.
Next, move on to the toilet. Use the toilet bowl scrubber to remove any stains inside of the bowl, and be sure to clean under the rim. Use a clean rag to wipe down the outside of the toilet, all the way behind it and down to the floor.
Finally, you will want to clean the floors. The bathroom typically has tile floors, making it easy to do a quick mop. Get in all of the corners and behind the toilet. Once the floors are dry, then you can replace the rugs with a clean set.
Take some time to clean off the small items before putting them back, such as the toothbrush holder and soap dispenser. Once everything is cleaned and organized, your bathroom should look and smell great.
Contact Columbus Bath Design today to start designing your dream bathroom. We look forward to exceeding your expectations.
