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In a perfect world, you have plenty of time on your hands, and still have the enviable energy of a teenager to scrub your home clean so every inch— including your bathroom— is Instagramable. That way you don’t have to panic when certain people, let’s say, your mother-in-law, shows up on your doorstep unexpectedly.
Time is a luxury these days, so you must be strategic about using yours. Let’s be honest, who has the time to spend hours, or worse, their hard-earned weekends, scrubbing? But believe it or not, you only need a few minutes of focused, speed cleaning to keep each room at home nice and tidy.
Check out this ultimate guide on how to clean your bathroom like a pro if you only have 10 minutes.
First, How Dirty Is Your Bathroom Exactly?
The bathroom is notorious for being one of the grossest places ever. For instance, in public restrooms, airborne poo bacteria are blown off into the atmosphere from frequent use of hand dryers. On the other hand, while it may seem more harmless and well-maintained, your bathroom at home can also potentially be a hotbed for disease-causing bacteria, such as:
- Staphylococcus aureus – causes skin diseases and other infections
- E. Coli – may cause stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea
- Shigella – can cause shigellosis, an intestinal infection that can develop into dysentery
These bacteria can silently lurk in your bathroom and make you sick whenever your immune system is at risk. But no worries, you can easily protect yourself from them by practicing proper hygiene, like frequent hand washing and regular cleaning and disinfecting your bathroom.
Speed Clean Your Bathroom in 10 Minutes
Now that you have enough motivation to keep your bathroom sparkling clean and germ-free get to work with this 10-minute cleaning routine!
1. Get Your Cleaning Essentials Ready
Prepare everything you need and keep them within reach before you do the dirty work, so you don’t waste time going out and looking for things. For example, if you’re planning to stick to a fast bathroom cleaning routine weekly, keep a bucket of cleaning supplies under the sink or linen closet. These include:
- Toilet cleaning brush
- Disinfecting wipes – Stock up on these because they are total lifesavers, especially for cleaning touch-ups
- Scrub-free shower and tub cleaner
- All-purpose cleaner or a spray bottle filled with water and vinegar solution if following green cleaning for your home.
- Mop with disposable cleaning pads
- Rubber gloves are optional but highly recommended if you are using acid-based cleaning products and/or have sensitive skin.
- Scrubbing sponge
- Spray bottle
- A stash of garbage bags
- Broom
2. Prep, Spray, and Soak
Pro tip: Start by tackling the most visibly dirty areas where you need to use cleaning agents that require waiting. Multitask while you’re waiting for the cleaning solution to do its magic.
- Apply bathroom or all-purpose cleaning product on the insides of your toilet bowl, including the rim and the lid, which are notorious for pee and poo splashes. Let it soak for at least five minutes before scrubbing with a toilet brush cleaner. Wipe down the exterior surfaces of your toilet bowl, including the tank, sides, and bottom part or the base. These areas can make your bathroom smell gross due to urine splatters, especially if you have little boys or male housemates.
- Use a no-scrub cleaner on your bathroom sink and tub, leave it on for a few minutes, and rinse. Dry with paper towels or a clean, absorbent towel.
3. Clean the Bathroom Mirror
Spray glass cleaner or DIY vinegar and water cleaning solution on the mirror. Wipe down repeatedly using paper towels.
4. Sweep and Mop the Bathroom Floor
Do a quick sweep of the bathroom floor to get rid of strands of hair, dust, and other debris on the floor. Mop with your Swiffer afterward.
5. Collect Empty Products and Replenish Toiletries
Declutter your bathroom sink of used-up beauty and skincare products. Next, refill shampoo, soap bottles, and toilet paper. While you’re at it, organize your bathroom countertop by putting everything in its proper place. These include your makeup, perfume, hair brush, hair dryer, and other stuff making the surface look messy.
6. Disinfect Surfaces
As a final touch, use disinfecting wipes to kill off lingering germs and bacteria in your bathroom, including your bathroom countertop and other high-touch surfaces like the faucet, door knobs, drawer handles, and toilet flush.
7. Empty Waste Bin
Take the trash out of your bathroom waste bin and replace its liner. Don’t forget this step, as it can be a potent source of foul odor and yucky germs.
Got More Time? Here’s What Can You Do in 30 Minutes
Sometimes 10 minutes is all you need to get yourself pumped up for more major bathroom cleaning. If you’ve got more time, go ahead and do the following:
- Wash the shower curtain. – Take out the shower curtain. Throw it in the washer with some old towels. Wash it with a cup of white vinegar and a few drops of liquid detergent. Rehang to dry.
- Clean the glass shower door or enclosure. – Apply vinegar and baking soda paste on the surfaces, leave it on for at least 10 minutes, and gently scrub with a sponge. Rinse and buff dry with a microfiber cloth.
- Deep clean surfaces- Spray all-purpose cleaners on dirty surfaces, including stained areas on the bathroom floor. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then buff the stain with a scrubbing sponge.
- Descale the showerhead – Soak it in a plastic bag filled with white vinegar and water. Leave it on overnight. Flush out salts and mineral deposits with hot water. Give the nozzles a bit of scrubbing, concentrating on the clogged areas. Flush again with hot water to rinse. Wipe dry with a clean and dry cloth.
How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom?
Ideally, you want to clean your bathroom at least once a week to prevent it from being a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. It may seem like a lot of work, but cleaning your bathroom frequently can save you from having to deal with deep cleaning limescale and mineral deposits, soap scum, mold, mildew, and other gross buildups. The more you regularly clean the less time you have to spend scrubbing or deep cleaning.
