Cleaning Bathroom Accessories Checklist

Caution: Objects in the mirror may be dirtier than they appear. Shine them up with this routine.

Fixtures

Wipe down the towel racks, toilet-paper holder, hooks, and other fixtures. Wet a cloth with water, and squirt dishwashing liquid onto it.
Work around wall mountings, if necessary. A wet toothbrush will do the job.
Dry with a clean cloth. This will prevent mineral deposits.

Medicine Cabinet

Empty the cabinet. Wipe the walls and the shelves (tops and undersides) with a cloth spritzed with all-purpose cleaner. Dry with a clean cloth.
Clean the door. If the door is wood, wipe it with a damp cloth and dishwashing liquid, applying pressure to any toothpaste splatters. If it is glass, spray glass cleaner onto a cloth and wipe it in a circular motion. For a mirrored door, see Mirror, below.

Mirror

Apply cleaner. Mix one part white vinegar and one part warm water in a bucket and dip a cloth in the solution. Or spray glass cleaner onto a cloth or a crumpled piece of newspaper. Refrain from spraying cleaner directly onto the mirror, because excess liquid can seep behind the edges, causing black spots to appear on the reflective surface.
Wipe the mirror. Work in a circular motion, from the outside of the mirror in and from top to bottom.
Buff off spots. If residue from toothpaste or hair spray persists, rub it with a cloth wet with hot water.
Dry thoroughly. Use a clean cloth or a coffee filter to prevent streaks.

Plastic Shower-Curtain Liner

Take down the liner. Put it in the washing machine with old towels. The towels will agitate the liner, scrubbing off soap scum.
Run the washing machine on a hot-water soaking cycle. Pour in 3/4 cup of bleach when water fills the machine. Detergent isn’t necessary; the bleach should kill mold and mildew and remove stains.
Clean any remaining mildew. Should there still be mildew after machine washing, make a paste of baking soda and water, smear it onto a cloth, and rub it on the growth.
Rinse off the baking-soda solution. Wipe the liner with a wet cloth.

Sink Accessories

Wipe down any containers. Whether plastic, porcelain, or stainless steel, most containers can be cleaned with a cloth dampened with dishwashing liquid and water.
Do the detail work. Get into the grooves of toothbrush holders and the edges of soap dishes with a cotton swab or a pipe cleaner.
Dry the pieces. Wipe with a clean cloth to prevent mineral deposits.

Toilet

Pour a bucket of water into the toilet. This will flush out the water that’s already in there.
Gently rub rust and hard-water stains in the bowl. A natural pumice stone (available at hardware stores) will work well. To avoid scratching, keep the stone moist.
Squirt toilet-bowl cleaner or a mildly abrasive creamy cleanser around the inner rim. Then swab the bowl, rim, and drain with a toilet brush.
Flush the toilet. The cleaner can corrode the bowl’s glaze if it sits too long.
Wipe the commode. Spray all-purpose cleaner onto a cloth and scrub the screw coverings at the bottom with a toothbrush.
Wipe the seat. Using the same cloth, scrub around the hinges with a toothbrush. Rinse the area with a wet cloth, and buff dry.

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