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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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Did we forget anything on this checklist? What would you add?

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