Keeping the Bathroom Clean
Shower
After showering, run a squeegee down the shower doors and walls in long, vertical strokes. (No need to use any cleaner.) Soap scum, mildew, and hard-water marks are less likely to materialize on a dry surface.
Spread out the shower curtain after use. Mildew grows faster in bunched-up folds. Another idea: Turn on the fan while showering to dissipate the steam in the room. That way, mildew has less chance to grow.
At the first sign of black mildew in tile grout, soak a cotton ball in bleach and dab it on the spot. In about 30 minutes, the mold will most likely be gone.
Apply a sealant (available at hardware stores) to grout twice a year, following the manufacturer’s instructions, to prevent staining. Stone vanity tops also benefit from the application of a sealant once a year.
Toilet
Pour a cup of water and a splash of bleach into a plastic or porcelain toilet-brush caddy (metal-trimmed caddies tend to rust). From then on, your disinfected brush will be at the ready to swish the bowl anytime.
Tub
Before you throw away that empty can of peanuts, save the plastic lid and set it underneath a can of shaving cream to prevent rust from forming on the rim of the tub. Or brush clear nail polish on the metal ring around the bottom of the can to ward off rust altogether.
Smooth white paste car wax (available at hardware stores) onto a cloth and rub it on the sides of a porcelain-enamel tub, but not on the nonslip surface. (If you wax the areas on which you walk, they could become dangerously slippery when wet.) Not only will it leave a shine but it will also create a protective barrier against water-and-soap buildup.
