Spring Cleaning- Main Bath

I am so excited to be working on another thing to get my home "Spring Ready"... With the temps rising a bit and with 12 days left until the first official day of Spring.... I am SO ready. How about you?

This week, we will be working on the Main Bathroom. This is the bathroom that everyone uses, including guests when they come to your house. Are you ready??? I sure am!!!

Like we did last year, let's first talk GERMS. Yeah. In the bathroom, as you can imagine there are LOTS of them (and if you have kids there are probably more!). And we are going to try to get them all cleaned, and learn how to keep the germ level down.... Here are some that we mentioned last year:

• Did you know it is recommended that you flush the toilet with the lid DOWN? According to Charles Gerba, PhD, a professor of microbiology at University of Arizona in Tucson, flushing the toilet with the lid up is not wise. "Polluted water vapor erupts out of the flushing toilet bowl and it can take several hours for these particles to finally settle -- not to mention where," he says. "If you have your toothbrush too close to the toilet, you are brushing your teeth with what's in your toilet." Nice. That is why for the last year, I have been nearly obsessive with making the boys flush with the lid closed! YUCK!

• About scrubbing your tub/ shower- These should be cleaned to help reduce the spread of viruses, fungi, and bacteria. "Do it at least twice a week with a disinfectant that contains bleach," Horowitz says. Here's what can happen if you don't: "Germs can line the walls (of the tub) and you can easily touch the surface and then touch your mouth," he says. What's more, the dead skin cells that sit on inside of the tub can be contaminated. If someone with a cut or open wound goes in the tub, those organisms can infect that wound and increase the overall load of bacteria." Sweet. I usually spray mine down and let it sit for about 10-20 minutes then scrub it down...

• Wipe down sinks and drains each day with a cleanser containing chlorine bleach. This will knock out 99.9 percent of fecal organisms. Countertops, appliances, and faucet handles should get the treatment two or three times a week, and toilets, tubs, and showers once a week. I usually replace my hand towel by the sink daily also.
  

Just a few little tidbits to gross you out this fine day! So what is the PLAN???

This week we need to:

• Give the shower/tub area a good scrub down. Use a really good cleaner and even get out a scrub brush and scrub every inch of that shower. Use this as an opportunity to clean out any unused items from the shower, like the rest of that conditioner that you don't use anymore, or the old razor.

• Also, replace you shower curtain, if it needs it. If you have a cloth one, take it off and wash it this week. Usually they recommend not drying these in the dryer, so they should be fine hanging them a little damp. My suggestion would be to wash the curtain either first thing in the morning or right before bed. And let it dry at a time when not many people will touch it. I would do it during the day when my boys are at school.

• Sweep. Wipe down the floors and the walls with a disinfecting cleaner. Clean the mirror. Wash your curtains. All of these things on the walls and floor will catch any germs as the toilet is being flushed with the lid up. When wiping down the floor, start at the furthest point away from the toilet, then work your way TO the toilet. That way none of the "toilet germs" are spread across the floor.

• Clean your sink. Clean Anything that is also sitting around your sink. I use an old toothbrush around the faucet fixture. You would be grossed out on how much dirt those boys drag in... Summer is horrible! Spring and mud do us NO favors... And then it sits around the faucet. Make sure you are wiping down your sink area DAILY. Especially if anyone in you home is sick with colds or flu.



• Rid out you cupboards. Organize! This is needed in my bathroom! I get so many good deals on things in all kind of gets shoved in our cupboards and then, doesn't really scream organized. Add baskets and drawers, as needed to organize your toothbrushes, combs, and other person items.



• Have a laundry hamper. This seems to go with out saying but it does reduce a lot of mess in a bathroom if there is somewhere for those dirties to go! And if you already have a hamper make sure you clean it!!! This is also a place for germs and bacteria. Spray this down regularly with a disinfecting spray.



• If everything working? Make sure you get those things fixed this week. Are all of the light bulbs working? Anything else need done?

• Last but not least, how is the decorating? Did you want to do anything different? Add anything new? Now's the time!

Here are the pictures of my bathroom:




Not too bad, needs some organizing. And I will definitely be scrubbing it down. I try to keep it clean because I read all of those "facts" last year about germs and try to keep them at bay.

So, now it's YOUR turn! Let's see what you got!