How to Clean Your Bathroom in 5 Minutes or Less
Updated: Feb. 01, 2017Unexpected guests arriving at any moment? Use these pro strategies to make your bathroom look clean (and still have time to bake cookies).
Hide your stuff
If you’ve got extra toothpaste, hairspray, and a bunch of hair ties and bobby pins lying around, get them out of sight, stat. Store excess counter top items under the sink until you can put them away properly later. These smart storage hacks can help you banish clutter.
Clear the air
If your bathroom smells stale, consider lighting a candle with a mild scent or lightly spritzing the place with a room spray—try LAFCO House And Home Fragrance Mist in French Lilac or Marine. While this fragrance is made with natural essential oils, be aware that traditional room-deodorizing sprays can be bad for the environment and your respiratory system. Professional cleaning service Molly Maid recommends using potpourri to cover smells in the bathroom.
Dust the floor
If your bathroom floor is kind of gross, a quick sweep can make a big difference. Do a once-over with a broom and dust pan, and then go back and spot-clean any stubborn stains—both of which will take less time than a comprehensive mopping. Check out the simple housecleaning tips you’ll wish you’d known sooner.
Clean the rim of the toilet
If you don’t have time to clean your toilet comprehensively, wipe down the seat (the top and the porcelain underneath) with an antibacterial bathroom wipe, suggests Pete Mosby of Clean it Up London.
Empty the trash can
One of the most important (and easiest!) tips is to empty the bathroom garbage. The Maids Team from The Maids Cleaning Service recommends that you also spray the inside of the can with a disinfectant cleaner that kills bacteria—and odor.
Wipe down bath rings
If you have a filmy ring around your bath from your last soak, drag a soapy washcloth along the tub to get rid of it. If it isn’t budging, The Maids Team from The Maids Cleaning service says not to worry. “Scotch-Brite Dobie Cleaning Pads are great for removing soap scum from shower doors and tile in the bathroom,” they say. “Use a dry Dobie to remove soap scum buildup before using your cleaning products.”
Put out fresh hand towels
If you don’t have much time to clean your bathroom, don’t focus on things that short-term guests wouldn’t use, like full-size bath towels. Instead, replace the hand towels—or have a stash of fancy paper guest towels just for this occasion.
