If you visited me, as opposed to looking at my photos, you really would not think I'm that great of a housekeeper. I'm the kind of person who never even gives a thought to whether there should be toothbrushes in the downstairs bathroom (you know, the bathroom your dinner guests use), because to me it's more important that I'm able to brush my teeth when I want to go to bed than whether the guests see my toothbrushes.
Oops.
And you see, at our house we don't have a master-bedroom bathroom, despite having five bathrooms. It's complicated. Maybe at your house things are complicated too, and maybe you aren't that great of a housekeeper, figuring that if you got yourself dressed you were ahead of the game, never mind cleaning bathtubs…
But you know, the bathroom needs to be clean! And it needs to look clean and smell clean. For a professional explanation of how to clean a bathroom, go to the library and check out some books like Home Comforts or Confessions of an Organized Homemaker.
Michael's craft mirror, thrifted knob, hand-me-down ribbon and curtain tack. |
If I may, I would just like to offer a few little things having to do with cleaning bathrooms while nursing babies, homeschooling, being 8 months preggo and not bendable, and in short, just having lots of kids. It's the reality factor that's missing from the books (less in Confessions, as the author raised five children; more in Home Comforts, the author of which had one child, and I truly believe you can do anything with one child, including have a clean house all the time!).
First, do everything in your power to get a bathroom made of cleanable substances. When comparing toilets, for example, steer clear of the ones with many nooks and crannies and inaccessible places. Why, oh why, did anyone ever invent the cursed shower door? What's so wrong with a bathtub/shower combo? At least if a shower curtain gets gross you can throw it out and get a new one.
And don't get me started on Jacuzzis. You can't bathe a baby in one. No one can afford to fill one. And no one has time for one. Please just get me an old fashioned bathtub. Please.
Old-fashioned door, not an old-fashioned tub 🙁 |
Go ahead and scrape out old caulking and replace it with silicone caulking — very thinly applied. Use your finger — you can wipe it off later. Eschew very white grout. Use washable paint and avoid wallpaper. Wallpaper + steam = drooping wallpaper, duh.
Living in old houses, we've always had issues with other people's bad construction choices. I'm dreaming of the day when everything will be tightly sealed, mildew-free, and wipeable! Obviously it's easier to clean a good bathroom than a bad one, so get a good one if you can.
Paint your 70s cabinet black and the hardware suddenly pops. |
Okay, moving on to cleaning what you've got.
Personally, and maybe I'm revealing even more of my inadequacy than I intended to, I don't see the need for a bucket unless you are mopping the floor. The bucket idea seems to reach back into the mists of time when the bathroom didn't actually have running water in it. But LO! It does now. Don Aslett says (not sure in which of his valuable books) to use the water in the sink or tub and clean those last. I concur.
And there are two levels of bathroom cleaning, just like the other rooms: The Blitz and the Normal Clean (the deep clean is for special and you can consult the books on that one).
Now.
Here's where having lots of kids works in your favor.
The key to your life, obviously, is multi-tasking. No one multi-tasks like a mom. So, you know how all those kids are always needing a bath? And even when they aren't particularly dirty, it's just a lifesaver to get them in there splashing away?
Well, that time is your chance to get the bathroom into shape with a daily blitz. You have to be with them because they need supervision so that they don't drown and they don't grab razors and Tylenol and Comet and what have you. Yet, most of the time when you are in there, they are playing happily and you are doing nothing! So get off the phone and clean the bathroom!
Listen. Don't let them drown on account of me. Use your common sense. You know the difference between a baby who truly has to be watched every second and one who is okay in there because there are so many others in that tub that they are all like sardines, propping each other up! So you, also on the spot, can scrub down the toilet and sink.
So if anyone expires, don't blame moi.
But this is what I did, and my bathroom was cleaner then than it is now that I have lots of time: I used that playing time (and you really only need five minutes) to get the toilet scrubbed, wiped down, and dried off. Then, since I've used the sink for my water supply, I clean that, using a different sponge, and rinse and dry it off. (Use rag towels for drying.) Wipe off the mirror.
Replace the hand towel with a clean one (please do this at least once a day with many kids around!).
It follows as the night the day that your supplies need to be right there under the sink or in a handy cabinet. No running down the hall for Windex. Stock up with the following:
- Two sponges of distinct styling (that have been demoted from kitchen use): one for the toilet, the other for everything else
- Comet (what's wrong with good ole Comet?)
- Scrubbing bubbles–type spray for the accursed shower
- Mildew spray for the accursed shower
- Toilet brush
- Windex (store brand, natch)
- Paper towels and rags for the mirror
- If you are saddled with a shower door, get a squeegee. Never mind sprays — you need to wipe that water off with a rubber tool.
- Rubber gloves that don't have holes in them — treat yourself to a new pair
- A basin to contain it all neatly under the sink.
- A pitcher for rinsing dogs and tubs.
- Clean towels and washcloths.
Today is Friday and I don't replace the towels and washcloths in this basket until Saturday morning, but this is our immediate supply here on this yard-sale chippy kid's chair. |
When the kids are drying off and in various stages of getting dressed, running around naked, screaming, and laughing, wash out the tub, gather up your dirty towels along with their things and back yourself out of your blitzed bathroom.
Once or twice a week, shake out and wash the rugs, vacuum and mop the floor, change the bath towels, and you're good to go.
How do you only do bath towels once a week? How, Auntie Leila?
Color code the towels. I mean, unless you have it together enough for monograms! Do not rely on the placement of the towel (i.e. hooks or racks). All it takes is for two children to toss their towels on the floor and you are sunk. You do need hooks, because a towel that has dried a clean child will be fine for many days if it dries out completely between uses.
You know the hygiene protocol that you go through with each child, teaching them to wipe themselves and wash their hands? Let me advise you to revisit that training every year or two, asking them to visualize what is happening to that towel if they are not using warm water and soap to wash their hands… yeah.
As you leave, ask yourself if your bathroom looks and smells clean. Imagine that you are taking a guest around your house. (This happens often, I find. Sometimes they are looking for their child, sometimes they want a tour. It's revealing, isn't it?) What would you change right now if a non-family member were there? Do it!
Don't boom and bust in your bathroom — it should always be fairly presentable. Good job!
Now, would you do me a favor? If you have recently built or renovated a bathroom and know of and have experience with fixtures (tub, sink, toilet, shower, faucets, flooring) that are durable, affordable, and easy to clean (over time — they all look good to start with, but then reveal their blasted impossible places to get at and moldering aspects), would you share with us? I for one would surely appreciate it!
Juliana B says
My only suggestion for easy-to-clean bathroom fixtures can be summed up in two words: No Tile. Tile on the floor is fine, as long as the grout doesn't have to be white (gray is quite nice, actually), but tile in the shower is a disaster to keep clean! I love those fiberglass shower surrounds. They have molded edges that are easy to clean, don't have crooks and crannies to attract the mildew buggies, and come clean with a nice dusting of scrubbing bubbles, unlike tile with a porcelain tub which require Soft Scrub, lots of bending and a ton of elbow grease. We live in an old house, and when we were renovating a few years ago, elected to leave the tile in the showers because it was One. More. Thing at that point, and have regretted it ever since. It is freezing in the winter, mildewy in the summer, and generally a pain.
I would also avoid pedestal sinks–lots of nooks and crannies, especially around the base, that are difficult to clean. Plus you don't get any storage with them.
What I would love to find is a toilet that doesn't have so many bumps and angles in it. 🙂
Lisa G. says
You know, Juliana – for years I deplored the wall grouting, like you do, over the tub. I'd scrub it with everything and it was still black. But recently my brother mixed bleach and water in a spray bottle, and it removed the blackest stuff after spraying and letting it dry, twice! I felt a fool, and I'm sure I looked so to him! LOL
Amy says
Delurking to say, “Be careful with the bleach on your grout!” Apparently, the bleach weakens the grout, causing it to crumble, leading to even more headaches than your original mildew problem. However, if your option is evil black grout that you're going to have to eventually re-grout anyway, and clean grout that will last a while until it crumbles and you have to re-grout, I guess I would probably choose white grout? In which case, why am I warning you at all? Oh, never mind. 🙂
Lisa G. says
Thank you, Amy! (mama mia!)
Lisa G. says
I have one thing to say, which you may well already know – we recently had to get a new bathtub/shower faucet/shower head-etc., and this one doesn't have the take-it-off-the-hook-and-spray-it capability. I never used it on myself while washing, BUT I MISS IT FOR CLEANING THE SHOWER CURTAIN. It made that job much easier. So, don't get a shower head without that goose-neck thingy!
Betsy M says
“. . because there are so many others in that tub too that they are all like sardines, propping each other up!”
There are too many kids in this tub
There are too many elbows to scrub
I just washed a behind that I believe is not mine
There are too many kids in this tub.
Shel Silverstein- A light in the Attic (I think)
My kids LOVE this poem. Thanks for the how to – I do lots of that currently but not all. I am off to clean. 🙂
Anitra says
We got a cheapo incredibly-flat-topped sink/vanity from Home Depot a few years ago, and installed it last year. It looks dirty sooner, since it has no texture, but it is SO easy to wipe clean! We have a very plain pedestal sink in our second bathroom, which has also been fairly easy to clean. The secret is to get something cheap and plain, I guess.
We also got metal shelves, which I am regretting, since they already look slightly rusty after a year. 🙁 Well-painted and/or sealed wood shelves are the way to go.
And personally, I love our Jacuzzi-style tub. It's deep enough that I can actually have a decent bath myself. And the jets make it a special treat for the kids to get a bath in it. I wouldn't do it if you didn't have another (standard) tub, though.
TeresaAtkinson says
I have a tiny bit to add. Comet (actually any cleaner that feels in any way gritty when rubbed between to fingers) will eventually wear through the shiny (and easy to clean finish) of the fixtures.
Look for a toilet with what is called a “concealed trap” lots of companies make them and NO NOOKS for the crud to catch in. Also you can buy an easy release toilet seat that removes almost effortlessly so you can clean that area around the hinge.
I sell plumbing fixture so care and cleaning is a part of my everyday discussions. RainX windshield cleaner is magic stuff to use on shower doors and mirrors – the water simply beads up on the doors and the morror will not fog up. It leaves a thin slippery film that keeps the scum from sticking. Any liquid car wax finish can be used on the walls and sides of a tub or shower (obviously not the bottom) . again it leaves the slippery surface so the crud doesn't stick. I do both of these activities at my own house about every 6 months (or when the water stops beading)
_Leila says
Teresa, I can't believe there is such a thing as an easy-release toilet seat! That is GENIUS. The toilet seat is the worst of all…
Cary says
I agree with shower doors. We have an incredibly small “master” bathroom with an incredibly small shower. Basically, one can stand in it; bending over to shave legs has been a challenge! When we moved here the shower door was disgusting. I tried my best to clean it, but it was simply gross. So, I asked my husband to remove it. In place I put up a shower curtain. I got a spring rod and of course have to adjust it so that the shower curtain comes down to the floor of the shower. There is a “lip” where the door was so the water doesn't come out while showering. The width is smaller than a regular shower curtain, so when I need to replace with a new one, I just cut the curtain to fit. Unfortunately, it need just a bit more than half, (I was hoping to get two curtains for the price of one!). Also, I have thrown my plastic liners into the washing machine with bleach when they are need of replacement. That has made them last a lot longer.
Heather says
I also clean the sink and toilet while chatting with my son when he is in the tub.
Easy release toilet seat? Genius! I had no idea and with little boys, I am wish listing this.
Kate says
Your bathroom is pretty, I like the blue it makes it look nice and bright, especially if there is no window.
It took me a few kids to realize I could clean the bathroom while they bathed, how I wish I knew that sooner! My favorite part of this post is the phrase within the title…” reasonably clean”. Oh that is genius, I shall use that phrase as often as I can!
margo says
I love that turquoise blue – that's the color on the walls of my laundry room/mudroom.
FIVE bathrooms??! I do not envy you. My husband is lobbying for another bathroom, but one is enough for me to keep clean, thank you. I do a good job, too, I might add.
We have a fiberglass shower stall with glass walls and door – it was the only thing that we could fit into our bathroom. We keep a squeegee in there and wipe down after every shower – even my 5 year old does this. Our bathroom is white tile on the walls, black and white tile on the floor – we copied the vintage 1930s tile – I love it. The grout is grey, which I highly recommend. Easy to keep clean and doesn't look yellow next to the bright white tile.
Momagain says
Grey grout! I'm recruiting that way, genius!!
margo says
(my comment was too long!!! I got told – here's the rest)
I can clean my bathroom in 15 minutes, which I do every Monday. Then it gets vacuumed and tidied at least 2 more times after that. More if the little male potty trainer is off target.
I keep my soap unwrapped in a metal basket on the back of the john. It's getting nice and hard in the air, which will make it last longer, and in the meantime, it sheds its scent lightly in the bathroom. We also have a combo magazine rack and toilet paper holder which I LOVE.
Teresa says
I concur wholeheartedly with JulianaB's comment about fiberglass surrounds. We have had 4 different new homes and only in this last one did we elect to put “cultured marble” in the shower rather than tiling again. I could have swooned with the difference it made in cleaning ease. A fiberglass surround went in the guest bath above the tub and again – as effortless cleaning as one can ask for (well, short of someone else actually doing it for me!)
Second tip – if one decides to renovate and get a lovely new vessel sink, I recommend avoiding glass or stainless steel (or nickel). We've had both. Both extremely lovely. But….. the glass ended up looking etched after a year or two around the drain. The metal sinks were just a bear to keep sparkling clean looking. They were easy to clean, but the water spots drove me crazy. Basically, unless you wiped out and dried those sinks after every.single.use they weren't pretty. It was the same with the glass sinks. Life is too short. Both types of sinks are now gone and good old white porcelain rules.
Abby says
I need to start doing the tub-time blitz again. My main bathroom has been at the top of my imaginary beautification list for a long time now. Really need to get on that. Thanks for the reminder 🙂
Bethany says
I love this post. I let my bathrooms “go” when I was pregnant with my second daughter. That was a bad idea because it was really hard to get control of things again. But I, too, have learned the importance of the bath time “blitz,” as you call it. I do sort of the same thing while I shower and get ready in the morning. Thanks for describing how you do your quick clean–it gives me new ideas for efficiency.
I second the suggestions above regarding bleach spray and yucky mildew, and throwing the plastic shower curtain liner in the wash. Also, from the book “Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home” I got the idea of throwing some denture cleaning tablets in a toilet that's hopelessly stained with water deposits. Let them foam and then scrub away.
Dawn says
Just started following your blog, and I love it! I had to lol at this post, I am so there with you!! I have only 3 children (although one is only 8 weeks old) and increasingly finding the house keeping hard…. and I have the two books you mentioned sitting right here beside me, I have never read them though – for some reason I thought that just having them in the house would clean my house for me better!!! Looking forward to looking through your blog,
love Dawn (from Scotland) x
(ps for anyone clicking through to my blog feel free to request an invite to the one I am currently running)
justamouse says
I love the way the bathroom looks a different color blue in each picture.
And, having 7 kids and homeschooling, yeah, that's exactly what shower/bathtime looks like.
_Leila says
justamouse, the color differences in the blue have to do with the difficulties of taking pictures of a tiny, windowless space! And maybe a bit of photographic incompetence… 🙂
justamouse says
I think it's truly a lovely punch of color for a small room. I tend to do the same thing-be really color brave in the small spaces. 🙂 And the pictures are beautiful.
Kate says
“issues with other people's bad construction choices”
Oh! I can so relate. Our house was orginally a tiny house and then added on to in a number of odd ways. The bathrooms look like they were tacked on like a lean to. We have one 1/2 bath and a bathroom with a corner
shower (no tub – we use a big rubber tub to bath the toddler). The celings are very low and the rooms are not vented, so naturally water condenses all over everything during a shower. A partial solution is to crack a window, but who wants to do that when it's snowing outside (and naturally there is no heating in the these rooms). So we have serious mildew issues with the celings and upper walls. Another peeve: when you open the front door, you look right into the open 1/2 bathroom across the living room (yes, the bathroom is right off the living room, making for embarassing guest situations). Why am I living here, anyway?
Ginger says
I have remodeled two our bathrooms in the last five years…one pre-children and one post….Boy what a difference.
First the DON'Ts
Firstly, do not get oil rubbed bronze for your bathroom fixtures….Every other material is so much better than this. It is impossible to get clean once it starts going down the tubes, unless you have lots of time, and dental tool, or and loads of patience.
Don't get Natural stone becuase you can't use harsh chemicals, or bleach, even comet. It gets oily fast.
IF you are tiling, don't use a light colored grout….Do I even need to explain this?
Do not get anything that is shiny material, it shows EVERYTHING, if you do get something like a granite in darker natural colors.
DON'T have a clear windows, Get something that is frosted or something opaque….You won't have to worry about light, it always being sparkling, and it hides water spots and moisture condensation buildup.
Ginger says
Hide the toilet behind the door when it's open. This is just the most beautiful of rooms, if you don't see a toilet when you open the door.
If you are only putting in a shower, put in a little step in the corner (shaving legs height) or if you have lots of room add a bench. I still shower with both children (they are under 5) and the bench allows lots of play things,
legs shaving room and an area for them to sit.
Get a squeey,,,,It's great on the floor, the wall, and whatever….
Do get into the habit to Use your squeegy, its fast, and it's worth it.
Do get a SHAMWOW, these things are amazing, washable and painless to use to wipe down the bathtub.
Have your towels available on hooks or racks within reaching distance of the shower or tub, DEFINITLY get a hand held shower fixture. Make sure it's plastic so it's easy on the fixtures, and on the kiddos hair. I have one in two of my three bathrooms, sorely miss having not put one in our new pool bath.
Happy Bathing
Sally says
For those filmy shower doors, try a Mr. Clean sponge (or generic). The white side cleans them up beautifully and easily.
Mamabear says
Love the blue! Amen to the bath time blitz! I also keep a cheap dish drainer in there and at the end of the bath, I put it in the tub, we toss the toys that direction, and everything drains out without too much effort. It took me years to come up with that plan. Duh.
We have some kind of faux marble in the bathrooms. It is very easy to clean compared to tile. I also have a jacuzzi and it IS impractical.
ogremom says
I love the blue walls! Mine are blue as well, but I tried to do “Venetian plaster” and made a “Venetian mess” instead!
I don't use window cleaner on my mirrors. I just use the hand towel. Works especially well when the mirror is foggy, but if it isn't, I just wet my fingers and fling water up, then wipe it down. Works like a charm!
Crafty P says
i DO that! I clean my bathroom when the kids are in the tub. However, now I've trained my “bigs” to wash/supervise the littles… and I'm in there a bit less, but still… this is excellent advice.
Always love your photos, too.
One more thing… if you are still in the bathroom cleaning up and scrubbing little people, may I offer that this is an excellent time for chats with your kid(s)? You have a captive audience and a bit of time to “check-in” on them and how things are going. (the car is my second fave place for these type of chats)
Heidi says
Love the blue and cheeriness of the off the cuff mirror/cabinet.
I recently redid part of my bathroom, painted the cabinet, and put in a new flat sinktop. Oops. 7 kids, friends, and frequent use have lead to constant water on the back of the sinktop all around the faucets! Had I only been warned, I would have bought the cheaper white with angled sides which guide the water back into the sink. I do have a plan, though, to reset the handles of the faucet so that off is pointing to the sink! Perhaps the wet drippies will find their way closer to the drain!
jane says
OK, here's a stupid question. How does one “rinse” a horizontal surface? I rinse the shower and bathtub by pouring water down the sides with a pitcher. Do you rinse the sink top by going over it with a damp washcloth?
Ginger says
I keep a spray bottle of water mixed with vinegar in each bathroom and in the kitchen….Spray then wipe
down with a dry washcloth. It keeps things squeaky clean, and sparkly….Can use on mirrors, floors, cabinets whatever.
_Leila says
Rinse with a rinsed-out sponge or rag. AKA “wipe down after soaping up.” 🙂
MamaHen says
Do you have any tips for the smell that three boys leave behind (I think you know what I mean :)? It will just not go away no matter what I do.
_Leila says
Make them SIT until they learn to aim. Standing is a privilege 😉
Then, you have to look at your materials. If the smell really won't yield to cleansers, then you have a soaking issue — loose tile? Baseboards?
Since the smell is ammonia, you have to neutralize with an acid. Try vinegar, an enzyme cleaner, febreze…or start ripping out materials…
Mrs. Pickles says
This reminds me of my parents' house — the previous owners, who had 3 boys, had seen fit to CARPET THEIR BATHROOM. Why? Why?? I think my mother's first task after moving was to rip out that carpet, even though she was 8 months pregnant with me at the time. 🙂
RedTartan says
Amen! Mother to 5 (!!!) boys here. They all sit! Even when sitting you sometimes have spills though. When mine were all small I spritzed around the toilet with Windex and then used an already used washcloth to wipe it up again. I did this every morning without thinking about it. Part of my “getting dressed” routine was to blitz the bathrooms.
Katie says
I have one child, an eleven-month-old boy, and he was not happy when I tried the bathtime blitz after reading your post 🙂 Guess I need to wait until I have more babies and can achieve the packed sardines effect . . . or until he's old enough to know he needs to SIT DOWN, for goodness sake.
_Leila says
Just keep at it and it will come together, Katie. Investing in good bath “toys” like plastic measuring cups, anything that pours, a bulb baster, boats, quality plastic animals that can be imagined with… and a bin with holes in the bottom or a dishrack as suggested above to put it all in and get it out of the way when bathtime is done…this will all help!
Breanna says
Mine like washcloths and “cleaning” the tub sides while I really clean. A little spray bottle (I think mine was originally for cutting hair?) lends credence to the illusion of having cleanser like Mama.
Momagain says
I had an old plastic colander that had once sat too close to the stove. The little melty patch eventually got it demoted to tub toy drainer status.
Tamara says
I am just so proud that I finally thought up one of your tips on my own!!! I didnt have to be told!!!! I just did this very task yesterday, thinking, “Wow, I am so smart!” 🙂
Josie says
Leila, no one makes me giggle like you do. God bless you!
RCG says
Sardines!! HAHAHAHAHA!! I have a priceless pic of my 8,6, 4 and 2 year olds the last time they took a bath together in 1999.
natch….I CNPed it to google to see if it was a word and it was/is: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/natch
Then I thought since when was that for real? Like was it in the last couple years and found in the Urban dictionary? Noooo:
Word Origin & History
natch
colloquial shortening of naturally, first recorded 1945.
Who knew?
RubberChickenGirl
_Leila says
Anyone up on her Nancy Drew or Sue Barton, Student Nurse will be conversant in 50s-speak 🙂 Before my time, natch.
Breanna says
Cherry Ames, Student Nurse, is why I went to nursing school. Seriously.
Momagain says
Indeed what is wrong with a tub shower combo? If relive here long enough to remodel, I'm reclaiming the bathroom space (separate tub & shower, 2 sinks, toilet in it's own flowery sized room) and having a much more basic layout. Our house isn't big enough for this glorious rootless bath space, I'd rather have room for a lamp and reading chair in the bedroom!
Anne Marie says
A nice toilet if anyone is lucky enough to be getting a new one is American Standard Cadet 3. Our plumber friend (a real character) recommended it to us, saying it could “flush a cat.” We haven't put it to the test in this way, but we have put it through the usual rigors for the last two years and have absolutely no complaints. If you Google it, some company videos will come up in your search and you can watch them flush multiple cell phones, cigarettes, and probably more, for all I know.
Dusa says
I can not sing the praises of the Jacuzzi toilet…about 100.00 more than the American Standard., but never ever having to clean the base and those scrolly bits and around the bolts? Priceless!
http://www.jacuzzi.com/baths/options/models/espre…
Bridget says
The concept of the quick wipedown has been life-changing for me. I used to clean once a week or when it looked dirty but just a little cleanup keeps things looking presentable on a daily basis. I love your blog!
melanie says
LOL at the “propping each other up” in the tub…
My two year old has taken to pooing in the tub during her bath. Charming habit, that is. Sigh.
Kay says
We redid our bathroom six years ago and it still looks beautiful, but I have a cleaning lady. We replaced a separate tub and shower with one long shower, long enough so that water doesn't come out, so have no curtain and no shower door!! A glass block wall gradually steps down for water containment. We also had our carpenter build a corner cupboard, closed below (with two shelves) and three open shelves above–tiny footprint, but massive amount of storage. All the unsightly things go in the closed part, including the plunger–I had him make a little jiggy opening in the shelf for the handle. All the clean towels and washcloths reside on the open shelves. Piles of toilet paper are kept on the upper shelf in the closed cupboard, so we never run out. We have cupboards under the two sinks to hide all the other personal stuff that piles up, and drawers between the two cupboards. I keep a white washcloth handy in the shower and wipe up the ceramic tile counters and the porcelain bowl after every use (takes about 5 seconds) and our bathroom always looks clean for guests. It is the most convenient, usable bathroom I've ever had, as well as the prettiest, but I worked on the plan on and off for about seven months (nights and weekends, had a full-time job). It was so worth the investment of time, although, I realize, probably not realistic for someone with a bunch of kids. People rave about our bathroom.
Jennifer says
I love the idea of color coded towels. Our Walmart has these fantastic (inexpensive, yet surprisingly thick) white towels with colored stripes at the top/bottom of each one. That way they can be different colors for each person but still mostly white so VERY bleachable. I am about to replace all my bath towels with them. And I am about to do the same thing with white towels in my kitchen too 🙂
showerdoor pennsau.. says
Actually your bathroom will represents who you are.. for it explains how you are reasonably clean and pretty when your friends talk to you..
nicuvolunteer says
The secret to a clean tub is Kaboom mildew stain remover. Just spray it on and walk away and it will take the stains off your tub by itself. It actually does what scrubbing bubbles has been claiming to do all these years ….
Kari says
So, I hate to advertise, but the microfiber company Norwex has fabulous cloths and things for cleaning the bathrooms. You just use water instead of all those chemicals and they get really truly clean. As in: raw chicken rubbed on a table didn’t leave protein on a tester and the dog ignored the spot clean. Plus, you hang them to dry and the silver in them kills all the bacteria and goobers inside so the next day you can use them again. (Though I wash mine after doing a toilet, but I’ve used it for a day or two before that for whatever else, sinks, counters, etc) Also, their window cloth cleans better and faster than windex with fewer streaks. I just use it on the mirrors with the condensation from the shower still on the mirror. Voila! clean mirror!
Suzette says
I am seriously indebted to you for all this fabulous common sense collective memory. Wow wow wow. God bless you! (And the sardine comment, so funny and so sweet!)