Simplify Your Cleaning Routine!

I don't spend a lot of money to keep my bathroom clean.  With a tight budget, three cats, one dog, a husband and a toddler, I need to be able to clean my bathroom quickly and cheaply!  Here's what I use:  

• Baking Soda
• Borax
• Water
• A lemon
• Essential Oils (lavender is my favorite)
• Vinegar
• Newspaper
• Re-purposed spray bottle

Seriously!  

Here's how I do it--and not lose my mind in the process.

Step One: Toilet

Give your toilet bowl to get some soaking action with some baking soda (about half a cup) with a generous dollop of vinegar.  If you're out of both of those items, just use Borax.  Close the lid and allow the toilet bowl to soak while you're doing the rest of the room.  

Step Two:  

Spray the mirror with vinegar and wipe clean with newspaper.  Newspaper will get the mirror totally clean without leaving streaks.

Step Three:

Sprinkle some Borax or Baking Soda on a damp rag and use it to scrub the dried on toothpaste and other gross stuff from the sink and counter.  Rinse and re-apply as needed.  Use a dry rag to dry the area when done.  

Step Four:

Grab your bathmat, hand towel, non-slip mat and shower curtain and give them a good wash in hot water in the washing machine. Sprinkle Borax or Baking Soda on a damp rag and clean the bathtub.  Should your bathtub require some extra attention (or if you're looking for a more fragrant option) try using half a lemon as your rag.  In this case you'd sprinkle the Baking Soda (don't use Borax with the lemon) directly on the surface to be cleaned and then scrub with the lemon half.  It will clean better than a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!   Rinse with a clean wet rag.  

Step Five:

Using the same re-purposed spray bottle that you used to clean the mirror, spray the outside of the toilet and wipe down.  Now scrub the inside of the toilet bowl with a toilet brush.  Everything should have come off, but if you've got some residual staining, try using a pumice stone.  

Step Six:

Sweep the floor, then mop with diluted vinegar and hot water (add essential oils if you'd like some fragrance).  Vinegar is safe for both linoleum and hardwood.

Step Seven:

Empty the trash.  When you replace the can liner, sprinkle some baking soda inside and add a few drops of essential oil.  

Step Eight:

Replace the newly cleaned bathmat, shower curtain, non-slip mat and hand towel.  

Congrats!  Your bathroom is clean and fresh.  Quick, take a bath!