When you think about household chores, it’s probably likely that the least favorite room in your house to clean is the bathroom. We all know that there are little unpleasantries lurking in every nook and cranny, from what’s under the toilet lid to stuff in the shower drain. The bad news is, there’s no easy way around cleaning the bathroom, unless you can hire a maid service. The good news? By taking the time to give your bathroom an initial good, thorough scrub-down, weekly maintenance should suffice.

Close En-Counter: Your bathroom counters get a lot of wear and tear. Hairspray, nail polish, shaving cream, and toothpaste – these are but a few of the things that will probably end up on your countertops at some point within the week. In most homes, bathroom counters are made from materials that can take the abuse. Fortunately, you can clean most surfaces using the hints we’ve shared right here.

Mirror, Mirror: Your bathroom mirror can get grungy fast. But what’s worse than a dirty bathroom mirror? One that has been left streaky by window cleaner. You can avoid that problem by mixing up 1/3 cup of vinegar in one gallon of warm water. Apply with a sponge, and buff it off with cloth, chamois or paper towel.

Shower Power: Think about it – you use your shower to wash off the grime of your day, so it only makes sense that dirt and mildew is going to accumulate. Scrubbing down the shower is not fun, but it’s important in order to maintain sanitary conditions. Just like your mirrors, white vinegar is great at cleaning off any hard water deposits. Need to get rid of soap scum? Liquid fabric softener diluted in warm water works great. Soak your showerhead in vinegar in order to remove any hard water deposits. Your shower will be easier to clean in the long run if you wipe down walls after each shower and leave the shower door or curtain open to allow air to circulate.

Mitigate Mildew: Because your shower curtain and bath mat are frequently exposed to moisture, they’re prime sites for mildew. Keep the nastiness at bay by washing your shower curtain with ½ cup of laundry detergent and ½ cup of baking soda, and adding 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle. Hang the curtains up while they’re still damp and let them air dry. You can keep your plastic shower curtain in tip-top shape by adding a few drops of mineral oil to the rinse cycle. Spraying your newly washed shower curtain with disinfectant will help to discourage mildew growth. Clean your rubber or vinyl bath mats by tossing them in with a load of towels.

Tidy Bowl: Cleaning the toilet is probably your least favorite household chore. We don’t blame you! And with many toilet bowl cleaners on the market, it might be hard to decide which will just make your bathroom smell nice, and which is actually an effective cleaner. Good old-fashioned bleach works best to disinfect your toilet. Simply pour it into the bowl, let it stand for 10 minutes, and then scrub with a toilet brush. Want the tough stains out? Toss in a couple of denture cleanser tablets, let them sit overnight, and scrub in the morning! Swish out your toilet daily so that your weekly scrubbing is easier.

Of course, it’s much easier to clean your bathroom when it’s in great shape and just your style. We at Fahy Kitchens & Bath want to help you make your bath beautiful. For any of your bathroom remodeling needs, give us a call at (315) 735-8181 or fax to (315) 735-2829. Fahy Kitchens & Baths is located at 1908 Oriskany Street West in Utica, N.Y. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are appreciated.