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10 Spots You’re Not Cleaning Well Enough in the Bathroom

A good bathroom cleaning routine should be more than a hard-surface wipe-down. Make your space a sanctuary of cleanliness by adopting a more rigorous process for disinfecting and cleaning. A little extra work now saves a lot of time and money in the long run.

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Photo: Emily Fazio. From: Emily Fazio.

The Showerhead

Mineral deposits in water can affect the showerhead and even shorten its life. Keep the jets in the nozzle clear and clean by misting the showerhead every week with a mixture of 50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent water. Allow it to sit and drip for a few minutes and then wipe it clean with a dry cloth.

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Photo: Kohler. From: Sam Henderson.

The Base of the Toilet

During the next toilet scrub-down, consider which areas you focus on most. The bowl, seat, lid, and top of the tank are the highly visible spots, but the underside of the bowl and the plumbing piping behind the toilet gets dusty and affected by germs too. To sanitize hard-to-reach places behind the toilet, try using a steam wand to disinfect and then wipe down using a dry cloth.

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Photo: Emily Fazio. From: Emily Fazio.

Light Bulbs and Light Fixtures

It’s easy to forget to dust your bathroom light fixtures, but so easy to do with the help of a microfiber cloth. With the light turned off (and the lightbulb cooled) use the cloth to clean the inside and outside of the fixture, as well as the surface of the bulb. If the lightbulbs you use are a focal point (such as clear glass globes) remove the bulb from the fixture, clean the surface with glass cleaner, and allow it to dry completely before putting it back into the fixture.

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Photo: Emily Fazio. From: Emily Fazio.

Sink, Bathtub and Shower Drains

Sink, shower and bathtub drains probably do get a good surface scrubbing when you’re doing your weekly wipe-down. But to prevent additional grime and hair build up, make it a habit to remove the drain or drain cover, rinse it clean and use a soft bristled brush to clean inside of the drain as well. With regular maintenance, you can avoid tougher chores, like having to snake a clogged drain.

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