It's easy to overlook few dust bunnies in your closet or "forget" to vacuum your rug for a month. A dirty bathroom on the other hand, is a bit more difficult to ignore. Your bathroom should be cleaned at minimum once a week--more if you have a large family. Bacteria are lurking in just about every inch of your bathroom, and getting rid of those germs will help keep your family healthy and happy.
Shower 
The humidity and residual water in your shower is a perfect environment to breed germs, bacteria and even mold. Take these steps to make it a welcoming retreat for you and your family--starting with the shower head.
- Fill a plastic baggie with enough white vinegar to submerge the shower head nozzle and tie it into place, allowing it to soak overnight. The vinegar will work its way into the shower head and get rid of not only the soap scum, but any remnants of mycobacterium avium which has been linked to pulmonary disease!
- Remove your plastic shower curtains and run them through a cycle in your washing machine with regular detergent to rid them of mildew and soap scum. Toss in a couple towels and any bathroom rugs you have to act as a scrubber in the machine. Put the towels and rugs in the dryer but hang the shower curtains to dry.
- If you have shower doors, they can become a victim of soap scum and mildew as well! Make a paste with baking soda and vinegar and apply it to the door directly. Let the mixture sit for an hour and then rub it off with a cloth.
- Your tub is fine with a weekly scrubbing, but if you really want it to shine, fill it with hot water and then drain. Apply a bathroom cleaner and let it sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing.
Keeping it clean: After a shower, make sure to open a bathroom window for at least an hour to get rid of any humidity or run your bathroom exhaust fan. Wipe down your mirrors and surfaces to get rid of condensation and prevent water spots.
Toilet
There's no avoiding the toilet when it comes to cleaning the bathroom--here are some tips for getting it done quickly.
- Pour a cup of baking soda into the bowl. Let it to sit for a few minutes before flushing. If you're still seeing spots or marks, grab your toilet brush and sprinkle a bit of baking soda around the edge of the bowl before scrubbing with the brush.
- Clean the brush by sandwiching the handle between your already cleaned seat and bowl and carefully pour bleach over the bristles. Remember that bleach will stain dark clothing so pour carefully and try to avoid splashes. Fill a pitcher or large bowl with clean water and pour it over the brush bristles to rinse the bleach. For the toilet brush caddy or canister, fill it with warm, soapy water, let it sit and then dump the dirty water in the toilet bowl.
- If you're trying to keep your hands as far away as possible from your toilet bowl, you should consider investing in a long-handled, light-duty electric pressure washer. If you don't want to invest that much in your toilet cleaning, there are toilet cleaning wands with disposable wipes and scrubbers that keep your hand a safe distance from the splash zone while cleaning.
Keeping it clean: Always close the lid when flushing to prevent bacteria from flying into the air and be sure to use the vent fan to suck up any bacteria before it hits the surfaces. Because germs and bacteria can make their way into the air and settle ANYWHERE, you should consider storing your toothbrushes and contact lens cases inside the medicine cabinet.
Sink
The remnants of this morning's toothpaste, yesterday's five o'clock shadow and last night's eyeshadow shouldn't be on display every time you wash your hands. Get rid of the grime from the week with these simple tips.
- Pour white vinegar or baking soda down your sink's drain and flush it with hot water. For the faucet, use disposable disinfecting wipes to significantly reduce bacteria. Sponges and other cleaning rags spread germs from one place to another more often than not. If you do decide to use a sponge or cleaning cloth, be diligent on where it is being used. For example, don't wipe down your bathroom with the sponge from the kitchen and place it back in the kitchen.
- After the faucet has been wiped down, take it a step further and use floss to clean around the base of the faucet where it meets the sink basin.
- If your medicine cabinet is just above your sink, use a glass cleaner to get rid of any water spots. Use a touch of vodka to get rid of spots if you don't want to use chemicals.
Keeping it clean: Instead of reusable hand towels, which can quickly become dingy and dirty from drying hands, use disposable towels to keep germs at bay. Keep a disinfecting spray or another bathroom cleaner (or cleaning wipes) in easy reach to wipe down the sink when you're done in the morning to keep it shining all week.