The easiest way to the Lazy Mom’s Frugal Guide to Cleaning the Bathroom is to make it easy on yourself with a good setup and a good plan. Of course, hiring someone to clean your house is the laziest and easiest way to get a clean bathroom, but that costs money. And, that’s NOT frugal. As a busy and frugal mom, I make cleaning the bathroom as easy on myself and as cost-effective as possible and I’m sharing my tips with you:)

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through the links, I receive a small advertising commission at no added cost to you. Please see my disclaimer. Thank you:)

Keep reading for my cleaning hacks for moms.

10 Tips for the Lazy Mom’s Frugal Guide to Cleaning the Bathroom

Use Water to Clean the Mirror

I never buy glass cleaner, I just use water and a clean towel. I do this all the time, it works great.

Simply scoop up water from the running faucet in your hand and splash it on the mirror. Next, wipe the mirror dry with a clean towel. A clean towel is important because if you use a dirty one, you might make the mirror all smeared.

I find just plain water works fantastically to get clean mirrors, and it’s nontoxic, cheap, and I always have it in the bathroom. Win-win-win all around!

A very dilute solution of dish soap and water in a squirt bottle works well to clean bathroom mirrors too, but if you get too much dish soap in the water bottle, it will smear across the mirror as you wipe it. If the mirror is coated with some gunk that water alone won’t clear off, use the dilute solution of dish soap and water to help to clean it. If it does smear, do the method above with only water and a clean dry towel until the mirror is clear of smears.

It’s really that easy.

Vacuum the Bathroom Floor

I admit it, I vacuum way more often than I actually wash my floors. With five people, two dogs, and two guinea pigs, our carpet needs weekly (or more) vacuuming so I’m always vacuuming our carpets more often than any other cleaning task.

So, when I’m vacuuming the room adjacent to the bathroom, I simply vacuum the bathroom floor too to clean up hairs rather than sweeping. Sweeping doesn’t work very well for tumbleweed hairs anyway, I find the broom often just blows hairballs around and I have to pick them up (not efficient and definitely not for the lazy). If I already have the vacuum in my hands, I just run it through the bathroom too.

This is a time saver and great for busy moms.

 

Use Dish Soap & Water to Clean

Use a squirt water bottle filled with dish soap and water for a cleaning product. When I used fancy cleaners in the past, I would always run out and need to buy more, but I almost never run out of dish soap. A simple solution of dish soap and water in a squirt bottle makes a great simple and versatile cleaner. I love this because I can easily refill my cleaning bottle without running to the store. Plus, I can replenish it in mere minutes.

I also find this to be a frugal way to obtain a cleaner because it is very cost effective to use a small amount of dish soap and water to make an entire bottle of cleaner. When I purchased cleaners, I would spend $3.00 – $5.00 on a bottle, for just one bottle! When I use a tiny bit of dish soap and water, I’m spending a tiny fraction of that amount to get the same volume of cleaner.

Cheaper cleaners means more money for mom’s leisure time fun stuff!

Skip the Expensive Bleach Cleaners and Make a Cheap DIY Cleaner

Make a simple solution of bleach and water to add to a squirt bottle. I don’t measure, I just guess an amount, but you don’t need very much bleach.

I don’t like to use bleach very often, but there are times when I do need it for tough jobs or to get out tough stains in the toilet or in the shower. Sometimes my shower just needs a meeting with bleach. It just does.

I use bleach water to deep clean or to get out tough stains, I could buy expensive cleaners, but I’m frugal. I want to save my money for other things rather than expensive cleaners (like bath bombs or a Netflix subscription). So, I just use bleach and water in a spray bottle.

It’s economical, easy to make and replace, and effective.

A bleach water solution works great for cleaning toilets too. I wouldn’t go adding a bunch of other stuff to the bleach water though, you never know what kind of nasty or toxic fumes the combinations might make. Don’t be your own chemist!

Or, wipe surfaces down with plain rubbing alcohol. In a pinch, or when one of my kids is sick, I will swipe sink faucet handles and the toilet flush handle with a squirt of alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Just be sure to assess that surfaces are not damaged with alcohol prior to continuing this practice.

Pick the Best Moments to Use Bleach for Cleaning the Bathroom

OK, fair warning, this one might make ya laugh, but pick the best moments to use bleach for cleaning the bathroom.

I am always afraid to clean with bleach for fear I will get it on my clothes, so I often clean with it right after I get out of the shower, yes I’m serious here! Stay with me.

Are you laughing yet?

Yes, I’m talking about spraying the full shower down while naked, so there is no chance of accidentally bleaching your clothes! I’ve actually bleached my clothes on accident while cleaning, so I do this it this way now.

Or, alternatively, I spray the bleach solution while I’m in my pajamas (but only while wearing old pajamas I don’t care if I get bleach spots on).

Plan:

Set the bleach spray bottle on the bathroom counter so you can just step out of the shower when done, grab the bleach spray and coat the shower with bleach water. Most likely you will still have your fan on for ventilation (best practice when using bleach). The shower walls will already be wet from the shower so less solution will be needed. Let it soak while you dress, and simply turn on the shower to rinse. Don’t scrub or wipe unless you have to. Keep a cup under your sink to fill with water and fill it, and chuck it at the walls to rinse the bleach off where the shower spray doesn’t reach.

This makes cleaning the shower quick and easy, and keeps my clothes safe;)

 

Use Cleaning Wipes

Now, I’m a very environmentally conscious person. I recycle everything I can and I use paper towels and wipes sparingly. I prefer to use rags for the environment and to be frugal. But, sometimes I’m so busy, I just need to use wipes to clean because I’m short on time.

Or, because I’m lazy and I don’t want to go downstairs to get a rag and spray cleaner. Wipes just make cleaning the bathroom easier at times so I do buy them, but I use them sparingly.

Keep Cleaning Products Easily Accessible in Each Bathroom

I keep cleaning products in each bathroom with a roll of paper towel or rags so I can easily clean when I have a few moments. This way I don’t have to run downstairs to get products. Running from floor to floor takes time and energy, so keeping products in each bathroom works out well.

Also, I like this setup because I don’t have to plan it out when I’m going to clean and carry supplies to that bathroom. I don’t have to be intentional about cleaning, I can just quickly clean or wipe the counter or toilet when I have even just one minute to spare after using the bathroom.

Keep sanitizing wipes in each bathroom also for when you need a super quick clean to freshen the bathroom.

 

Use Wipes to Clean the Floor

When a quick swipe is needed, use wipes for the floor too. I have cleaned the entire bathroom floor with a wipe or two in mere minutes.

I find it hindering when thinking about having to go downstairs to get the mop to clean the bathroom floor. This might be enough of a turn off for me to just skip cleaning the floor. However, if I think to myself, I could just use a wipe or two and be done cleaning the floor in the amount of time it would have taken me to go and get the mop, I’m much more likely to clean the floor.

Sanitizing wipes come in very handy after plunging the toilet if sprays fly out during plunging. I find with a home of three boys, I have to plunge the toilet almost on a daily basis. We are working on reducing the frequency of this, however;) A mom can hope!

Use Flushable Wipes for Quick Cleaning

If you have kids, you might have flushable wipes in your bathroom. I sure do.

Sometimes I need a quick cleaning up job because, um, messes in the bathroom and flushable wipes work great for quick cleaning. Plus, there is nothing to wash because you can simply toss it in the toilet to be flushed the next time the toilet is used.

I love this option when we are having drop-in guests and I see the bathroom needs a quick wiping. Works perfectly because the wipes are already in the bathroom.

Or, even cheaper yet, use some water sprinkled toilet paper to wipe up quickly.

Add Cleaning the Bathroom To Your Kids’ Chore Lists

 

 

If your kids do chores for allowance, have the kids clean the bathroom. This is obvious but worth mentioning.

I also love it when I can have my kids use non-toxic cleaners to clean the bathroom like just using water to clean the mirror or dish soap and water in a spray bottle. I don’t have to worry about them breathing toxic fumes from other chemical cleaners, I don’t have to worry about them getting commercial cleaners on their skin or clothes either. Never give them the bleach water spray however unless you are very brave;)

 

I hope my Lazy Mom’s Frugal Guide to Cleaning the Bathroom has given you some ideas to make cleaning your bathroom easier and cheaper. We all have to clean the bathroom at some point, we might as well make it as easy and as cheap as possible;)

Thanks for visiting! I’d love to hear about your own tips in the comments below:)

 

Copyright ©2018 Julie Hoag. All Rights Reserved.

Follow me on Social Media

• 
• 
• 
• 
•