How often you do a deep clean on your bathroom depends on a couple of things - how much use your bathroom gets and how big your family is.  So, following the natural rule of things, the more something is used, the more you'll have to clean it and, we're going to cover deep cleaning three of the most used items in the bathroom as follows:

• Toilet
• Sink
• Shower/Tub

Whether doing a daily toilet cleaning or a deep clean, you'll be wasting your money on cleaning products if you don't clean the toilet properly.  To do this, you need to empty the toilet bowl of water before applying the cleaner.  Otherwise, the product will be diluted in the toilet bowl water and won't be nearly as effective.  To force water from the toilet, use your plunger and toilet bowl brush until you've forced all the water out.  

Next, add your cleanser, and let it sit for a few minutes.  Again, don't flush or rinse right away.  Otherwise the product won't have time to do its work, and you will have wasted your money.  Take these few minutes to quickly clean something else (wipe down fixtures, spray the shower, and so on) so that you maximize every minute spent cleaning.  Then come back and scrub the toilet bowl and under the rim - and don't forget the seat!

If you have an ugly toilet bowl ring, you have a couple of options.  You can use a pumice stone to scrub it out.  You'll need to put your hand in the bowl, so gloves are essential.  Or, simply clean as you normally would but use an acid toilet bowl cleaner, which you can find at a local janitorial supply store.

Deep Cleaning Sinks, Showers, and Tubs

Since you'll be wiping down your fixtures at least daily with disinfecting wipes, a deep clean should be a piece of cake.  I like to use 20 Mule Team Borax for deep cleaning of sinks, showers, and tubs.  I just spread it on a damp sponge, work it into the surface and let it sit for five minutes or so.  Then I come back and work it in some more, wait another minute or two, then do a final scrub and rinse.  My tub/shower, sink, and fixtures come out sparkly clean!

20 Mule Team Borax is a product that I've found works wonders for rust and hard water stains, and is gentle enough that it won't scratch your fixtures.  It's safe for your family and the environment because it doesn't contain phosphates or chlorine.  It's also safe on porcelain/enamel and fiberglass surfaces and it's really a great way to keep your bathroom fixtures sparkling.  You can use it to clean the toilet too, just use the above mentioned toilet cleaning method for excellent results!  

Getting Rid of Mold and Mildew

Nearly every bathroom has issues with mold and mildew at least some of the time.  But the best way to treat mold and mildew is prevention  - head them off at the pass before they occur.  Even if your bathroom has no exhaust fan or window, you can fight mold and mildew by:

• Enlisting family members to spray & wipe down after showers (I like Method Shower Spray because it works and it's non-toxic)
• Keeping the bathroom door open to promote air circulation
• Treating periodically with chlorine bleach when mold and mildew appear

When it's necessary to apply bleach, I spray it on and leave it for a few minutes, then I scrub and rinse.  Make sure to keep the area well ventilated.  For stubborn mold and mildew stains, soak a cotton ball or two in bleach and apply it directly to the stain.  Then scrub and rinse as usual.

By using these bathroom cleaning tips, you'll save both time and money by minimizing the amount of wasted cleaning product.  First, by using proper bathroom cleaning techniques, you avoid diluting or rinsing away product before it's done its job.  And, second, you avoid the need to use lots of product to scrub caked-on grime, since you're cleaning daily or as the need arises.