How to really clean a bathroom: A cleaning check list

I ran across this form when we were packing for this next move. I wrote this in a fit of desperation. We have four kids, we home school, and my husband worked out of our house; so our bathrooms were/are in constant use. Our kids never could remember exactly what I meant when I said clean the bathroom. You have to understand that my kids are extremely forgetful and literal. I wrote up several different lists and got them laminated. Then they could check off the list with a wipe off marker. This one list tells you exactly HOW to clean the bathroom, or rather exactly what I wanted done. I left a blank so you can write the cleaner of the day in.

How to really clean the bathroom

1. Pick up the trash and put it in the trash can


2. Pick up the dirty clothes and put them in the hamper


3. Using ________ and paper towels, mist and wipe clean the mirror.


4. Lift the toilet seat and squirt ____________________ toilet cleaner under the rim of the toilet.


5. Wipe down the sink and counter top; put away the things that need it and throw out the trash, be careful not to get cleaner on anyone's toothbrush.


6. Scrub the toilet with the toilet brush and flush the toilet; there should be no stains in the toilet when you are done. Rinse the toilet brush in the toilet after you have flushed it and put it in the toilet brush holder.


7. Dry the sink out with a used towel off the towel rack and put it in the laundry hamper when you are done.


8. Using ______________________________ wipe down the toilet set top and bottom, inner part and seat part, behind the toilet lid and the toilet lid, the tank top and all of the outside of the toilet.


9. Fold or roll up the bath mat. place the bathmat outside the bathroom and using a broom and dust pan; sweep the whole floor in the bathroom, moving the trash can and toilet brush. Empty the dust pan into the trash can.


10.  Using _______________________________and water; scrub the whole tub, sides, bottom and edges. There should be no dark rings, or splotches in the bottom of the tub. Be sure and scrub the faucet and knobs. Rinse the tub with hot water and if the tub is not shiny do it again.


11. Clean the soap holder with _______________________and rinse it with hot water.


12. Clean the shampoo rack with ____________________and a scrub brush and rinse it under the tub faucet.


13. Mop the bathroom floor with ________________________________________. The mop should not be dripping but damp enough to do a great job.


14. Put all empty shampoo bottles in the trash


15. Put out new soap, shampoo and toilet paper if needed.


16. Take all towels off the towel racks and put them in the hamper.


17. Empty the trash can into the trash bag and put trash can back in the bathroom where it goes. Take the trash bag out to the large trash can outside.


18. Shake out any bathmats outside. Put it in the laundry hamper to be washed or lay it back down in the bathroom on the floor.


19. Put clean towels out on the towel racks folded so that people know they have clean towels.


20. Refill hand soap dispenser or put out fresh soap.

You have just done an awesome job cleaning the bathroom it is now spotless and totally clean. I am thrilled with how clean it is and you did an incredible job.

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Ok, for some of you neaties this will seem like over kill, but in our house it was needed and it works great. I am sure that there are better or different checklists out there. Feel free to use this one as the beginnings of your own personal checklist. Cut and paste this into any  word processing  program and do your own thing. Slip it into a page protector or laminate it.Then assign a different number every day of the week or they can put initials next to each item when they complete it. The point is, make it yours and then use it!

Yes, you can tell that my kids left leave clothes on the bathroom floor even if there is a hamper to put them in. Yes, they even leave empty shampoo bottles in the shower to play with, to trip over. I ended up writing this out because they felt that I had arbitrary rules for how clean the bathroom should be and this solved any disputes we had. I am posting this because one of my kids mentioned that it was an incredible list. So here you go! Have fun and keep your kids helping you around the house. It blesses everyone and when your kids go to their first job their employer will be excited to see a kid that actually knows how to clean!

Talk to you later,

Karen

Do you have a chore check list? How does it work at your house?