Homemade All Purpose Cleaner: Spring Cleaning Tips for the Bathroom

Assemble your own Bathroom Cleaning Kit, get the Golden Rules for Bathroom Cleaning and Organizing, and an easy, green recipe for Homemade All Purpose Cleaner. Let's get Spring Cleaning! 

This post is sponsored by Kimberly Clark and The Motherhood. All opinions and experiences are entirely my own. 

For the past few weeks, the temperatures have been above 60 degrees more often than not. Spring is making its way to our corner of the world and I am so ready to throw open all the windows and welcome the warm, fresh air. It's time for Spring Cleaning!

As I prepare to shake off winter and bring the light and fresh air back into the house, I've been taking stock of my linen closet and cleaning cupboards. Every time I do this I am reminded of Gretchen Rubin's distinction between Over Buyers and Under Buyers - you can take her quiz here and see where you fall.

I am most certainly an Under Buyer, which means I often feel stressed when I realize that we've run out of the things we need - important things like toilet paper and toothpaste. Yet it goes against my very nature to buy three tubes of toothpaste at the same time when I'll only be using one. What this amounts to is a lot of last minute inconvenient runs to pick up essential items. It's a tricky problem.

To all the Under Buyers, like myself, Gretchen Rubin says, "[B]uy what you need, without procrastination! Don’t wait for the first morning of your ski trip to buy ski gloves!" I would add to that: Buy lot's of toilet paper because there's no doubt that you will need it and use it! 

With that in mind, an important part of Spring Cleaning at my house is to ignore the Under Buyer voice in my head and stock our closets and cupboards with the things we will need for the next few months. I am starting with the bathroom, because if we run out of soap, toilet paper, or tooth paste any time soon, my kids might begin to question my authority as "parent," ahem.

For the actual cleaning and organizing, the first thing I always turn to is my cleaning bible, a.k.a. Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. I bought this book before I ever even owned my own home and I read it cover to cover, because that's the sort of person I am. Now, when it comes to spring cleaning, I've got Martha to help me do it right.

The handbook has 30 pages just for the bathroom and tells me everything from how far the toilet paper holder should be from the edge of the toilet bowl (8 to 12 inches, if you're wondering) to the best kind of weaves and fibers for bath towels. With Martha's voice in my head, I started my Spring Cleaning by assembling the Martha approved Bathroom Cleaning Kit, which includes:

• Rubber Gloves
• Paper Towels (the Viva® Vantage® towels have a scrubby texture and work like durable cloths)
• Soft, clean cloths (and a pack of Viva Towels too because their soft and smooth texture, like an undershirt cloth, makes them great for cleaning)
• Soft toothbrush
• Plastic-bristled scrub brush
• All-Purpose Household Cleaner (recipe below)
• Window/Glass Cleaner
• White Vinegar
• Baking Soda
• Toilet Brush

I am also stocking the top shelves of the linen closet, as well as a basket in every bathroom, with lot's and lot's of toilet paper - specifically Cottonelle® Clean Care (because that CleanRipple Texture really gets the job done) and Scott® 1000, because this Under Buyer very much appreciates the long-lasting value of 1,000 sheets. We will not run out of toilet paper any time soon and my kids will sing my praises.

Last, but not least, I'm forcing  encouraging the kids to memorize Martha's Golden Rules of Bathroom Organizing and Cleaning(and a few of my own too):

• Group like things together - store all cosmetics together, all skin care items together, all hair accessories together, etc.
• Get rid of things regularly. Frequently take inventory and throw out items that are expired, damaged, or things that you no longer use.
• Keep small items in containers. Hair accessories, nail polish, combs, etc. should be easily accessible in clear, plastic bins with easy to read labels.
• Keep extra rolls of toilet paper within easy reach.
• Wiping the tub and faucets dry after each use saves hours of cleaning time later on.
• Toilets, tubs, showers, and sinks and mirrors should be cleaned weekly.
• Bath towels should be laundered every three days.
• Remember to dust the light fixtures from time to time.

Like Martha says, the bathroom is normally a small space, which makes it easier to tame than other places in the house. Having a bathroom cleaning kit ready, stocking all the supplies you need , and following the simple guidelines for organizing and cleaning can make this practical space of your home function flawlessly.

To make this easy to use, non-toxic Homemade All Purpose Cleaner for your bathroom kit, just follow the recipe below. I use this homemade all purpose cleaner in a spray bottle for wiping down surfaces, or poured directly onto a dirty surface before wiping with a wet cloth. Combine it with a toothbrush for a really excellent tile/grout cleaner too! It's a great cleaner to have around if you have kids helping you do the housework - it gets rid of the dirt, kills the germs, but isn't harsh or chemical.

To get everything else you need for your spring cleaning, including lot's of toilet paper (Cottonelle® Clean Care and Scott® 1000), and paper towels that clean more than just spills(Viva® Vantage® towels ), you can go to the Kimberly Clark - Walmart site, or head over to your local Walmart where you can easily pick up everything you need to give your home the proper winter refresh it needs this spring.  Let's get on with the cleaning! #SpringClean16 with #Walmart

Homemade All Purpose Household Cleaner

Print

Store this homemade all purpose cleaner in a glass container. Shake before using. Use it as a spray or just pour a small amount directly onto the dirty surface or your cleaning cloth.

Ingredients

• 4 cups distilled water
• 2 teaspoons castille soap
• 2 teaspoons washing soda
• 30 to 40 drops essential oil (I like a blend of lemon and peppermint)

Instructions

1. Combine all of the ingredients, in the order listed, in a glass container. Shake before use. Stores well in glass for months.