How to Clean the Bathroom

Some of you may be familiar with Flylady* - one of the cleaning mavens of the internet. She has a theory that you can keep your bathtub clean all the time by simply washing one side of it every day as you shower.

I've tried her method. I think maybe Flylady doesn't have three dirty children that use her tub on a regular basis.


So I thought I'd share my method of how to keep your bathroom clean. With, of course, the help of your children.

Step 1. Choose the right time to allow your children to help you. Today we chose right before naptime because that's when I'm feeling most patient ... er, wait. Because that's when they're most cooperative ... um, never mind. Let's move on to ...

Step 2. Make sure to have a job for everyone. Benny used the tap to dampen his cleaning rag and then wash the mirror with it. This makes for a lovely streaky finish that is hard to duplicate. Alex used the spray bottle of (nontoxic) cleaner to clean the top of the vanity. Some might say that he was actually flooding the vanity, but the sink is right there anyway.

Step 3. Make sure you turn your back on the children to clean the bathtub. The demonstrates that you trust them, and allows for teamwork between them to develop as they unroll the toilet paper.

Step 4. Reflect on how important Step 1 is as you take deep, cleansing, breaths.

Step 5. Remove the toilet brush from the hands of any child who tries to scrub the floor with it. Remember, you have to clean the floor yet anyway.

Step 6. Explain to your curious three-year-old why it's yucky to splash in the toilet water.

Step 7. Pay close attention to what the children are doing. Otherwise, the one who had the spray bottle - who set it down while he went to the bathroom - will quickly take it back from the one who didn't have it. In retaliation, the one who had it taken from him may - just may, mind you - slam the toilet seat down on his brother as he finishes going to the bathroom.

Ouch.

Step 8. Put the children to bed for their nap.

Step 9. Clean the mess the children made.

Step 10. Clean the bathroom the way you did before you had children.

*Since I'm mentioning Flylady, I'll also say that one of my own family members (who shall remain anonymous!) has started her own homemaking website. You may want to check out The House Honcho.