Most of us could possibly live with a little dust on the mantelpiece or even a growing pile of dirty dishes by the sink, but very few of us can tolerate a dirty bathroom.

Most of us could possibly live with a little dust on the mantelpiece or even a growing pile of dirty dishes by the sink, but very few of us can tolerate a dirty bathroom.

Bathrooms should be thoroughly cleaned at least once a week, but there are a few steps you can take to reduce the build of grime and keep your bathroom looking and smelling fresh and clean all the week through.

1. It helps to leave a little cleaning kit in your bathroom. You can keep it hidden in a cupboard or behind the sink but it’s a good idea to keep in handy. You should keep a squeegee for wiping down tiles and shower door, a surface cleaner to wipe down the sink, taps and bath and a clean cloth.

2. After you shower, if you have a shower curtain it extended so water doesn’t sit in the folds. Use a towel to wipe down the bathtub and faucets to help remove any soap scum and water marks. Mop up any water spills to reduce the chance of mildew build up.

3. Always leave the room well ventilated after bathing or showering. Increasing the air flow to your bathroom by using a fan or leaving the window open will discourage the growth of mildew. Some bathrooms don’t have windows and air flow can be limited, in which case you can use dehumidifiers. If your bathroom is prone to mould and mildew there are plenty of cleaning options to remove unsightly patches.

4. At least once a month you should treat your plugs and drains to a deep clean. Pour a solution made of ½ cup of baking soda and ½ cup of white vinegar down your drains. Leave to dissolve for a few minutes before pouring boiling water down the plug. This will remove any clogs and scum from your pipes. If you are pushed for time you can buy a number of drain treatment products either online or from your local supermarket.

5. If you have children, use their bath time as an excuse to wipe down the sink and taps. To make sure their bath toys are clean and free of any soap scum, before their next bath soak in a large bucket of hot water and add ½ cup of white vinegar, rinse thoroughly. This will remove any dirt and work as a natural disinfectant.

6. Keep a toothbrush in your cleaning arsenal! Toothbrushes are great for scrubbing crevices, grout between tiles and faucet fittings. Just remember which one it is you’ve used!

7. Place a few tumble dryer sheets in your laundry basket to keep it smelling fresh

8. Avoid leaving wet towels crumpled up; they will end up smelling badly and they won’t dry at all. Drape them over a towel rail or radiator to dry. Do the same with your bath mat, drape over the side of the bath to dry out completely.

9. When cleaning your toilet, don’t forget the underside of the seat around the outside of the bowl and the flush.

10. Descale your shower head at least once a month. If the water isn’t running freely from your shower head, take a sandwich bag and fill it with white vinegar. Place over the shower head and secure with elastic bands. Leave to soak overnight then in the morning scrub with a toothbrush. Running the water will dislodge any remaining lime scale.

Cleaning the bathroom isn’t a job that most people look forward too, but hopefully by following these few simple steps it will mean your bathroom will be left clean and less of a chore when the weekly deep clean comes around.

This guest post was brought to you by Laura on behalf of Betterware, where you will find a selection of bathroom cleaning tools and products including the new Pro-Biotic Cleaning range from TV’s Aggie MacKenzie