Do you ever visit a home where the bathroom looks and feels spa-like - but you can't pinpoint what it is that makes it feel that way? You buy all the cute decor, you put away the clutter and you clean as much as you can, but it doesn't quite work. Just having moved into a new home with only 1 bathroom between myself, a husband, a toddler, two cats, and many guests, I knew there needed to be products and systems that are efficient and make the bathroom feel more "spa-like". This is one of my "first world problems": I seriously dislike entering a bathroom that's steamy from the shower taken by another person. But there seems to be no choice here. So the bathroom has to be set up and maintained in a very particular way to keep the space feeling comfortable, clean, and relaxing even with the entire household coming in and out. Here are a few tips and products you may also choose to implement if you can relate. They're simple, relatively cheap, and will likely make your bathroom look and feel better to bring you tiny moments of joy in all the time you spend in there.

5 general tips to keep things clean

1. Try to use items that can be cleaned entirely. For example, using a shower caddy that has suction cups is not ideal. Opt for one that can hang directly onto the shower head or faucet and that is made up entirely of one easily cleanable material (all metal, without any plastic parts)
2. Only use cloth items that are entirely machine washable. This includes bath mats without the plastic underpad attached, plastic shower curtains, and hand and bath towels with embroidery. Opt for machine-washable bath mats, shower curtains, and easily washable towels.
3. Limit the amount of items on the bathroom counters. The steam, humidity, and splashes from regular bathroom use will constantly make these items look dirty. Candles, florals, and other knickknacks that may look nice sitting out can also start gathering dust which sticks on with humidity and eventually has an odor that affects the overall experience of the bathroom.

4. Keep personal items in drawers and cupboards. We have a rule in our house - if an item has a label or has been used by a single person - it shouldn't be left out. This includes soap bottles, toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes, hair brushes, etc.
5. A very basic rule - 'Clean up after yourself!'. Especially in shared bathrooms, all users need to be mindful of cleaning up the space after each use. This doesn't have to be complicated to overly time-consuming. Just make sure there are no splashes of anything, no hair left behind & items are put away, it can make a significant difference for the next person. Keep the space surrounding the toilet clear. The only thing that should be sitting by a toilet is the toilet bowl cleaning brush (ideally tucked behind the toilet if possible). In my home, the garbage bin has also been removed - but it's understandable if you decide to keep that. One thing you definitely should not be keeping is the fuzzy, furry, not-machine-wash-friendly, toilet lid covers. I promise you, your toilet does not need a sweater.
Now, here are 5 products I have in my bathroom that have made the biggest difference and can help implement the above-mentioned tips:
1. Cloth shower curtains
It's time to replace those plastic, grimy, borderline-moldy shower curtains. There are beautiful options available in washable cloth curtains and curtain liners. They hang the same way, on the same rod and hooks but immediately make the space look cleaner and a lot more spa-like.
2. Hanging basket inside the cupboard for garbage
A small basket hanging inside the cupboard for garbage keeps the waste out of sight + keeps odors contained. Especially with shared bathrooms that are also being used by guests, it looks and feels so much cleaner without a bin sitting around the toilet. There are small baskets available that can be used with small eco-friendly paper or plastic bags. Bonus - it keeps pets out of the bin.
3. Machine Washable Bathroom Mats
These look and feel cleaner because they are. Let's all agree to let go of the mats with the plastic underlay attached that most households don't ever wash. If they do get washed, they take so long to dry that they likely still don't smell too great. If they don't get washed, they likely get replaced every once in a while. There are lots of options available in sizes and colors for machine washable bath mats and they're super easy to wash weekly.
4. Hanging Shower Caddy
A rust-resistant metal shower caddy that hangs directly onto the shower head. The main benefit is that compared to the shower caddies and shelves that can be hung on suction cup hooks, these are much easier to keep clean and have fewer parts that can collect mold/mildew from the shower.
5. Cleaning Spray Bottles Add a cleaning spray bottle that will look good sitting out on the counter - and increase the chances of being used from a convenient spot. Ours is from Sage Natural Wellness. It looks beautiful sitting out, the spray smells amazing, does a great job of cleaning, is safe to use with children and pets, and is so easy to refill. Anytime there are splashes or hair/crumbs to pick up - this spray makes it a lot more enjoyable to do so.
Here are the links to all the products mentioned above:
Please keep in mind, Asaani Clean’s Blog is reader-supported. When you buy through the links on our site, we may earn a commission.
Shower Curtain: https://amzn.to/3V3zKYE
Shower Curtain Liner: https://amzn.to/3P4q6Bu
Hanging Basket: https://amzn.to/4c03qfr
Eco-friendly bags: https://amzn.to/4c03qfr
Washable mats: https://amzn.to/4c03qfr
Rust Resistant Shower Caddy: https://amzn.to/48C1iHX
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