Tonya here… With 9 year old boy/girl twins in my house I’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to bathroom messes and chaos. so I’m here to share a few of my tips to reduce the chaos, clutter, and mess. Thank you to 2000 Flushes Toilet Bowl Cleaner for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own.
How many times have you heard those dreaded words ‘mom, the toilet is overflowing’, or gone into the bathroom to find toothpaste smeared in places that boggles the mind, and let’s not forget the constant battle of wills over cleaning up messes … because it’s always the imaginary child who makes all of the mess, right!
As we’ve transitioned from the potty training phase to the elementary school age phase the kids bathroom has transformed too to incorporate items that will instill independence in their daily routine, and cut back on my nagging a little.
So I’ve rounded up a few of my tried and true tips.
TOILET TIPS
Blocked toilets, empty toilet roll holders, along with smells and mess are things that parents battle with daily.
- A small piece of tape adhered to the wall below the toilet paper roll holder will indicate how much paper should be used, hopefully alleviating the problem of excessive toilet paper use and the blocked toilets that result in that.
- Air freshener placed in sight, even if not used by the kid who should will most likely be used by the next kid to use the bathroom. This is one thing my daughter insisted on. Show them how much and where to spray though, always going with the less is more approach and giving a safety lesson.
- Use an automatic toilet bowl cleaner such as 2000 Flushes which continuously cleans toilet bowl water for up to four months and deodorizes. Note: only adults should use this product.
- Keep spare toilet paper rolls in an easily accessible place for kids whether it be placed over the neck of a dinosaur toy, or kept on a low shelf or in a basket. Teach them how to change the roll.
BRUSHING TEETH
Getting kids to brush, floss and rinse their teeth can be exhausting, but here are a few tips.
- Keep a sand timer on the counter that kids need to flip as they start brushing.
- Organize toothbrushes, floss, and toothpaste in a kitchen utensil organizer inside the bathroom drawer. Each child has their own section, and can’t blame ‘not knowing where something is’ on reasons why they haven’t done it. You can pick these up for as little as $1 at The Dollar Store. Use a Sharpie, or piece of tape to indicate which section belongs to which child.
OTHER TIPS
- Chore and incentive charts for appropriately cleaning up bathroom messes, along with taking care of personal hygiene without nagging encourages positive behavior. We have some great tips right here on 5 Minutes for Mom for chore charts and a great free printable reward chart too.
- Dawn Nicole Designs has this great free printable available for download bathroom sign too. I printed this and hung it in the kids bathroom after my daughter came to me repeatedly asking me to talk to the boys about their mess. This gently reminds them to be considerate of others who need to use the bathroom after them.
- Night lights in the bathroom or rope lighting under the counter will help kids find the bathroom during the night.
About 2,000 Flushes
- Kills 99.9% of bacteria. Flush after flush
- Made with a unique formula, 2000 Flushes cleans and deodorizes with every flush, keeping your toilet fresh and clean and making your scrubbing easier
- 2000 Flushes automatic toilet bowl cleaner continuously cleans toilet bowl water for up to four months
- Available in a variety of formulas: 2000 Flushes Bleach, 2000 Flushes Blue Plus Bleach and 2000 Flushes Blue Plus Detergents
Learn more about 2000 Flushes Toilet Bowl Cleaner on their website, and like them on Facebook. Don’t forget to download the coupon for $1 off your next purchase from their website.
What are your tips for organizing your kids bathroom? Share in the comments below.
Pin for later:
Written by 5 Minutes for Mom contributor Tonya Staab.
Talk with us: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
Pin with us at pinterest.com/5minutesformom
I have my sons pick up after themselves in their bathroom as part of their chores.
Use Mr Clean Erasers.. they are little miracle sponges.
I would love to try 2000 flushes!!! Keeping the toilet bowl fresh is a challenge for sure! I like to keep disinfectant wipes handy in the bathroom because there’s just so many germs here, especially with three kids! Four if you count the husband 🙂 Thanks for chance!!
Leave us a comment letting us know one of your favorite bathroom organizing or cleaning tips.
As a single guy I find that the yearly pressure washing works pretty well.
Much as I like the look of wooden toilet seats, I use plastic ones now to make up cleaning after my children easier.
Lysol for me does the job
If you have limited storage space, just keep a few basic cleaning supplies and toiletries on hand. That way you won’t have so much clutter, and you can easily find what you need.
Cleaning as you go is always a good tip, that way its never too much at once.
I don’t really have a tip, but I try to have the least amount of stuff in my bathroom as possible. I use baby wipes to wipe down the counter.
One of my best tips so you don’t go to frustrated easy, is to do one part of the bathroom at a time and put some energetic music on while you are cleaning
I clean a little in the bathroom every day!!
It’s all about cleaning as you go!
I sure don’t have any good tips. I need some myself so looking at what is posted. I have no place for storage anywhere in my house. It makes for a clutter.
My favorite bathroom cleaning tip is to keep cleaning buckets in each bathroom so you don’t have to carry items back and forth. It’s a small thing, but it saves time and hassle.
I keep a super fine sandpaper underneath the bathroom sink to fight water stains in the toilet, sink and shower. It comes right off and makes cleaner easier.
A tip for teaching kids how to clean the bathroom is to actually take a few step-by-step pics and make a little manual for them. Make sure one pic says “this is what it looks like when it’s clean” for each bathroom cleaning chore.
dish soap and vinegar for the tub.
I use pretty baskets to keep items organized in my bathroom closet.
I have a small basket that I roll up washcloths and put in it to save room.
I like the tip you shared about placing tape where you roll the toilet paper too – that’s great for younger kids! I don’t really have any new tips of my own.
We keep a squeegee in the shower and wipe it down after every use and it really prevents mold and mildew and soap buildup
Clean as you go. Wipe down counters as needed, so soap scum doesn’t build up.
My favorite tip is to put all extra items under the sink or in a bathroom closet. It looks cleaner and does not get opened by kids!
I keep a roll of paper towels in the bathroom to shine the faucet on the sink.
I have various containers to hold items under the sink. Also, I wipe down the sink and mirror every couple days to keep it looking nice.
Use organizational bins for storage.
My bathroom cleaning tip is to clean a little bit every day
I clean my glass shower doors with dryer sheets as they remove all of the residue as well as hard water stains.
I store a roll of paper towel and cleaners in my kids’ bathroom for regular touchups.
One Of My Favorite Organizing Bathroom Tips Is To Use A Nice Basket To Keep Toiletries In.
If you have glass shower doors, use a squeegee to wipe the glass after you shower to prevent mildew and soap scum.
Thank you for tips. I can help my mother clean the bathroom when she takes care of my youngest sister. She will happy when she see me arrange my bathroom.
I limit the number of items in the bathroom. Less clutter means easy clean up.
I keep Clorox disinfecting wipes handy for quick clean up.
I like to use bleach to clean the toilet and keeping it more sanitized.
One bathroom cleaning tip is to use a squeegee to wipe down the shower walls and use a towel designated for drying the walls to keep your shower from growing mold/mildew.
Clean the shower while you’re taking a shower. And always use a squeegee.
My favorite bathroom organizing tip is to use small baskets to organize things in the closet. All the medicines, prescriptions, vitamins, first aid – they are all sorted by type in small baskets. They look cute, and you can just grab the basket you need.
I have an extra shelf/basket system in my bathroom to keep things off the counter.
I love using small shelving units to store medications and first aid supplies
I always use wipes to clean things up in the sink and toilet area during the days because I have kids.
I especially like the tape on the wall to measure the amount of toilet paper to use. I can only guess how much money that has gone the toilet!
Lots of shelving and lots of baskets for organizing. For cleaning, I use a vinegar and water mix as a daily wipe down.
A quick wipedown every night is an easy routine. Getting the kids involved with a 5 minute timer and some music keeps things organized….pretty much.
I have 2 kids and they make the mess everyday. Thanks for sharing useful tips.
I clean the shower, when I am in the shower.
I always keep Lysol wipes on the bathroom counter to clean up any small messes
Use a dryer sheet to dust in the bathroom to help keep powders n debris from adhering to everything!
A quick wipedown every night is an easy routine. Getting the kids involved with a 5 minute timer and some music keeps things organized….pretty much.
My best bathroom tip is to clean regularly instead of letting it get gross LOL
I give my bathroom a quick cleaning every day and then a thorough cleaning once a week. That way the task of cleaning up the bathroom does not seem so insurmountable.
I like to use a shower caddy to orgnize my things
I keep a bottle of hand sanitizer on the bathroom counter.
I keep an organizer with different cleaners and wipes in it under the bathroom sink so it’s easy to spot clean when needed.
Clean all the areas daily. All the toothbrushes together in a container. organize everything.
Wipe down everyday… 7 kids in my home. Everyone takes their turn to keep a germ free bathroo.
Wow you’re super mama. It may take you a whole day caring for them.
Oh, this is awesome! We just use lots of soap, haha. Thanks so much!
My favorite cleaning tip for the bathroom and any room actually is just to clean it a bit every day that way it never gets too dirty – which makes you not want to clean. 🙂
We use Clorox to wipe down and Scrubbing Bubbles for the cleaning.
I leave a dishwashing sponge – the kind that holds cleaner- in the tub and scrub every other time I’m showering
Wash shower curtains and liners in the washer with a couple of heavy towels. The towels will scrub those curtains clean.
Just being consistent so the work doesn’t pile up
My favorite bathroom cleaning tip is to use vinegar to clean mirrors.
I like to keep cleaning wipes in the cabinet so that I can just grab one and wipe out the sink after the morning routine. It helps to keep thing fresher between real cleaning.
My kids help pick up the house daily. We rotate a,set of saily tasks to keep up with the mess
I started leaving a container of Clorox wipes in the bathroom in the hopes that it would entice them to clean up their messes!
I use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning. I keep old toothbrushes for cleaning grout and around faucets.
I taught my kids early to clean up after themselves
They’re really good tips. Thanks for sharing
Sharing a bathroom with two teenage girls is sometimes a challenge. To help simplify things we got one of those standing utility shelf units that fit over the toilet. I then found some really nice woven rectangle baskets and we each have a shelf with two baskets each to keep our stuff neat & tidy. Then the top of the toilet holds tissues, cotton swabs in a container and a pretty bowl to hold rings, etc. while taking a shower.
This has helped a lot in our bathroom. So far, so good.
Each of us have our own drawers for our personal hairbrushes, combs, hair ties, etc. This keeps us out of each other’s belongings and causes us to value the space rather than allowing unneeded things to accumulate.
Disinfectant wipes!! They are an absolute godsend and its something that my son can use to help clean up his messes…Now if I could only get my husband to use them. 🙂
my tip idea is lemon gets out any hard water shower stains
I buy soap, shampoo and body wash when it’s on sale and I have a coupon so my tip is to do this to save money and then keep baskets in a cabinet with the items separated so that it’s right at your fingertips.
I keep my restroom clean by making sure it’s clean after every trip.
I clean the bathroom while the kids are taking a bath
My best bathroom cleaning tip is to be VERY thorough and clean OFTEN. 🙂
My best bathroom cleaning tips are to use wipes on the countertop and sink in between big cleanings. I clean a little every single day.
I hate cluttered countertops so I use a segmented plastic basket to hold my daily needs (hairspray, gel, lotion, toothpaste, etc.). I keep it in the cabinet under the sink until I need it each morning. Nice, clutter-free countertop. I also wipe down the bathroom every day so it’s never a big, dirty job.
We use containers under the sink to stay organized and we try to do a quick daily or every other day clean
I keep disinfectant wipes handy in all my bathrooms, and the counters get wiped down daily, as do the toilets.
I like to put small bins under the bathroom sink to store my shampoo, cleaning supplies, and hair accessories.
I keep all my cleaning supplies together in a basket, so they are handy to use when I need them!
I really do not have any tips, I try to clean it everyday, I like everything to smell fresh
Keep cleaning wipes handy all the time!
I use a squeegee to clean shower wall and tub
Wiping things down once a day helps keep things more tidy at my house! Also letting the kids know where things are or where they go. I like 2000 flushes! It’s been awhile since I’ve purchased it since we’ve been trying another product. Going back to it since it’s much easier and last longer.
When it comes to the tub and shower, I believe you should wipe it down after every use to keep it clean longer.
I use a shower caddy to hold shampoo and conditioner – less mess!
thank you
My best cleaning tip is to spray bath and shower cleaner on the walls and floor the night before and when you get up to clean it the next day, it will be so easy to clean. Just wipe and all the dirt is gone.
Scrub and wipe down the bathroom weekly . It becomes easier to manage!
I am loving Four Monks Vinegar Cleaner. It’s natural and really helps keep my bathroom clean.
Using a squeegie after showers helps prevent water spotting on glass shower doors.
No real tips. I just clean when it needs it instead of waiting for everything to pile up. It just makes it easier and doesn’t take as long. thank you!
I keep a container of wipes in the cabinet to clean up any toothpaste or other stains daily
Only use safe eco friendly cleaners and lots of organizers in the bathroom!
My favorite tip is to take everything off the surfaces and floors before cleaning.. and use a Mr. Clean eraser.
I use an old drawer to hold shampoos and soaps under the cabinet so if one finds its way spilt over it won’t ruin my cabinets. Multipurpose.
Clean daily so there is less build-up.
I have baskets that help me sort the items in my bathroom
One of my favorite bathroom cleaning tips is I keep disinfectant wipes under the sink and use them frequently for door knobs and faucet handles.
My cleaning tip is to clean a little bit every day
Doing small cleanings daily helps
I use dish soap and vinegar to clean bathtub.
I’ve learned that I have to keep up with the bathroom all week long or it becomes overwhelming to clean.
One of my best tips for the house is to keep like cleaning wipes handy and give everything a quick wipe down each morning
My cleaning tip is to use your used dryer sheets for dusting. The static electricity in the dryer sheet traps the dust
Try and stay away from harsh chemicals in cleaning supplies now a days…good ole soap and water do the trick! 🙂
I don’t have any one tip, I do try to keep as few things in the bathroom as possible, so it doesn’t get overly cluttered and make it harder to keep clean.
Great tips! All five of my kids share a bathroom and I have found the easiest way to keep it clean and tidy is to make them wipe down the counter every day, and the boys have to wipe the toilet, because sometimes boys miss and that creates a big mess. I place disinfectant wipes under each of the sinks and encourage my kids to use them every single day. My kids have one drawer where they keep their toothbrushes. I can’t designate special spots for each of my kids, because I have 5, and there is limited space in a bathroom. Instead my girls have a drawer and my boys have a drawer.
I have a handy organizer that I keep all my bathroom cleaning supplies in. I keep them right in the bathroom closet.
A quick daily wipedown helps a lot!