Can you believe it? WEEK 5, already! We’re not quite 1/3 of the way through … but time is flying. We’re already at WEEK 5, and it’s time to tackle the MASTER BATHROOM. And, in looking at the HGP, this is the ONLY bathroom that’s on the schedule. What about the main bathroom that the kids and/or overnight guests use? What about the power room that everyone uses??? Consider tackling those, too, if you can fit it in this week. In fact, you may want to tackle those that your guests and other visitors see first, before doing the one that only you and your hubs/significant other see.
As with other rooms, start from the top and work your way down. Get into all the corners and ceiling angles and remove all those dust bunnies. Be sure to look for streaks above your shower and tub, where steam may have dribbled down and left smears. Tackle the lights over your vanity and any other lights in there (I have a can light over the shower, another can light over the tub, and a vent fan with built-in light over the toilet, in addition to the vanity lights). Don’t forget to wipe down the top edge of the tile in the shower – the moisture and dust can really build up.
Get the bowl cleaned and disinfected, and remember to wipe down the outside, too. Including the rim and behind the lid, arothe outside of the bowl, the water box and the top. Give the sinks, tub, and shower stall a good wash-down. What about your bathmats? Can they be salvaged with a good scrub on the underside, or do they need to be replaced? Launder the shower curtain and check the liner. Is it ready for replacement? How are your towels and washcloths holding up? Time to throw the bath rugs into the washer, too.
What about your countertop containers – soap dish, liquid soap and lotion dispensers? Make sure all of the pump dispensers are still working and not clogged up. Do you use “holiday” scented sprays or similar in your bathroom? Are the sprays still working? Diffusers? Wax melts? Do you have a good supply of TP to get you through the holidays?
Lastly, remember the baseboards, and give the floor a complete scrub down, especially around the toilet area and into the grout. And don’t forget to wipe down your bathroom door and sanitize the door handles, inside and out.
Now is the time to go through your medicine cabinet, too, and rid your long-outdated OTC meds. Make a list of what you need to stock up on for the winter cold and flu season. Keep all those meds and supplies together, so you can easily tend to a fever and congestion. Know where your thermometer, heating pad, Vicks vapor rub, decongestants and cough drops are located. As a single female living alone, and speaking from experience, it’s better to be prepared and not need to use these items, than to need them and find that you don’t have them on hand and have to go out to get some.
A couple of links with lists of what to keep in your first-aid kit –
Also, beginning Monday (Sept. 25), if you’re in the US, you can order a new supply of free at-home Covid tests through https://www.covidtests.gov. You can also double-check expiration dates for ones you may still have, as some expiration dates have been extended. If you feel the need to have some tests on hand, consider placing an order for home delivery, so you have them in-house should you need to test.
If you keep your bathroom cleaning supplies under the sink, can any be combined with supplies elsewhere in the house and perhaps free up space. Also check your supply of TP and Kleenex and, if needed, watch for stock-up sales as the holiday season nears.
Use the same procedure in other bathrooms throughout your home. We want these areas to sparkle, too.
Other Holiday Prep –
As with other rooms, start from the top and work your way down. Get into all the corners and ceiling angles and remove all those dust bunnies. Be sure to look for streaks above your shower and tub, where steam may have dribbled down and left smears. Tackle the lights over your vanity and any other lights in there (I have a can light over the shower, another can light over the tub, and a vent fan with built-in light over the toilet, in addition to the vanity lights). Don’t forget to wipe down the top edge of the tile in the shower – the moisture and dust can really build up.
Get the bowl cleaned and disinfected, and remember to wipe down the outside, too. Including the rim and behind the lid, arothe outside of the bowl, the water box and the top. Give the sinks, tub, and shower stall a good wash-down. What about your bathmats? Can they be salvaged with a good scrub on the underside, or do they need to be replaced? Launder the shower curtain and check the liner. Is it ready for replacement? How are your towels and washcloths holding up? Time to throw the bath rugs into the washer, too.
What about your countertop containers – soap dish, liquid soap and lotion dispensers? Make sure all of the pump dispensers are still working and not clogged up. Do you use “holiday” scented sprays or similar in your bathroom? Are the sprays still working? Diffusers? Wax melts? Do you have a good supply of TP to get you through the holidays?
Lastly, remember the baseboards, and give the floor a complete scrub down, especially around the toilet area and into the grout. And don’t forget to wipe down your bathroom door and sanitize the door handles, inside and out.
Now is the time to go through your medicine cabinet, too, and rid your long-outdated OTC meds. Make a list of what you need to stock up on for the winter cold and flu season. Keep all those meds and supplies together, so you can easily tend to a fever and congestion. Know where your thermometer, heating pad, Vicks vapor rub, decongestants and cough drops are located. As a single female living alone, and speaking from experience, it’s better to be prepared and not need to use these items, than to need them and find that you don’t have them on hand and have to go out to get some.
A couple of links with lists of what to keep in your first-aid kit –
Must-Haves for Your First-Aid Kit
From the Centers for Disease and Prevention
First-Aid Kits: Stock Supplies that can Save Lives
From the Mayo Clinic
Also, beginning Monday (Sept. 25), if you’re in the US, you can order a new supply of free at-home Covid tests through https://www.covidtests.gov. You can also double-check expiration dates for ones you may still have, as some expiration dates have been extended. If you feel the need to have some tests on hand, consider placing an order for home delivery, so you have them in-house should you need to test.
If you keep your bathroom cleaning supplies under the sink, can any be combined with supplies elsewhere in the house and perhaps free up space. Also check your supply of TP and Kleenex and, if needed, watch for stock-up sales as the holiday season nears.
Use the same procedure in other bathrooms throughout your home. We want these areas to sparkle, too.
Other Holiday Prep –
- Add a batch of Holiday cookies or other baked goods to your freezer.
- Add a freezer meal, labeled with content and cooking instructions.
- Add canned goods to your donation box.
- If you’re shopping for gift-giving, buy 1/8 of what’s on your list; ask about the store’s return policy, get gift receipts to keep with the gift, and save your receipts in a centralized location.
- When going through your bathrooms, do you have any items for a donation bag? Any sample size toiletries that could be donated to a shelter? Any old towels that could go to an animal rescue group?
- Take a look at your holiday outfits. Do they still fit? Are they showing signs of wear? What about the outfits for other family members? If new items are needed, make a note of sizes and gather measurements, if you can.
