The housekeeping job you dread the most -- it's the bathroom. Bathrooms get more concentrated use than any room in the house and produce an environment where mold, mildew, hard water deposits, dust and other forms of grunge flourish. Performing a thorough deep-clean will enable you to start fresh, making weekly maintenance much less intimidating.
Jeff Campbell, author of "The Clean Team," says, "Many households 
need a thorough cleanmg before a rational person would even attempt weekly or maintenance cleaning. There's just little point in cleaning just the top layer of crud over and over, the unexcavated layers are still there."
To begin, make an assessment of the room. Determine exactly what you will be dealing with and form a game plan. Working top to bottom, remove layers of heavy dust and cobwebs from ceiling, walls, woodwork, wall-hangings, shelves and all ledges using a vacuum with a long hose and a horse-hair attachment. Work right down to the baseboards and floor.
If ceilings and walls need washing, clear ammonia works well, but be sure that you have good ventilation. Open windows and turn on fans. Don't skip over light fixtures. Most glass globes can be removed and placed in the dishwasher. Dust both sides of pictures and removable mirrors.
The shower is usually the most time consuming, labor intensive job in the bathroom. Using the correct tools, products and techniques can simplify the work dramatically. If the walls of the
shower are encrusted with build-up soap scum and mineral deposits, you'll need an industrial strength tile cleaner that contains specific acids to eat through the layers. Apply generously and wait a few minutes to let the chemicals do the work for you. Again be conscious of ventilation in the room and protect your skin with plastic gloves. A large tile brush is perfect for agitating and breaking up the scum so it can be rinsed away.
Is mold attempting a takeover in your shower? This shows up first as a pinkish discoloration growing in the corners and on grout and will quickly progress to a black plague if not attended to. Bleach is by far the most effective product for fighting molds. An attack and retreat strategy is wise - spray on all affected areas and leave the room for 10 to 20 minutes. On returning, use the tile brush (or for small areas a stiff-bristled tooth brush) for working out the grime. If this seems like too much, remember that this is a onetime job, enabling you to do much easier maintenance on a weekly basis. Rinse thoroughly, bleach is a toxic chemical that you do not want hanging around or mixing with other chemicals.
As a final step, apply shower wax, a product that will protect fiberglass or tile walls and make future cleaning much easier. Once the shower and tub are clean, you can move on to the shower doors. Glass doors will 
accumulate water deposits quickly and eventually become etched to the point of damage. Remove as much of this as possible with tile-juice or white vinegar and a safety razor in a holder. Once the surface is clean, mineral oil can be applied to textured shower doors to repel water and reduce the appearance of water spots. This will also work on metal fixtures, faucets and floor tracts. If your glass doors are clear, we recommend using a special wax for glass.
Mineral rings around toilet bowls, in sinks, or around faucets can be removed with a pumice stick. Use gently, and only when the surface is wet, as this is a powerful tool. If the pumice stick doesn't quite get it, break up the crust with a razor blade, following with cleanser to remove any black marks left by the blade. Once your tile or porcelain vanity and sink are clean, shower wax can be applied here as well to restore shine and facilitate easier cleaning in the future.
After you've finished deep-cleaning your bathroom, (or having a professional do it) stand back and admire a job well done. Give yourself a pat on the back it's a tough job.
Lisa Martin is a master housekeeper with The Housekeeping Specialists and can be reached at 1michaelmcdermott@home.com.
