Cleaning your bathroom doesn’t need to drain you anymore.

If you’re just getting back to college for the 2nd semester, you’re familiar with the grueling process of cleaning your bathroom. I share a bathroom with another one of my housemates, and cleaning it is a task I so very dread.

But I love cleanliness, so I knew that I needed to find a way to make this process more bearable. The more I pushed off cleaning the bathroom, the more I would dread cleaning it.

Cleaning your bathroom needs to be done consistently, at least once a week, or your shower will soon turn into a mini bathtub and everything will smell bad. This reality is much, much worse than getting off your booty and cleaning it yourself.

My goal is to make this process as bearable and quick as possible. With the right steps, you might not look at cleaning your bathroom with as much dread.

Step 1: Throw on old clothes. (Bonus points for rainboots)

Time: 1 minute

I am giving you zero time to do this because 1, you gotta job to do, and 2, you gotta do it quickly. I never wear cute clothes to clean the bathroom, I normally throw on shorts/sweatpants and a tee shirt. Bonus points if you throw on rain boots so your feet don’t get wet from the shower.

Step 2: Put on a great playlist

Time: 1 minute

This is a very important step. If you miss this step, you might seriously hate every second of cleaning. Music takes your mind off the yucky dirt and crap you are seeing and brings your mind to another place. You might even dance to the beat while scrubbing, which is much more fun than it seems.

Step 3: Scrub the sink

Time: 7 minutes

Time to get cleaning. First, take everything off the surface of your sink, like toothbrushes, brushes, that one scrunchie that’s been sitting there for 20 days but has never been used. The sink should be clear to clean.

Then, wet your sink by turning on the faucet and splashing water on the surface. Apply a thin layer of all-purpose cleaner on the surface of your sink. I try not to apply too much, but I usually make two thin lines of cleaner on the sink. I use the Soft Scrub All Purpose Cleaner, and I would really recommend this kind.

Then, grab a sponge. I used the Scotch-Brite sponges, and they work wonders. Fill the sponge with water, squeeze a little water out, and then scrub the cleaner into the sink. Get all the gross toothpaste stains, spray tan residue, and dirt outta there.

After your done scrubbing away, turn on the water to flush out the residue.

Step 3: Meet your match – the shower drain.

Time: 2 minutes

This is the worst part, I’m gonna be straight up honest with you. The first time I did this in college I almost vomited. It takes a lot of mental strength to get this step done, but once you do it, I promise you’ll feel grateful you did.

First, you need to get a paper towel. If you feel extra yucky, get two paper towels and use them to protect your hands from the drain.

Next, lift the drain and WITHOUT LOOKING, get the hair out of there. Yup. Without looking. Because if you look, you may or may not puke. My stomach always gets queasy when I accidentally peak at the mess that is my drain. Once you have it in your paper towel, either throw it away or flush it down the toilet.

Step 4: Tackle the shower

Time: 6 minutes

Then, what you did with the sink you are going to do in the shower. I use the same cleaner I use on the sink.

First, turn the shower on briefly to wet the surface of the shower. Then, apply the cleaner on the base of the shower. I usually apply more cleaner in the shower than I do in the sink because the shower is in greater need of it.

Once the cleaner is on the shower surface, grab your sponge and scrub the cleaner into the shower base. Once you are done with scrubbing, you’ll want to turn on the shower again to flush the soapy residue down the drain.

5. Clean toilet

Time: 2 minutes

This is the easiest step! The hardest tasks are behind you, so congratulations, my friend.

Grab some toilet cleaner and open the toilet, and then apply the cleaner in the toilet. Then use your toilet cleaner brush and scrub-a-dub-dub. After you’re done, flush the toilet to rid of cleaner excess.

Congratulations! You can now enjoy a clean bathroom.

I am so darn proud of you for finishing such an awful task. But now you can spray some Febreze, look at your finished masterpiece, and pat yourself on the back. Your bathroom is now a safe and enjoyable place.