Easy to follow step by step instructions

When you don’t stick to a bathroom cleaning schedule, you’re dealing with a buildup of bacteria, mold, and mildew. Cleaning your bathroom weekly is ideal, but some areas can be cleaned daily or monthly, whether it’s high-touch surfaces like toilets and countertops, or shower curtains that need a thorough cleaning once a month.

While cleaning the bathroom may not be your favorite thing on your to-do list, it’s actually pretty simple when you break it down step by step. Here’s everything you need to know about how to clean a bathroom.

Tips to remember before cleaning

• Organize and clean. Before you clean your bathroom, take the time to organize and remove items you no longer need. A little tidying can go a long way and cut down on cleaning time, says Mause Ramirez, cleaning expert and owner of MCS Cleaning Services Inc.
• Clean everything. Drying the bathroom by dusting, wiping areas with a dry microfiber towel, or vacuuming can help make the process go more smoothly. If you spray off dust and dirt right away, the dirt can smudge and become more difficult to remove.

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Supplies you need

You can’t clean your bathroom without the right cleaning supplies. Here’s everything you need to clean your bathroom on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

• Microfiber cloth: When cleaning the bathroom, you will always need a handful of microfiber rags. They are great for dusting and dry cleaning as well as wet cleaning products.
• Cleaning: Similar to microfiber mops, dusting brushes are great for removing dust and dirt in most areas, but especially in hard-to-reach places, like light fixtures, window and door frames, baseboards, etc.
• Vacuum cleaner or broom and dustpan: A vacuum, especially a crevice tool, can make dry cleaning much easier. But a broom and dustpan can also do the trick.
• All purpose cleaner: An all-purpose cleaner is a must-have cleaning product in general, so you can tackle multiple areas of the bathroom without taking up too much space in your toiletries cabinet or shelf.
• Indicated bathroom cleaner: If you have certain materials, like stone or tile countertops, you should have cleaning products specifically designed for that material on hand to safely clean them without damaging them.
• Sponge, soft bristle brush and toothbrush: Have all your cleaning supplies ready, whether you need a non-abrasive sponge for faucets, a soft-bristled brush for the tub, or a small toothbrush for cleaning crevices between fixtures and grout.
• Glass cleaner water: Cleans bathroom mirrors and glass doors to a sparkling shine, leaving no streaks or smudges.
• Wiper tree: The squeegee blade is useful for drying walls and mirrors in the bathroom.
• Toilet cleaner and toilet brush: You will want to designate certain products for cleaning the toilet.
• Mop and floor cleaner: A mop and floor cleaner (especially if you have certain types of bathroom floors) will help get your bathroom floors sparkling without having to bend over.
• Baking soda, vinegar and dish soap: Baking soda, white vinegar, and dish soap are the main ingredients in many homemade bathroom cleaners. Vinegar and dish soap can remove dirt and stains. Baking soda can reduce odors and act as an abrasive cleaner for sinks, tubs, etc.
• Plastic bags and rubber bands: They are indispensable items for deep cleaning and descaling showerheads.
• Disinfectant spray or wipes: Sometimes, you’ll need a stronger cleaner to really clean the dirtiest spots in your bathroom.

How to clean the bathroom

Remove items from floors, shelves and surfaces

Clear items such as soap dispensers and shampoo bottles from countertops, bathtubs, and shelves. Place dirty laundry and towels in a hamper so they can be washed and dried. Bathroom rugs or carpets should also be removed, vacuumed, and washed.

Also, remove trash cans and any decorations that might get in the way. Clearing out the bathroom as much as possible beforehand will make cleaning easier.

Dusting, Sweeping and Vacuuming

Wipe areas from top to bottom with a feather duster, microfiber towel, or vacuum. Start with light fixtures, exhaust fans, and shower rods. Then, wipe down towel bars, toilets, shelves, counters, window sills, door frames, and baseboards.

Finally, vacuum or sweep the floor. Pay special attention to baseboards and toilet seats, as these are areas where dirt tends to accumulate, says Ramirez. For tight spaces, you can use a vacuum with a crevice nozzle.

Clean the table top and dresser

Spray an all-purpose cleaner onto the countertop and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. If you have a bathroom sink, wipe down the front of the sink, including the drawers, cabinet doors, and hardware.

Make your sinks and bathroom fixtures shine

After wiping down the countertops, head to the sink and bathroom fixtures. Fill the sink with a few inches of warm water and a few drops of dish soap or all-purpose cleaner. Dip a sponge or microfiber cloth into the cleaning solution and wipe down the sink. Use a sponge or soft-bristled brush to clean the bathroom fixtures.

You can use a spare toothbrush dipped in the cleaning solution to clean hard-to-reach places, like behind faucets and between handles. Dry fixtures with a microfiber towel. Drain the bathroom sink and rinse it with clean water. Then, dry the sink with a microfiber towel.

Mirror and Glass Cleaning

With a glass cleaner, lightly spray the mirror and glass door, if you have one. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth. If you want to make your glass door shine and clean effectively, there are also glass cleaners for shower doors that can help remove more stubborn stains like soap scum and hard water stains.

Shower and bath scrubber

Spray your bathroom walls, tub, and fixtures with your choice of cleaner, whether it’s an all-purpose cleaner, a tub or shower cleaner, or a homemade shower cleaner. Scrub the areas with a soft-bristled brush and rinse. Use a squeegee to dry the walls.

Spray, wipe and scrub toilet bowl

Spray a cleaner or disinfectant on the outside of the toilet, including the tank, flush handle, lid, and bowl, and wipe it down. Next, open the toilet and spray and wipe down the lid, the top and bottom of the seat, and the rim. Pour the toilet cleaner into the bowl, making sure it gets under the rim. Leave the cleaner on as directed, then use a toilet brush to scrub the inside. When finished, flush the toilet.

Wipe and clean baseboards and floors

You’re almost done! But first, clean the baseboards. You can wipe them down with a microfiber cloth and cleaning solution if needed. Mop the floor with a floor cleaner that’s appropriate for your bathroom floor and wipe it down. Let the area dry.

Re-position objects and decorations

Once the areas are dry and clean, it’s time to put all of your bathroom essentials back in place. Add a new liner to your trash can if needed, replace your towels and bath mats with freshly laundered placemats, and rearrange your decor. This is also a great time to restock and stock up on essentials, like hand soap and toilet paper.

3 Spots That Need a Deep Clean in Your Bathroom

A light, weekly cleaning schedule can work wonders for your bathroom, but here are the places you don’t want to forget to give it a thorough cleaning.

Shower head

Shower descaling is essential to remove limescale, bacteria and keep your shower running efficiently.

To clean your showerhead, fill a plastic bag with one part vinegar and one part water and completely submerge the showerhead. Secure with a rubber band and let sit for at least an hour or overnight. Remove the bag, scrub with a paste made from baking soda and water, then rinse with hot water to remove any residue.

You should do this once a month if you live in an area with hard water, or every three to four months.

Shower curtains and liners

Shower curtains and liners are frequently exposed to water and moisture, which can lead to mold, soap scum, and hard water stains.

To clean shower curtains and liners, you can usually throw them in the washing machine, but check the label carefully and follow the cleaning instructions. Shower curtains and liners should be washed at least once a month to avoid buildup, Ramirez says.

Brick and mortar

Tiles and grout can become stained and accumulate soap scum. You can clean grout with a mixture of baking soda and water and a scrub brush. You can clean bathroom tiles with a mixture of baking soda and water or baking soda and vinegar (depending on the type of tile you have) and a scrub brush. Ideally, deep clean tiles and grout every week or two.