A Step-By-Step Guide That’s Easy to Follow

When you don’t stick to a bathroom cleaning schedule, you’ll end up with a buildup of bacteria, mildew, and mold. Weekly bathroom cleanings are ideal, but some areas can be cleaned daily or monthly, whether it be frequently touched surfaces like toilets and countertops, or shower curtains that could use a deep clean once a month. 

Even though cleaning the bathroom might not be your favorite thing on your to-do list, it’s pretty simple once 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 declutter. Before cleaning your bathroom, take the time to organize and get rid of items you no longer need. A little decluttering can go a long way and help cut back on the time spent cleaning, Mause Ramirez, cleaning expert and owner of MCS Cleaning Services Inc., says. 
• Wipe down everything. Dry cleaning your bathroom by dusting, wiping areas down with a dry microfiber cloth, or vacuuming can help the process go more smoothly. If you go in on dust and dirt with cleaning sprays right away, it can smudge and be more difficult to remove.

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Supplies You’ll Need 

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

• Microfiber cloths: When cleaning your bathroom, you’ll always need a handful of microfiber rags. They’re great for dusting and dry cleaning and with wet cleaning products, too. 
• Duster: Similar to microfiber cloths, dusters are great for removing dirt and dust in most areas, but specifically in hard-to-reach spots, like light fixtures, window and door frames, baseboards, and more. 
• Vacuum or broom and dustpan: A vacuum, especially with a crevice tool, can help make dry cleaning so much easier. But a broom and dustpan will 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 in a bathroom without taking up too much space in your cleaning caddy or shelf. 
• Specified bathroom cleaners: If you have certain materials, like stone countertops or tile, you should keep material-specific cleaning products on hand to safely clean them without damage.
• Sponge, soft-bristle brush, and toothbrush: Get all the scrubbing materials ready, whether you need a non-abrasive sponge for faucets, a soft-bristle brush for bathtubs, or a small toothbrush to get in between fixtures and clean grout. 
• Glass cleaner: Get mirrors and glass shower doors sparkly clean without any smudges or streaks. 
• Squeegee: Squeegees are great for drying off shower walls and mirrors. 
• Toilet bowl cleaner and toilet brush: You’re going to want to designate certain products for cleaning toilets. 
• Mop and floor cleaner: A mop and floor cleaner (especially if you have certain types of bathroom floors) will help keep your bathroom floors shining without having to bend down.
• Baking soda, vinegar, and dishwashing soap: Baking soda, white vinegar, and dishwashing soap are key ingredients in a lot of DIY bathroom cleaning solutions. Vinegar and dishwashing soap can cut through grime and dirt. Baking soda can reduce odors and act as an abrasive scrub for sinks, bathtubs, and more. 
• Plastic bag and rubber band: They’re must-haves for deep cleaning and descaling shower heads. 
• Disinfecting spray or wipes: Sometimes, you’re going to want a more heavy-duty cleaner to really clean the dirtiest parts of your bathroom. 

How to Clean a Bathroom

Remove Items From Floors, Shelves, and Surfaces

Clear out items like soap dispensers and shampoo bottles from countertops, bathtub ledges, and shelves. Toss laundry and dirty towels in the hamper so you can wash and dry them. Bath mats or rugs should also be removed, vacuumed, and washed.

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

Dust, Sweep, and Vacuum

Dry clean areas from top to bottom with a duster, microfiber cloth, or vacuum. Start with light fixtures, exhaust fans, and shower rods. Then, work your way to dusting towel bars, toilet tanks, shelves, counters, window sills, door frames, and baseboards.

Finally, vacuum or sweep the floors. According to Ramirez, pay extra special attention to baseboards and the base of toilets, as those are areas where a lot of dirt and dust build up. For tight areas, you can use a vacuum with a crevice tool. 

Wipe Down Countertops and Vanity

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

Make Sinks and Bathroom Fixtures Sparkle

After cleaning the countertops, make your way over to the bathroom sink and fixtures. Fill the sink with a couple inches of warm water and a few drops of dishwashing soap or all-purpose cleaner. Dip a sponge or microfiber cloth into a cleaning solution and wipe the sink. Use a sponge or soft-bristle brush to clean bathroom fixtures.

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

Wipe Mirrors and Glass

With a glass cleaner, lightly spray mirrors and glass doors, if you have them. Wipe them down with a microfiber cloth. If you want to make glass doors shine and effectively clean them, there are also glass cleaners for shower doors that can help with tougher spots like soap scum and hard water stains. 

Scrub Showers and Tubs

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

Spray, Wipe, and Scrub the Toilet

Spray the outside of the toilet with a cleaner or disinfectant, including the tank, flush handle, lid, and bowl, then wipe it down. Next, open the toilet and spray and wipe the lid, top and bottom of the seat, and rim. Add a toilet cleaner to the bowl, making sure to get under the rim. Let the cleaner sit as directed, then use a toilet brush to scrub the inside. Once you’re done, flush the toilet. 

Wipe and Mop the 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 floors with the appropriate floor cleaner for your bathroom floor, and mop. Allow the area to dry. 

Put Items and Decor Back

After the areas are dry and clean, it’s time to put back all your bathroom essentials. Add a new liner to your trash can if needed, replace freshly washed towels and bath rugs or mats, and put back your decor. It’s also a great time to refill and restock necessities, like hand soap and toilet paper. 

3 Spots to Deep Clean in Your Bathroom 

A cleaning schedule with light and weekly cleaning can do wonders for your bathroom, but here are the spots you don’t want to forget to deep clean. 

Shower Head

Descaling a shower head is essential to get rid of limescale, bacteria, and help your shower head run efficiently.

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

This should be done 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 constantly surrounded by water and humidity, which can easily lead to mildew, soap scum, and hard water stains.

To clean shower curtains and liners, you can typically throw them in the washing machine, but double-check the tags and follow the cleaning guidelines. Shower curtains and liners should be cleaned at least once per month to prevent buildup, Ramirez says. 

Tiles and Grout

Tiles and grout can stain and accumulate soap scum. You can clean grout with baking soda and water paste and scrub brush. You can clean shower tile with baking soda and water paste or baking soda and vinegar (depending on what kind of tile you have) and a scrub brush. Ideally, tiles and grout should be deep cleaned weekly or every other week.