How to Clean Your Bathroom From Top to Bottom

As one of the most frequently used areas of your home, your bathroom can quickly become a hub for germs, bacteria, and mold. Everything from moisture from the shower to residue from hand soap can lead to unpleasant odors and stains on sinks, shower floors, and more. To create a healthier home environment and extend the lifespan of bathroom fixtures and surfaces, regularly cleaning this space is a must. Giving your bathroom a proper deep clean involves maintaining your shower, toilet, sink, floors, and other areas—we'll show you how to tackle each, below.

How Often to Clean Your Bathroom

How frequently you clean your bathroom depends on how often the spaced is used. "However, a general guideline for deep cleaning your bathroom is once every one to two weeks," says Alicia Sokolowski, the president and co-CEO of Aspen Clean. "This involves more thorough and detailed tasks beyond the regular maintenance cleaning you might do more frequently."

Bathroom Cleaning Safety Precautions

When cleaning your bathroom, there are a few precautions you should take to keep yourself safe from bacteria and potent cleaning supplies.

• Ensure proper ventilation by opening windows or using exhaust fans to prevent inhaling products while cleaning, says Melissa Maker, a cleaning expert and the founder of Clean My Space.
• Wear protective gloves, eye protection, and a face mask to minimize contact with chemicals and germs.
• Avoid mixing cleaning products together—especially bleach and ammonia-based cleaners—as this can produce harmful and potentially toxic fumes, says Sokolowski.
• Do not decant products to avoid losing the packages' safety features and usage instructions. "If you are making a DIY version, label the product clearly," says Maker.
•  Keep cleaning products out of reach of children and pets by storing them in a locked cabinet or high shelf.
• Make sure your cleaning product storage space is cool, dry, and away from direct sunlight and heat to prevent deterioration and potential chemical reactions, says Sokolowski.

How to Clean the Shower

Your shower can easily accumulate soap scum from shampoos and mold from lingering moisture, so it's important to include this area during your bathroom's weekly deep clean.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have these materials on hand before getting started.

• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
• Lemon
• Spray bottle
• Microfiber cloth
• Old toothbrush (for grout and crevices)
• Bowl or bucket
• Water

Steps

Follow these steps from Sokolowski to deep clean your shower.

1. Remove any bottles, toiletries, or accessories from the shower and bathtub area.
2. Use a clean cloth to wet the shower walls, bathtub, and any other surfaces you'll be cleaning.
3. In a bowl, create a paste by mixing baking soda and a small amount of water. The paste should be thick enough to adhere to surfaces but spreadable.
4. Apply the baking soda paste to the surfaces you'll be cleaning. Focus on areas with soap scum, mineral buildup, stains, and grout. 
5. Use a damp cloth to scrub the baking soda paste into the surfaces.
6. Use an old toothbrush dampened with water and the baking soda paste to scrub grout lines, corners, and other hard-to-reach areas.
7. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice over the baking soda-covered surfaces.
8. Use the lemon halves to scrub the surfaces, focusing on areas with tough stains or buildup. Let the lemon juice sit for a few minutes to work.
9. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar.
10. Lightly spray the surfaces with white vinegar, focusing on areas with soap scum and mineral deposits.
11. Use a clean, damp cloth to rinse away the baking soda, lemon juice, and white vinegar. Wipe down all surfaces to ensure they're clean.
12. Use a dry microfiber cloth to dry and buff the shower walls and bathtub.
    

How to Clean the Toilet

Distilled white vinegar and baking soda will restore your toilet to its former glory. The combination helps to break down stains and mineral deposits, says Sokolowski.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have these materials on hand before getting started.

• Baking soda
• Distilled white vinegar
• Toilet brush
• Microfiber cloth
• Old toothbrush

Steps

Follow these steps from Sokolowski to deep clean your toilet.

1. Flush the toilet to clear the bowl.
2. Use the toilet brush to remove any visible debris or stains from the inside of the bowl.
3. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda into the toilet bowl. Be sure to coat the sides and under the rim.
4. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the toilet bowl.
5.  Use the toilet brush to scrub the inside of the bowl, ensuring the baking soda and white vinegar mixture reaches all surfaces.
6. Allow the white vinegar and baking soda mixture to sit in the bowl for 10 to 15 minutes.
7. Dip an old toothbrush or a small cleaning brush into white vinegar and use it to clean hard-to-reach areas, such as hinges, crevices, and corners.
8. Dampen a microfiber cloth with white vinegar and wipe down exterior surfaces of the toilet, including the tank, lid, handle, and base.
9. After soaking, scrub the bowl with the toilet brush again to ensure all surfaces are cleaned.
10. Flush the toilet to rinse away the baking soda, white vinegar, and loosened debris.
11. Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down all your cleaned surfaces.
    

How to Clean the Sink

While wiping down your bathroom countertop is a chore you should do daily, a deep clean is only necessary once a week.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have these materials on hand before getting started.

Steps

Follow these steps from Maker to deep clean your sink.

1. Clear the countertops of any items.
2. Spray the sink, faucet, and countertop with an all-purpose cleaner that's safe for the surface. Allow it to sit for a few minutes.
3. Sprinkle baking soda into the sink; let it sit for a few minutes.
4. Spray the mirror with glass cleaner.
5. Using a flat-weave microfiber cloth, wipe the mirror in an "S" pattern to remove streaks and splatters.
6. Using a sponge, scrub the sink and faucet.
7. Dip a clean cloth or sponge in water and use it to rinse away the baking soda and all-purpose cleaner.
8. Use a dry microfiber cloth to dry the sink and surrounding areas.

How to Clean Bathroom Floors

Generally, all bathroom floor materials can be cleaned the same way. Prior to cleaning, remove any rugs, mats, or obstacles from the area, says Sokolowski.

Materials Needed

Make sure you have these materials on hand before getting started.

• Distilled white vinegar
• Bucket
• Microfiber mop 
• Water

Steps

Follow these steps from Sokolowski to deep clean your bathroom floors.

1. Sweep or vacuum the floor to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris.
2. Fill a bucket with warm water.
3. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the water.
4. Dip a microfiber mop into the solution and wring out excess water.
5. Mop the floor, working in sections and rinsing the mop or cloth as needed.
6. Let the floor air dry, or use a clean microfiber cloth to dry it.

How to Clean Bathroom Vents

Your bathroom vents can build up with dust, mold, and additional grime if not tended to regularly. Before cleaning, ensure the vents are completely turned off.

Materials

Make sure you have these materials on hand before getting started.

• Screwdriver
• Vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
• White distilled vinegar
• Microfiber cloth

Steps

Follow these steps from Sokolowski to deep clean your bathroom vents.

1. If your bathroom vent has a removable cover, carefully remove it. You may need to use a screwdriver to remove any screws holding the cover in place.
   
2. Using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment, carefully remove dust and debris from the vent cover and surrounding area.
3. Fill a spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar. Lightly spray the vent cover and housing.
4. Using a damp microfiber cloth, wipe away the white vinegar and loosened dirt from the vent cover and housing.
5. Dry the vent cover and housing with a microfiber cloth.
6. If you removed the vent cover, carefully reattach it using the screws you removed earlier. Ensure that it is securely in place.
   

Eco-Friendly Cleaning Alternatives

There are many eco-friendly cleaning alternatives you can use in your bathroom, and you likely already have them on-hand.

• Distilled white vinegar: Vinegar is a great deodorizer and is especially good at cleaning glass, sinks, and tile, says Maker.
  Baking soda: Baking soda is one of the most common items used for household cleaning. "It's great for mild abrasion, brightening, and deodorizing," says Maker.
• Dish soap: Mild, scent-free dish soap is suitable for all-purpose cleaning. You can mix it with 1/4 teaspoon of water to make an all-purpose cleaner or with vinegar for a heavy duty cleaner.
• Hydrogen peroxide: This ingredient can be combined with baking soda to create a grout-whitening paste, says Maker.
• Essential oils: Add fragrance to your homemade cleaning solutions by adding a few drops of essential oils.
• Microfiber cloth: Reduce waste by using microfiber cleaning cloths instead of disposable wipes or paper towels, says Maker.
  

Tips for Maintaining a Clean Bathroom

Maintaining a clean bathroom between deep cleans is essential for a consistently hygienic and organized space, says Sokolowski. You can do so by adding a few tasks to your daily cleaning checklist.

• Spend a few minutes each day wiping down surfaces such as countertops, sinks, and faucets with a damp cloth to remove water spots, toothpaste, and other splatters, says Sokolowski.
• After each shower, use a squeegee on shower walls to prevent soap scum, says Maker.
• Keep a small trash can in your bathroom for tissues, disposable items, and other waste.
• Ensure the bathroom is well-ventilated to prevent mold and mildew growth. Run it during and for at least 30 minutes after showers or baths, says Maker.
• Hang wet towels to dry after use and replace them with clean ones regularly, says Sokolowski. Damp towels can develop a musty smell if not hung properly.