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Bathroom counter with a pink cloth and a blue cloth side by side, a plain spray bottle and a sparkling sink

15 bathroom cleaning mistakes that make the job harder

March 07, 2024•5 min read

The bathroom cleaning mistakes that slow you down are simple ones: wiping cleaner off before it has worked, cleaning in the wrong order, using one cloth for everything, and putting the wrong product on the wrong surface. Fix those four and the job goes faster.

Mistakes before you start

1. Skipping the dry dust

Hair, lint and dust settle on the toilet tank, the counter, the floor and the baseboard. Spray water on them and they turn into a gray paste. Wipe or vacuum dry first, then bring out the spray.

2. Not running the fan

Cleaning products give off fumes in a small room. Turn on the exhaust fan or open a window before you spray, and leave it running after. The same fan, run during every shower, is what keeps mildew down between cleanings.

3. Mixing products

Bleach mixed with vinegar, ammonia or other acidic cleaners releases gases that can injure your lungs. That includes using a bleach spray right after a vinegar spray on the same surface. Use one product, rinse it off completely, then try another.

4. Using the wrong product on the surface

Glass cleaner on a mirror, a bathroom cleaner on tile, a pH-neutral cleaner on stone. Read the label for which surfaces it's safe on, and test anything new in a corner first.

Mistakes while you clean

5. Cleaning in the wrong order

Work top to bottom, so dust and drips fall onto surfaces you haven't cleaned yet. And work from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest: mirror, sink and counter, tub and shower, toilet. The floor is always last.

6. Wiping cleaner off right away

Spray and wipe in one motion and you've moved the soap scum around. Spray the tub, shower and toilet first, then go do the mirror and sink while it sits. Disinfectants need the full contact time on their label, often several minutes, to actually disinfect.

7. Leaving cleaner on and not rinsing

The opposite problem. Product that dries on tile or a tub leaves a sticky film that attracts new dirt faster. Unless the label says no rinse, rinse with clean water and dry.

8. One cloth or sponge for everything

The cloth that wiped the toilet should never touch the faucet. Pick a color for the toilet only, pink for example, and another for the sink, counter and mirror, blue for example. Keep it the same every time so nobody has to think about it.

9. Abrasives on surfaces that scratch

Powdered cleansers, scouring pads and steel wool leave fine scratches on acrylic tubs, fiberglass showers, chrome and plated fixtures. Scratches hold dirt, so the surface looks dull and gets dirty faster. Use a non-scratch pad and let the product do the work.

10. Acid on stone and grout

Vinegar and lemon etch marble, travertine and limestone, and repeated acid wears down cement grout. On those, use a pH-neutral cleaner and save vinegar for glazed tile, glass and chrome.

11. Soaking the mirror

Spraying glass cleaner straight onto a mirror sends liquid running into the edge, where it can damage the silvering over time and leave dark edges. Spray the cloth, not the mirror, and buff dry with a second cloth.

Mistakes in what gets skipped

12. Ignoring the grout until it's stained

A light scrub of the grout lines every week or two takes minutes. Leave it for months and it needs oxygen bleach and a long afternoon. See how to clean tile grout.

13. Forgetting the shower head, curtain and mats

The shower head scales up and the spray goes sideways. The liner and bath mat hold water and mildew. Soak the shower head in vinegar every month or two, see how to clean a shower head, and wash the liner and mats on the schedule their care tags allow.

14. Missing the things everyone touches

The flush handle, faucet handles, light switch, door handle, toilet paper holder and the cabinet pulls get touched many times a day and get skipped because they look clean. Give them a wipe every time.

Mistakes after you finish

15. Putting tools away dirty and wet

A toilet brush dropped straight back into its holder sits in dirty water. Rest the handle under the closed seat so the head drips into the bowl until it's dry. Rinse cloths and sponges, wash cloths on hot, and replace sponges often.

How long should a bathroom take?

A bathroom that gets cleaned every week takes about 20 to 30 minutes when the order is right and the products have time to sit. One that's been skipped for a while takes longer, with the extra time going to the tub, shower and grout. For the steps in each area, see how to clean a shower properly and how to clean a toilet properly.

What a house cleaning covers

Standard House Cleaning, RoutineCare, cleans the toilet inside, outside and at the base, the tub, shower and tiled walls, the shower door glass and tracks, the fixtures and drains, the sink, counter and faucet, the vanity and cabinet fronts, the mirrors and the floor.

On Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, the tub, shower and tiled walls are scrubbed with the soap scum and grout treated, the shower door glass and the fixtures are descaled, and the floor is done at the edges and behind the toilet. Every item on the list is cleaned whether or not it looks like it needs it.

FAQ

What order should you clean a bathroom in? Dry dust and sweep first, then spray the tub, shower and toilet so the cleaner can sit. Clean from top to bottom and from the cleanest areas to the dirtiest: mirror, sink and counter, tub and shower, toilet, then the floor last.

Which cleaning products should never be mixed? Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other acids or cleaners, because the fumes can injure your lungs. Use one product, rinse it off completely, and only then try another.

Should you use the same cloth for the toilet and the sink? No. Keep one color of cloth for the toilet only and another for the sink, counter and mirror. It keeps what's on the toilet off the faucet you brush your teeth at.

How long should cleaner sit before wiping? Check the label. Many bathroom cleaners need a few minutes to break down soap scum, and disinfectants need their full listed contact time to disinfect. Wiping right away cleans less and disinfects nothing.

What does a house cleaning include in the bathroom? Standard House Cleaning cleans the toilet inside, outside and at the base, the tub, shower and tiled walls, the shower door glass and tracks, fixtures and drains, sink, counter and faucet, vanity and cabinet fronts, mirrors and floors.