How to clean a bathroom: the order, tools and tricks

To clean a bathroom properly, spray the shower, tub and toilet bowl first and let the cleaner sit while you do everything else. Then work top to bottom: dust, mirror, sink and counter, shower, toilet, and the floor last on your way out. A full clean of a family bathroom takes about 30 to 45 minutes.

The sitting time is the step that's easy to skip. Cleaner that's sprayed and wiped straight off hasn't done anything yet.

What order should you clean a bathroom in?

1. Clear everything off. Bottles, toothbrush cup, bath toys, the bath mat. Toss the mat in the wash.
2. Spray and wait. Spray the tub, shower walls and glass, and put cleaner under the toilet rim. Leave it 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Dust high to low. The top of the mirror, the light fixture, the exhaust fan cover, shelves, the top of the toilet tank.
4. Mirror and glass. Glass cleaner or water with a splash of vinegar, wiped in an S pattern with a dry microfiber cloth.
5. Sink, faucet and counter. Scrub the faucet base and the drain ring with a small brush. That's where the grime lives.
6. Shower and tub. By now the cleaner has softened the soap scum. Scrub, rinse top down, then squeegee the glass.
7. Toilet, outside to inside. Top of the tank, handle, lid, seat both sides, the hinges, the outside of the bowl down to the base. Then brush the bowl last.
8. Floor. Vacuum or sweep first, then mop, starting in the far corner and backing out the door. Get behind the toilet.

Which bathroom cleaning tools are worth owning?

You don't need ten gadgets. These earn their spot under the sink:

• A small stiff detail brush. For grout lines, the faucet base, the shower door track and the drain ring. An old toothbrush works until you buy one.
• A squeegee. Ten seconds on the glass after every shower keeps hard-water spots from building up.
• An extendable scrub brush. Saves your back on the tub and the top of the shower walls, and keeps you off the tub edge.
• Microfiber cloths in two colors. One color for the toilet only. Never let that cloth touch the sink.
• A plastic drain snake. For the hair clog in the shower drain. Pull it out before you reach for drain chemicals.
• A mildew spray, used with the fan on. For the corners of the shower and the caulk line.
• Disinfecting wipes for the quick daily pass on the seat, handle and faucet. They're for in between, not instead of a clean.

The automatic stuff, clip-on bowl cleaners and in-tank tablets, keeps the water looking blue. It doesn't replace a brush.

How do you get rid of soap scum and hard water spots?

Warm some white vinegar, add a little dish soap, and spray it on the glass, tile and fixtures. Let it sit 10 minutes, then scrub and rinse. The soap helps it cling to the walls instead of running off.

For a crusty shower head, fill a plastic bag with vinegar, tie it around the head so the nozzles sit in it, and leave it overnight. Rinse it in the morning and run the water hot for a minute.

On the faucet, wrap a vinegar-soaked cloth around the base for 30 minutes, then go in with the detail brush.

How do you clean grout?

Make a paste of baking soda and water, work it into the grout lines with the stiff brush, let it sit, then rinse. For stains that won't lift, an oxygen bleach paste does more than scrubbing harder. More on that in 8 methods to clean bathroom tile grout.

Don't use a wire brush. It scratches the tile and digs out the grout.

What should you never do when cleaning a bathroom?

• Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners. The fumes are toxic. One product, rinse, then the next.
• Don't use vinegar or acid cleaners on marble or natural stone. It etches the surface.
• Don't use abrasive powder on chrome, acrylic tubs or fiberglass showers. It leaves fine scratches that hold dirt.
• Don't wipe the cleaner off straight away. Give it the dwell time on the label.
• Don't clean with the door shut and the fan off. Ventilate while you clean, and run the fan during showers and for a while after to keep mildew down.

How often should you clean a bathroom?

A full clean once a week. A quick wipe of the sink, counter and toilet seat every couple of days, and daily for a bathroom kids share. Once a month, do the jobs that slip: the shower head, the exhaust fan cover, behind the toilet, and the bath mat and shower curtain liner through the wash. For a full schedule, see our bathroom daily, weekly and monthly cleaning schedule.

When should you book a professional bathroom clean?

When the soap scum is past what a Saturday can fix. That's the job Deep Cleaning, PureRenewal, is built for. The tub, shower and tiled walls are scrubbed with the soap scum and grout treated. The shower door glass is descaled, the fixtures and drains are descaled and polished, and the floor is done at the edges and behind the toilet.

Deep Cleaning is unconditional: every item on the list is cleaned whether or not it looks like it needs it.

Worth saying plainly: mold or mildew beyond surface cleaning isn't on any of our cleaning checklists.

See the full list at Deep Cleaning.

FAQ

What order should you clean a bathroom in? Spray the shower, tub and toilet bowl first so the cleaner can sit. Then work top to bottom: high dusting, mirror, sink and counter, shower and tub, toilet outside to inside, and the floor last on your way out.

How often should you clean a bathroom? A full clean once a week, and a quick wipe of the sink, counter and toilet seat every couple of days. A kids' bathroom or the one guests use usually needs that quick wipe daily.

What removes soap scum and hard water spots? Warm white vinegar with a little dish soap, left to sit for 10 minutes, then scrubbed and rinsed. Skip the vinegar on marble or other natural stone, and squeegee the glass after every shower to stop it coming back.

Is it safe to mix bleach and vinegar? No. Bleach mixed with vinegar, ammonia or other acidic cleaners releases toxic fumes. Use one product, rinse it off, then use the next.

Does a deep cleaning treat grout and soap scum? Yes. On a Tina's deep cleaning, the tub, shower and tiled walls are scrubbed with the soap scum and grout treated, and the shower door glass and fixtures are descaled. Mold beyond surface cleaning isn't on any of our cleaning checklists.

Book a deep clean

Book online at tinascleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (609) 831-4455, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.