Bathroom Spring Cleaning Checklist: Leave No Spot Unscrubbed

Bathrooms develop the kind of messes and stains you don’t find elsewhere in the house—and you know the kind I mean. If you have boys in the house like I do, there’s never any telling what you’ll find while Spring Cleaning the bathroom.

But at least you’ll know that mess is out of your house. So, roll up your sleeves and let’s get cleaning. And be sure to subscribe at the end for the printable bathroom Spring Cleaning checklist!

Grab Your Cleaning supplies

• Cleaning products: Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, bathroom disinfectant, liquid dish soap, glass cleaner, floor cleaner.
• Cleaning equipment: Long-handled duster, microfiber cloths, old toothbrush, toilet brush, rubber gloves, vacuum, mop and bucket or spray bottle.
• Miscellaneous: Boxes and bags for clutter and trash.

Step 1: Clear the Room.

I like to start Spring Cleaning by clearing off all the surfaces: counters, floor, tub surround, shelves, the works. So, grab any laundry off the floor and stick it in the hamper. Collect the shower curtain and liner, bath mat and rugs and start a load of wash.

Next, up: sorting through what’s left: clutter, things that go elsewhere, trash. Then wipe out the empty cabinets and drawers. After a quick dry, put back the things you’ve decided to keep and move the clutter, elsewhere and trash boxes out of the room.

Step 2: Get Rid of the Grime.

You know the general cleaning advice: clean from top to bottom, left to right. When Spring Cleaning the bathroom, that means using a long-handled duster to clean the exhaust fan, air vents and ceiling light fixtures.

Then, it’s time for lights out while you remove the light cover and wash it. When the bulbs are cool, give them a quick wipe, too.

Now, this next bit is important: before spraying bathroom surfaces, I use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe the counter, sinks and faucets, tub surround, shower floor, toilet tank, and pedestal—in that order.

This accomplishes a couple of things. First, it makes cleaning easier, since I don’t end up spreading hair and lint around. Second, it’s essential to allowing the disinfectant cleaner to do its job.

Step 3: Spray the Surfaces.

Dealing with yucky grout is my least favorite part of Spring Cleaning the bathroom, but it makes a big difference.

So this is the step when you pull on the rubber gloves and whip up a paste made from equal parts baking soda and warm water plus a few drops of liquid dish soap.

Use a soft, damp toothbrush and scrub the grout with this, then wait 10 minutes for the paste to loosen the grime. (I’m usually due for a break at this point, anyway.)

Finish cleaning the grout by rubbing the area again with a damp toothbrush to remove the loosened stains and rinse with warm water.

Now, it’s time to spray disinfectant on all the surfaces we’d wiped down earlier: the vanity or countertop, sinks, faucets, shower, and tub.

While that soaks, turn your attention to cleaning the toilet: turn the water valve at the wall clockwise to shut it off, then flush to empty the bowl.

Spray the toilet tank, lid, both sides of the seat, the empty bowl, and the pedestal. Let the disinfectant sit while you move to the next step.

Step 4: Clean the Details.

Attention to detail is what separates regular bathroom cleaning from Spring Cleaning. So, with this step we’re going to first remove dust then wipe things down.

To do this, use the long-handled duster or a microfiber cloth to clean any crown molding, door trim, and doors (get both sides).

Dust the window trim, the outsides of your cupboards and drawers, and the baseboards. Wash the walls and trim with warm, soapy water to get the surface clean and let them air dry.

Step 5: Rinse, Flush and Scrub.

By now, the disinfectant has done its work so it’s time to rinse the tub and shower, wipe the vanity and faucets, then switch to a fresh cloth and wipe the toilet exterior.

Scrub the toilet bowl next, paying extra attention to the water line and under the rim. Turn the toilet’s water supply back on and flush after the tank refills. Voila, sparkling clean and sanitary surfaces!

I wrap up by polishing windows and mirrors, and glass shower doors and shelves. Then move the trash can outside the bathroom and hang up fresh towels.

Step 6: Clean the Floor.

Now, it’s time to vacuum the floor. To clean the area behind the toilet, I find it best to get on my hands and knees and use a dry cloth to pick up lint.

Then, I mop that area by hand with a fresh cloth. Once that spot’s done, mop the rest of the room with homemade floor cleaner—no rinsing required.

Step 7: Finishing Touches.

Following through with the stuff we put outside the door is the last step to Spring Cleaning the bathroom. So, I use the time while the floor dries to wash the trash can.

Time to deal with the things we stuck in the boxes: dump the trash, put away things that belong elsewhere in your home, and put the stuff you plan to donate in your car so you can drop it off. (I stick it in the driver’s seat so I don’t forget about it.)

Tips

• Run your bathroom fan: Bathroom cleaning stirs up a lot of bacteria and may involve several types of cleaning products.
• Control clutter to prevent mold: The more clutter, the more spots staying damp after steamy showers. So, if mold is an ongoing problem, aim for minimalism in your bathroom.
• Follow product directions: No matter what TikTok says, using a cleaning product for any non-intended use can cause permanent damage to your home and even your health.