19 Genius Tips To Deep Clean A Bathroom

Use these genius tips to deep clean a bathroom faster and better than ever before. You’ll love how sparkling fresh it looks and smells.

We all know the importance of keeping the bathroom clean. Still, many of us put it off until the last minute because it can be such a chore — the odors, the mildew, the surfaces that are so difficult to get spotless.

The solution isn’t working harder, or burning it all down. Use these genius tips to deep clean your bathroom and get it sparkling clean.

Tips to Deep Clean a Bathroom

Bathroom Ceiling and Walls

1. Dirty exhaust fans don’t remove humidity efficiently and spread dust everywhere when they run. Blast fans with compressed air to dislodge dirt, or use a vacuum dust attachment.

2. Ceilings and walls collect an extraordinary amount of dust, even in a bathroom. Give yours a good cleaning with an extension duster. (See my Recommended Products page for the one I use.) Don’t forget to dust the light fixtures, too.

3. Remove hairspray from walls the same way you remove it from hair: with a little shampoo and water. The cheaper the shampoo, the better it will dissolve the hairspray. If you have wallpaper, try using a dab of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol instead. Be sure to spot test for colorfastness first.

Bathroom Mirrors

4. To reduce streaks when cleaning mirrors, give them a quick dusting first. Polish tall mirrors by spraying them top to bottom with your favorite glass cleaner then use a microfiber floor mop to wipe them clean. Shorter mirrors are easy to clean by hand with a microfiber cloth.

5. Keep mirrors fog-free after cleaning with shaving foam (not gel): spray it on lightly, buff with a lint-free cloth until the foam is gone, and the glass is streak-free. It works!

Toilets

6. Pre-clean first. Use a dry microfiber cloth to remove lint, dirt, and hair from the toilet tank cover, bowl exterior, and toilet pedestal. This two-step process makes it easier to get the surfaces spotless when you apply the cleaner and helps disinfectants work better by reducing the number of germs they have to kill.

7. Tackle hidden bacteria around the seat. If you’re potty training children — or live with messy males — it’s a good idea to remove the toilet seat every couple of months to give the basin a thorough cleaning. You’ll be amazed (and disgusted) at how much grime builds up around the seat’s bolts. (Related: Homemade Bathroom Disinfecting Spray.)

8. Scour away tough toilet stains by turning the water supply valve off, then flush to empty the bowl. Sprinkle the basin with scouring powder and use a toilet brush to remove stains. Restore the water flow and flush to rinse. (Related: Homemade Soft Scrub.)

Shower and Tub

9. Clean your showerhead by unscrewing it from the pipe and soaking it for an hour in a bowl of equal parts white vinegar and warm, soapy water. Scrub away mineral buildup with an old toothbrush then rinse the head thoroughly inside and out before reattaching it.

10. Eliminate stubborn mold and mildew in shower and tub corners by soaking a cotton ball in rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol or hydrogen peroxide and letting it sit on the spot overnight.

11. Clean glass shower doors with a damp dryer sheet (new or used) to remove water spots. The same coating that prevents static cling in the dryer is excellent at dissolving minor soap residue and mineral buildup. (Related: Homemade No-Scrub Soap Scum Remover.)

12. Wash plastic or vinyl shower curtains in the washing machine with a hand towel or two to act as scrubbers. Launder on a delicate cycle using warm water and your usual laundry detergent. Hang to dry.

13. Remove stains on the tub surround with a paste of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Dab it on the spot and wait 20 minutes, then wipe it away.

Bathroom Sinks and Faucets

13. Remove mineral buildup by scrubbing with a toothbrush dipped in baking soda. For stubborn limescale, cover the area with a paper towel dampened in white vinegar and wait an hour, then scrub. Protect granite and marble surfaces by laying cling wrap over them first.

14. Prevent water spots on chrome faucets and other fixtures by polishing them with a damp dryer sheet. The surfactants in the sheet repel water, so your bathroom stays sparkling clean longer.

15. Keep your drains flowing properly by cleaning them to remove soap scum and other types of buildup. Once a month, remove and wash the plug with hot, soapy water. Sprinkle baking soda into the drain and wait 5 minutes before pouring in 2 cups of very hot white vinegar. The mixture will foam and bubble, scouring away residues in the pipe.

Bathroom Floors

16. Remove debris first by sweeping or vacuuming. This step cuts down the work required to mop. Don’t forget to clean the baseboards, too, since they collect a lot of lint and dust.

17. Mop the worst spots by hand. Mops don’t do a good job cleaning around the base of or behind the toilet, so clean this area by hand. If you’re potty training boys, use an old scrub brush around the bottom of the commode, too. When that’s all clean, switch to a mop.

Keeping Your Bathroom Clean

18. Prevent mold and mildew by running the fan for at least 15 minutes after every bath and shower.

19. Wipe counters, faucets, and toilet seats daily. Running a damp microfiber cloth or disinfecting wipe over these surfaces once a day keeps your bathroom looking tidy between deep cleanings. A little daily attention makes weekly cleaning faster, too. (Related: Daily Cleaning Routine.)