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 shower moisture 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 space 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 strong chemicals and germs.
• Avoid mixing cleaning products—especially bleach and ammonia-based cleaners—as this can produce harmful and potentially toxic fumes, says Sokolowski.
• To avoid losing the packages' safety features and usage instructions, do not decant products. "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 Your Bathroom Step-By-Step

Before we get into detail on how to clean each party of the bathroom, here's an overview checklist to get you started. It'll take you about an hour to deep clean your entire bathroom, so get a good playlist on before you begin.

Remove Everything

The first step when deep cleaning your bathroom is to get everything out; this includes everything on top of your countertops, any product bottles in the shower, and bath mats as well as anything else on the floor.

While you're removing everything, be sure to take a second to declutter. Put back things that have traveled into the bathroom that do not belong and throw away anything that belongs in the trash.

Dust, Sweep, and Vacuum

You'll want to work from top to bottom so that when the dust falls from the higher surfaces, you can vacuum or sweep it up later. Start by deep cleaning your vents. Then continue moving down to the light fixtures and other surfaces that need dusting. Then, sweep or vacuum the floors.

Clean Mirror, Sink, and Countertops

Grab your glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, and a couple of clean microfiber clothes and wipe the surfaces down until they are clean and streak-free.

Clean the Toilet

It only takes five minutes to make your toilet sparkle again. You just need baking soda, white vinegar, a microfiber cloth, an old toothbrush, and your trusty toilet brush to get the job done.

Clean Shower and Bathtub

Every week, your shower and bathtub need to be deep cleaned to remove any built-up soap scum, mildew, and bacteria. When it comes to these areas, baking soda and vinegar will be your best friend.

Mop Floors

If you notice dust has accumulated again, sweep or vacuum your floors again before mopping. A simple white vinegar and water mixture will bring your floors back to life. You can also use a steam cleaner if you have one to disinfect and clean your floors.

Put Everything Back in Place

Once you've deep-cleaned the bathroom, go ahead and put everything back in place. Launder and vacuum bath mats. You may also want to launder your shower curtain and any used towels. Grab a microfiber cloth and give anything that was on the countertop a quick wipe down before placing it back.

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 Bathtub

Use baking soda and white vinegar to clean your bathtub. "The chemical reaction between the two cleaning agents will help break down and lift away dirt and stains," says Sokolowski. 

Materials

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

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Microfiber cloth
• Spray bottle
• Old toothbrush
• Water

Steps

Follow these steps from Sokolowski to deep clean your bathtub.

1. Take out any items (shampoo bottles or soap) from the bathtub.
2. Rinse the bathtub with water to remove loose dirt and debris.
3. Sprinkle baking soda over the bathtub's surface. 
4. Use a damp, microfiber cloth and scrub the bathtub surfaces with the baking soda. For hard-to-reach areas, you can use an old toothbrush.
5. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. 
6. Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in an empty spray bottle.
7. Spray the cleaning solution over the bathtub's surface and scrub the bathtub again. 
8. Rinse the bathtub to remove any remaining residue.
9. Dry the bathtub with a clean microfiber cloth to avoid water stains.
   

How to Clean a Jetted Bathtub

When cleaning a jetted bathtub, it's important to run the jets while the tub is filled with your cleaning solution to ensure the internal plumbing of the jets is being cleaned.

Materials

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

• Baking soda
• White vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Natural dish soap
• Microfiber cloth or sponge
• Old toothbrush
• Water
  

Steps

Follow these steps from Sokolowski to deep clean your jetted bathtub.

1. Fill the bathtub with hot water. Make sure the water covers the jets.
2. Add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of baking soda, a couple of tablespoons of lemon juice, and a small amount of dish soap to the water. Allow it to dissolve.
3. Turn on the jets and let them run for 10 to 15 minutes. This helps to clean the internal plumbing of the jets.
4. Once the cycle is complete, turn off the jets and drain the water from the bathtub.
5. Mix white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray the cleaning solution over the bathtub's surface.
6. Scrub the bathtub with a microfiber cloth, including the jet openings. 
7. Fill the bathtub and run the jets for a few minutes. Drain the water.
8. Wipe everything with a clean microfiber cloth.
   

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 the 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.

• All-purpose cleaner
• Baking soda
• Glass cleaner
• Microfiber cloths
• Sponge

Steps

Follow these steps from Maker to deep clean your sink and the mirror over 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, many bathroom floor materials can be cleaned the same way—but check with the manufacturer for any special considerations your particular flooring may require. 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 ingredients 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 the fan 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.