Bathroom cleaning
Room cleaning
How to deep clean your bathroom
What is your least favourite place to clean in your home? Bathroom, right? Showers, bathtubs, toilets and all other surfaces are exposed to humidity daily. Combined with sweat and dirt brought from outside, this environment is an excellent breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria, fungi, odours and diseases.
The room that cleans you is rarely the cleanest room in the house. Don’t worry. Keep reading our blog to find out how to deep clean your bathroom. I’ll tell you everything about how often to deep clean your bathroom, what tools and cleaners to use and what is a perfect deep cleaning process to make this chore effective and efficient.
Turn on that positive attitude and transform your bathroom in no time.
Are you looking for general house cleaning information? Read our main house cleaning services page.
Why is it important to deep clean your bathroom?
De-germ
You’re not cleaning your bathroom just to look good. You’re cleaning it to protect yourself and your family from infections and diseases.
The average bathroom floor has 764 bacteria per square inch. The bathroom counter is not much better, housing nearly 452 bacteria per square inch. Even the light switch has around 217 per square inch.
The range of bacteria includes some that can be harmful to humans, including antibiotic-resistant gram-negative rods as well as gram-positive cocci, which can cause skin infections, pneumonia, and septicemia.
De-stress
In addition to keeping germs away, a clean bathroom can also help you to destress. Your bathroom should be a place where you can relax and unwind. But if your bathroom is cluttered and dirty, it can be a source of stress instead of relaxation.
What are the dirtiest places in most bathrooms?
Sometimes the dirtiest places are those that we neglect to clean during our routines or high-traffic areas. These spots need more attention than others! Let’s give them special attention.
- Door handles. Bathroom door handles are one of the grimiest spots in the entire room. It’s hardly surprising given that most people use the bathroom multiple times a day touching the door handles with hands that have been who knows where.
- The floor. The main culprit is toilet flushing. Unless you close the toilet seat lid, droplets with germs fly out in every direction landing on the floor but also on your toothbrush or anything that is around and uncovered. Much of the dirt is brought from the outside too.
- Bathmat. Does it get humid in your bathroom? You can count that bacteria are building gigantic societies there. leave your maths unwashed and it can easily develop mould or fungi.
- Shower head. Out of sight, out of mind. People usually forget to clean the showerhead which can accumulate plenty of limescale and soap scum.
- The toilet. You think it’s the inside. But that gets cleaned with every flush. It is actually the toilet handle and the outside of the bowl that get the shower from the toilet flushing.
How often should you deep clean your bathroom?
You should be deep cleaning your bathroom once a week to two weeks.
If you take effective preventive steps like wiping down your shower, sweeping the floor, disinfecting faucets, and closing the toilet seat lid, you would be able to stretch the deep cleaning schedule for a few more days.
Set immediate, daily and weekly cleaning tasks to prevent dirt, grime and bacteria buildup and you won’t have to deep clean as often and as hard.
The best way to clean a bathroom is by keeping it tidy between cleanings.
Keep a hand-held vacuum in the bathroom for daily pickup of hair and other debris on the floor.
Install a hair-catcher in your drain to avoid buildup. When water doesn’t drain as it should, it leaves behind an ugly ring around the shower or bathtub.
Squeegee shower walls after use to keep water marks at bay.
Keep smaller items in bins and baskets to avoid clutter creep.
What's the cleaning direction?
As with any house cleaning, clean your bathroom from top to bottom. Sounds logical right? Clean things at the top first. The dirty bottom can handle dirt and grime falling down. Don’t sabotage your own efforts by cleaning the bottom twice.
Bathroom deep cleaning process: Pre clean
Decluter, clean and organize your bathroom items
What items? Everything that you can move around. Clear cabinets and remove all the products from the bathtub, shower, countertops and other surfaces.
Wash them like you would wash dishes. To make it easy, put them in a dishwasher. If that s not an option or there is a build-up of grime, soak it in vinegar and sanitizer for a few minutes and then scrub clean.
Rinse well and dry everything with a clean, dry microfiber towel with anti-bacterial spray to remove all remaining particles, spots and debris. Organize your items in stoarge containers.
PRO TIP
Organizing is more for bedrooms and living spaces. But bathrooms can handle some good decluttering too. Remove things that you haven’t used in a while. Keep everything else in containers so it’s easy to move around. Don’t leave things on the counters. Use cabinets so you can do your daily cleaning chores faster and easier.
Laundry
Before you start to clean, throw all the towels, maths and rugs into your laundry. They will be clean and ready by the time you’re done.
Bathroom fan cleaning
Dust the fan to remove the dust buildup. If you can, remove the lid and vacuum the excess dust attached to the blades and fan engine. Clean the lid separately by soaking it in hot water and cleaning solution. Rinse it well and let it dry before putting it back on.
Wipe down the outside of the fan with a damp cloth and let it dry. Be careful not to wet any internal parts.
Trash can cleaning
Taking out the trash goes without saying. But what about the leaks at the bottom of the trash can? Failure to clean the inside of trash can lead to a build-up of germs and bacteria, which can cause sickness.
Spray the inside and outside of the can with disinfectant cleaner and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Scrub and clean the inside of the can well. Wipe down the outside with a nylon scrubber dipped in hot water and cleaner. Finally, dry the can thoroughly or allow it to air dry before putting it in a clean liner.
Dust first
Dry clean first, wet clean second. Run all the covers with a duster or a dry microfibre rag. Don’t forget about the toilet, baseboards, bathroom walls up top, light fixtures, bathtub edges, vents.
Vacuum second
The floor is now full of dirt, fallen dust, hair and other debris. Vacuuming before you start scrubbing is an important step in the cleaning process, as it provides you with a clean surface to work on. The hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner is the best tool for the job.
Start by vacuuming the entire floor, including corners, behind and around the toilet, and under your vanity. Vacuum your shower floor and your bathroom countertops as well. When you’re done, give the head of the vacuum attachment a quick wipe down, and set the vacuum aside.
Ventilation
Turn on the bathroom fan or open a window. Many cleaning supplies have an unpleasant odour. Let it out and let the fresh air in.
I hate housework. You make the beds, you wash the dishes and six months later you have to start all over again.
Joan Rivers
Bathroom deep cleaning process: Shower and bathtub cleaning
Turn on the hot water
Turn on the hot water in the tub or shower and let it run. The built-up humidity and steam will loosen any dirt or soap scum that’s accumulated on surfaces.
Descale the shower head
Pour an ample amount of vinegar into a plastic grocery bag (enough to fully submerge the nozzle) and tie it over shower head for overnight soaking. In the morning, remove the bag and run the water to rinse. You may need to do this a few times to get rid of all the build-up, but eventually, your showerhead will be sparkling clean.
Read our “How to clean a shower head” blog post for more information.
Unclog the shower drain
Cleaning drains should be one of your priorities because it can affect your whole bathroom. If the water is not draining properly, it will leave behind soap scum, dirt and grime. Not to mention the bad smell it can cause. Research also shows that sink drains contain the most bacteria in the bathroom.
Remove any visible debris from the drain to prevent any blockage. Pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then flush the drain with hot water. Repeat this process if necessary.
PRO TIP
The easiest way to deal with your shower curtains is to just wash them with the rest of your laundry.
Clean the shower
Apply the cleaner on the shower surface and soak it for about 10 – 15 minutes. Scrubb it off with a sponge and rinse well with hot water. Use a squeegee to remove excess water. Dry and wipe the surface with a microfiber cloth. Open your windows or turn on a fan let fumes out and fresh dry air in.
Clean the bathrub
Bath is easy. Fill it with hot water and let the hot steam loosen the dirt and grime. Drain the water after 20 minutes and start scrubbing with a non-abrasive sponge or brush and your choice of cleaner. If you scrub your tub weekly, you don’t need to deep clean it as often.
PRO TIP
Keep the humidity low in your bathroom to not allow the bacteria to grow. Keep your windows open, run your fan often and wipe water residue from the surface when taking a shower or using the water.
Clean the shower doors
Combine vinegar with baking soda to create a paste for cleaning shower doors. Apply it to the door and let it sit for an hour. Then, rub with a microfiber cloth to remove any residue. Finally, rinse the door with water and buff it dry with a fresh, dry microfiber cloth. This simple cleaner will leave your shower doors looking streak-free and sparkling clean.
Bathroom deep cleaning process: The sink cleaning
Clean faucets and fixtures
Clean faucets and fixtures in a similar way to the shower and sink. Use appropriate cleaners not to damage it. Spray the water fixtures (including the sink taps) throughout your bathroom with a surface cleaner and wipe them down with a soft cloth.
Rinse with clean water. Shine your faucets with glass cleaner and a glass-cleaning rag.
Clean sink
Not only is your bathroom sink one of the first places to show gunk and grime but it also harbours tons of germs.
Start by wiping down the entire sink with a damp cloth. Apply your cleaner. Scrub all the soap scum and toothpaste off, rinsing your sponge thoroughly as you go along.
Spend extra time around the drain, handles and faucets and on places that are covered with stains or any other grime build-up. Use a toothbrush for hard-to-get places. Rinse with clean water and wipe it down with a dry microfiber cloth.
Have you ever taken anything out of the clothes basket because it had become, relatively, the cleaner thing?
Kathrine Whitehorn
Bathroom deep cleaning process: Clean the toilet
Clean the toilet seat
First, remove the toilet seat by unscrewing the bolts at the back. Take it to the bathtub or shower and soak it in hot water and a mild cleaning solution for 15 minutes.
Scrub it well until it’s clean, rinse it with hot water and let dry
Clean the toilet bowl
Squirt some toilet cleaner into the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, take a disinfectant spray and give the outside of the toilet bowl, the base, and the back a good spritz. Allow the spray to sit for a minute or two to help break down any grime before you start scrubbing.
To scrub the inside of the toilet bowl, use a brush to get under the lip and really scrub away any dirt and debris. Flush and let’s start outside. Work your way from the least dirty to the dirtiest spots.
Use a soft microfiber cleaning cloths to wipe down the toilet handle and then the outside of the toilet bowl. Sanitize the surfaces to avoid the growth of bacteria. Flush the toilet one more time and you’re done.
Clean the toilet brush
Soak your toilet brush in a bucket with hot water, cleaning solution and disinfectant for 5 minutes. Swish it around and then let it air dry before putting it away.
PRO TIP
Put a few drops of essential oil on the inside of the toilet roll to keep the bathroom smelling lovely long after you’re done cleaning.
Bathroom deep cleaning process: Clean other surfaces
Cleaning the counters
Wipe down the surfaces to clean away dust and grime.
Spray your cleaner on all the surfaces in your bathroom. Allow it to sit for a few minutes and then scrub away any dirt, dust or grime with a microfiber cloth. Aim to work on towel racks, shelves, baseboards, doors, blinds and windowsills. Work in sections from the top of the room to the bottom. Rinse to get rid of any cleaner residue and dry.
Door knobs cleaning
As we mentioned above, door handles are high-traffic areas that are being passed from person to person many times during the day. Use the same process as for the surfaces and sanitize them too. You should add door handles to your daily cleaning routine.
Clean bathroom cabinets
As we mentioned above, door handles are high-traffic areas that are being passed from person to person many times during the day. Use the same process as for the surfaces and sanitize them too. You should add door handles to your daily cleaning routine.
By this time, you should have emptied, decluttered and organized items in your cabinets to make the cleaning a walk in the park.
Use the same deep cleaning process for your cabinets as for the other surfaces. One difference is the cleaner you use. Choose one that is safe for cabinet materials.
Mirrors
If you don’t clean it correctly, you could end up with a streaky, smudged mess. And you want to look good in your mirrors, don’t you?
Grab a cleaner of your choice or use a generic glass cleaner and spray it on your mirrors. Use a standard newspaper to wash and wipe the mirrors afterwards (this was my grandma’s recipe that has proven to work perfectly)
PRO TIP
Since mirrors are usually right above the sink, they can get a lot of splatters from face and hand washing. It is a good idea to add mirror cleaning to your daily tasks.
Bathroom deep cleaning process: Floor cleaning
Floor
Make sure to vacuum and clean any dust or dirt first. You don’t want it to mix with your clean water and smudge the area.
Turn on hot water to let the steam and humidity get under the built-up dirt on your floor. You’ll have an easier time moping.
Fill your bucket with warm water and cleaning solution. Mop the floor, starting from the farthest corner of the bathroom. Work your way towards the door.
Rinse the mop in the bucket often to avoid spreading the dirt around. Prepare a new batch of cleaning solution as soon as the previous one gets dirty.
Wipe down the baseboards and any other areas that need attention. Dry the floor with a clean microfiber cloth or let it air dry.
People tend to clean the floor but have a tendency to overlook grout. Sparkly and clean grout is as important for a healthy and beautiful floor as much as the flooring. Read our other blog post on how to clean grout.
Clean your bathroom cleaning tools
Give your cleaning supplies some love too. Disinfect toilet wands, caddy, spray bottle, old toothbrush, squeegee, microfiber cloths, and any other items you’re using.
Disinfect after cleaning
Only disinfect the areas that you already cleaned. You don’t want to spread the dirt and grime around.
Let the surfaces dry before applying any disinfectant.
Apply the disinfectant with a clean microfiber cloth or paper towel.
Let the surfaces air dry or wipe them down with a clean microfibre.
Do the Finishing Touches
Re-fill your soap dispensers, bring new toilet paper rolls, and place fresh bath towels.
Bathroom maintenance
Best way to make your deep cleaning easy or do it less often is to maintain your bathroom in a clean state. How to to do it?
Wipe down the excess water in the shower with a squeegee or tissue from walls and doors.
Often ventilate and have your windows open
Keep your bathroom tidy and organize your items in it.
Use the toilet brush often to remove minerals that can stain the bowl
Wash toothpaste off surfaces right away.
Have immediate, daily and weekly cleaning tasks to make your once in a while deep cleaning easy.
Cleaning warnings
- Always read the labels off bought cleaners
- Don’t ever mix bleach and ammonia!
Conclusion
So, there you have it – our guide to deep cleaning your bathroom. We hope you find this information helpful and that it inspires you to tackle this task yourself!
If you have any questions or need help with the house cleaning process, please do not hesitate to contact us.
