How to clean a bathroom floor, corners included
To clean a bathroom floor, vacuum or sweep up the hair and dust first, then wipe the base of the toilet and the corners by hand, where the mop can't reach. Mop with warm water and a cleaner that suits the floor, starting in the far corner and working toward the door. Rinse if the cleaner needs it, and let the floor dry before anyone walks on it.
Clean the floor last. Everything you do on the sink, tub and toilet drips down to it.
What do you need?
- A vacuum with a hard-floor setting, or a broom and dustpan
- Rubber gloves
- A bathroom cleaner and a cleaner suited to your floor
- Disposable cloths or paper towels for the toilet area
- An old toothbrush or small brush
- A flat microfiber mop or a sponge mop and a bucket
- A kneeling pad
What kind of floor do you have?
- Ceramic or porcelain tile: grout is the weak spot.
- Small hexagon or penny tile: lots of grout lines, so the brush matters more than the mop. Go gentle on old grout.
- Vinyl or sheet linoleum: warm water and a little dish soap or a vinyl-safe cleaner. Too much water can seep under the edges.
- Natural stone: a pH-neutral stone cleaner only. No vinegar or bleach.
How do you clean a bathroom floor, step by step?
- Clear the floor. Take out the bath mat, the trash can and anything else that sits on it.
- Vacuum first. Hair turns into wet clumps the moment it meets a mop. Use the crevice tool along the tub and behind the toilet.
- Toilet base by hand. With gloves on, spray the floor around the toilet and the base itself, wait a minute, and wipe with disposable cloths. Scrub the caulk line with the toothbrush.
- Corners and edges. Wipe along the baseboards and into the corners by hand.
- Mop. Damp, not dripping. Start in the far corner and work back toward the door so you don't step on what you've cleaned. Rinse the mop often.
- Rinse if needed. If your cleaner says to rinse, go over the floor with clean water.
- Dry. Let it air dry or dry it with a towel, then put the mat back when the floor is fully dry.
What about the grout?
Scrub grout lines with a stiff brush and a baking soda paste every month or so. Our grout guide goes step by step, gentlest method first.
What about the smell around the toilet?
If the floor around the toilet smells even after cleaning, check the caulk line at the base and the grout nearby. Urine soaks into old grout and caulk. Scrub the grout, and if the caulk is cracked or stained, it may need replacing. A smell that stays can also mean a failing wax seal under the toilet, which is a plumber's job. Our toilet guide covers the rest.
How do you keep it clean?
- Shake out or wash the bath mat weekly; our bath mat guide has the steps.
- Wipe up puddles after showers.
- Keep a pack of disposable wipes under the sink for a quick pass around the toilet.
Want the bathroom deep cleaned?
Book Deep Cleaning online. If the floor or grout is a priority, ask about it when you book and put it in your booking notes.
FAQ
How do you clean a bathroom floor? Vacuum or sweep up hair and dust first, then wipe the base of the toilet and the corners by hand. Mop with warm water and a cleaner that suits the floor, working from the far corner toward the door, and let it dry.
How do you clean around the base of a toilet? Wearing gloves, spray the floor and the toilet base with a bathroom cleaner and let it sit a minute. Wipe it with a disposable cloth or paper towels, scrub the caulk line with an old toothbrush, then wipe with a clean damp cloth.
What can you use to clean old bathroom tile floors? Warm water with a little dish soap or a pH-neutral floor cleaner, and a soft brush on the grout lines. Skip harsh acids on old tile and grout, and don't flood the floor.
How often should you mop the bathroom floor? Once a week in a bathroom used every day, with a quick wipe around the toilet in between. A guest bathroom can go every two weeks.
Book a cleaning
Our service area: every Philadelphia neighborhood, plus the Pennsylvania suburbs within about 30 miles of Center City, in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks and Chester counties. Book online at phillyscleanteam.com/book-now, or call or text (215) 798-7576, 9 AM to 9 PM, every day.
