How to clean a bathroom, top to bottom
To clean a bathroom, clear everything off the surfaces, spray the tub, shower and toilet so the cleaner can soak, and dust the high spots. Then work top to bottom: the mirror, the sink and counter, the tub or shower, the toilet, and the floor last. Let products sit for the time on the label, rinse, and dry the fixtures as you go.
The order is what makes it quick. Dust and drips fall onto what you haven't cleaned yet, and the cleaner soaks while you do something else.
What do you need?
A small kit covers it:
- An all-purpose bathroom cleaner
- A toilet bowl cleaner and a toilet brush
- A non-scratch scrub sponge
- A grout brush or an old toothbrush
- A stack of microfiber cloths, one color just for the toilet
- A squeegee
- Rubber gloves
- A vacuum or broom and a mop
- White vinegar and baking soda, for mineral spots and scrubbing
Use one product at a time, as the label directs. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or another cleaner.
How do you clean a bathroom, step by step?
- Clear the room. Bottles off the counter and the tub edge, bath mat and towels out, trash emptied.
- Spray to soak. Spray the tub or shower and the outside of the toilet, and put bowl cleaner under the rim. Leave them.
- Dust high. The fan cover, the light, the top of the mirror, the door frame, the window sill. If your bathroom has a small radiator, dust between the sections now.
- Mirror. Spray the cloth, not the mirror, and wipe top to bottom. Buff with a dry cloth.
- Sink and counter. Scrub the basin, the faucet and the base of the faucet where grime collects. Clean the drain stopper.
- Tub or shower. Scrub the walls top down, then the tub. Rinse everything and squeegee the glass. Our shower guide goes deeper.
- Toilet. Scrub the bowl, flush, then wipe the outside from the tank down to the base with the toilet-only cloth. See how to clean a toilet.
- Floor. Vacuum or sweep, including behind the toilet, then mop your way out the door.
- Reset. Clean towels and mat back, bottles back, trash bag in.
How do you get rid of mineral spots on faucets?
Wrap the faucet in a cloth soaked in white vinegar for 20 to 30 minutes, then scrub with an old toothbrush and rinse. For a showerhead, fill a plastic bag with vinegar, tie it over the head and leave it a while. Don't use vinegar on natural stone, and check the maker's care directions for brass, gold-tone or matte black finishes.
What about the trash can and the drain?
- The trash can: wash it with hot soapy water, dry it, and put a little baking soda in the bottom before the new bag.
- The drain: pull the hair out with a drain tool, then flush with hot water. A drain cover catches hair before it gets in.
How do you keep the bathroom clean longer?
- Run the fan during every shower and for about 20 minutes after. See how to clean a bathroom exhaust fan.
- Squeegee the shower glass after each shower.
- Hang towels and the bath mat spread out to dry.
- Do a quick wipe of the sink and faucet every morning.
For what to do daily, weekly and monthly, see our bathroom cleaning schedule. Grout has its own guide.
Want the bathroom done for you?
Book House Cleaning or Deep Cleaning online, and put your bathroom priorities in your booking notes.
FAQ
What order should you clean a bathroom in? Clear the room, spray the tub, shower and toilet so the cleaner can soak, then work top to bottom: dust high spots, clean the mirror, the sink and counter, the tub or shower, the toilet, and the floor last.
What supplies do you need to clean a bathroom? An all-purpose bathroom cleaner, a toilet bowl cleaner and brush, a non-scratch scrub sponge, a grout brush or old toothbrush, microfiber cloths, a squeegee, rubber gloves, a vacuum or broom and a mop.
Is it safe to mix bathroom cleaners? No. Never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar or other acids, or with other cleaners; the mix can release toxic gas. Use one product at a time, rinse between them, and keep the fan running or a window open.
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.
