How to clean a bathroom sink and vanity
To clean a bathroom sink, clear the counter, spray the basin and faucet with a cleaner that suits the sink, and let it sit a minute. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge, use an old toothbrush around the faucet base, the drain and the overflow, then rinse and dry. Finish by wiping the vanity top and the cabinet doors.
The sink takes a lot: toothpaste, soap, makeup, whiskers and hair all end up there. Short and often beats one long scrub.
What do you need?
- A bathroom cleaner suited to your sink and counter
- Dish soap and warm water
- A non-scratch sponge
- An old toothbrush
- A small bottle brush or pipe cleaner
- Microfiber cloths
What is your sink made of?
- Porcelain or vitreous china: the classic white sink. Skip scouring powder, which dulls the glaze.
- Cultured marble: a one-piece top and basin. Mild soap and water only, no acids and no abrasives.
- Natural stone (granite, marble): pH-neutral stone cleaner. No vinegar.
- Glass or vessel sinks: glass cleaner or soapy water, dried with a cloth.
How do you clean a bathroom sink and vanity, step by step?
- Clear the counter. Move soap, toothbrushes and everything else to a towel.
- Dry wipe first. Pick up hair and dust with a dry cloth so it doesn't turn to paste.
- Spray. Coat the basin, faucet and handles. Give it a minute.
- Scrub the basin. Non-scratch sponge, working down toward the drain.
- Detail. Old toothbrush around the faucet base, the handle joints and the drain ring, where grime collects.
- Overflow. Work a bottle brush dipped in soapy water into the overflow hole, then pour a little warm water through.
- Rinse and dry. Rinse the basin and dry the faucet so it doesn't spot. Our chrome fixtures guide covers the faucet in detail.
- Vanity top. Wipe with the right cleaner for the surface and dry.
- Cabinet doors and handles. Damp cloth with a little dish soap, then dry. Watch for drips down the front of the doors.
- Put things back, wiping the bottoms of soap pumps and cups first.
What about the drain stopper?
Pop-up stoppers lift out, or come free when you loosen the nut on the pivot rod under the sink. Pull off the hair, scrub the stopper with the toothbrush and soapy water, and put it back. If the drain is still slow after that, see our shower drain guide: the same steps work for a sink. If you rent, tell your landlord about a drain that stays slow.
How do you get rid of toothpaste and hard water spots?
Toothpaste spatter wipes off with warm water. For white mineral spots around the faucet on porcelain, lay a cloth soaked in white vinegar over them for ten minutes, then wipe and rinse. Keep vinegar off stone and cultured marble.
How often should you clean it?
Wipe the basin and faucet every day or two. Do the full clean, including the overflow and the vanity, once a week.
Want help keeping up?
Book Recurring House Cleaning online. If there's a spot in the bathroom you want attention on, ask about it when you book and put it in your booking notes.
FAQ
How do you clean a bathroom sink? Clear the counter, spray the basin and faucet with a bathroom cleaner suited to the sink's material, and let it sit a minute. Scrub with a non-scratch sponge, use an old toothbrush around the faucet base and drain, then rinse and dry.
How do you clean a sink overflow hole? Push a small bottle brush or pipe cleaner dipped in warm, soapy water into the overflow opening and work it around. Then pour a little warm water through it to rinse.
How do you clean a pop-up sink stopper? Lift it out, or loosen the nut under the sink that holds the pivot rod and pull it free. Wash off the hair and grime with an old toothbrush and soapy water, rinse it, and put it back.
Can you use vinegar on a vanity top? Not on natural stone or cultured marble, which acids can dull or etch. Use mild dish soap and water or a cleaner made for the surface.
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.
