How to Clean a Bathroom Fast and Efficiently – Full Guide

Ian Mutuli
Updated on
Ian Mutuli

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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Since you rely on the bathroom to keep your body clean, it is reasonable to assume that it ought to be the space in your home that is the cleanest. Because of the water, steam, and extra filth, your room has a high risk of becoming a breeding ground for germs, fungi, and unpleasant smells. Because of this, rural residences reflect on how to clean a bathroom thoroughly from top to bottom.

Deep cleaning your bathroom isn’t as difficult as you might think—just follow these steps to make every inch of your bathroom sparkling and germ-free.

Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Thoroughly

Ways To Clean Your Bathroom Thoroughly

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There comes a time when you need to give your whole bathroom a deep clean. Whether it’s a powder room or a master bath, follow these tips and methods for cleaning a bathroom to have it ready for use and make it smell good.

But before beginning, ensure you have all the cleaning tools and supplies you will need to get your bathroom looking its best. You’ll stay focused and do the task as quickly as possible if you bring everything to your bathroom rather than going to and from it in search of cleaning supplies and equipment.

Some of the fundamental lists of supplies, equipment, and cleansers to keep on hand include:

    • A microfiber cloth.

    • All-purpose cleaner.

    • Glass cleaner.

    • Scrubbing powder.

    • Vacuum cleaner

    • Duster.

    • Stone cleaner.

    • Scrub pads and a toilet brush

    • Disinfectant.

Here is the detailed step-by-step guide to follow:

Step 1: Get Rid of All the Junk

Why is the counter in the bathroom piled high with stuff? The first thing you’ll want to do is clear away any debris and other obstacles preventing you from doing a thorough cleaning.

Get Rid of All the Junk

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You will need to declutter and organize your bathroom. Remove anything that does not belong, such as clothing, an old toothbrush, cups, and trash. Also, remove any small side tables or movable storage cabinets so you can clean them underneath. If possible, try to keep everything you use in cabinets or drawers to reduce dust.

If you have a window, crack it open while you’re getting things ready. When you pull out the cleaning tools, you’ll want to make sure there is a lot of air circulation. You may use the fan instead of a window in the bathroom if there isn’t one available to you.

Step 2: Pour Disinfectant Into the Toilet Bowl and Sink.

Again, before proceeding with the cleaning, you will need to pour some bleach or another disinfectant into your toilet bowl and bathroom sinks. Then place your toilet brush inside the toilet bowl to help sanitize it for cleaning. After that, proceed to the other steps and let the disinfectant sit for a couple of minutes.

 Pour disinfectant into the toilet bowl and sink.

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Remember to use the overriding guideline for thoroughly cleaning a bathroom, which is that you need to sterilize whatever you touch, walk on, or sit on. It must be sanitized if you touch it, step on it, or sit on it.

Step 3: Dust From Top to Bottom

Whether you have short or long hair, there is a good chance that a significant amount of it will wind up on your bathroom floor at some point. The same may be said about the dust that is floating around in the air around us. As a result of this, it is essential to vacuum the area before beginning the scrubbing process. Doing so gives you a clean slate on which to work.

Image source: foodal.com

Image Source: foodal.com

Start by using the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clean the whole floor; get into the corners; clean under and around the toilet; and clean below the vanity. You should also vacuum the floor of the shower as well as the countertops in the bathroom. After you have completed the task, give the head of the suction attachment a quick wash-off, and then put the vacuum away.

Remember to also remove cobwebs from bathroom corners and brush out any dust or dirt directly onto the bathroom floor to be swept up later. A duster is ideal for this, but a broom can also be used. Remember to begin with the topmost areas. This can include the light fixtures, the countertops, the outside of the toilet, and the baseboards.

Step 4: Apply Scrub Powder to Particularly Dirty Areas.

If there is lime and buildup in the sink, bathtub, or around the faucets, mildly dampen those areas and sprinkle with a scouring powder like Comet. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes while you perform other tasks. This will help to loosen the grimy spots and make scrubbing much easier.

Apply scrub powder to particularly dirty areas.

Image Source: naturallivingideas.com

Make sure you read the label to ensure you’re using a product that won’t harm your surfaces. Alternatively, you can sprinkle baking soda on surfaces and then use vinegar to clean them for a more environmentally friendly solution.

Step 5: Clean the Walls, Windows, and Ceiling.

If you want to give a bathroom a thorough cleaning, you will need to pay some tender loving care to every surface in the room, even those you probably don’t give much thought to frequently. Be sure to give every surface, including the floor of your shower, a thorough cleaning with a disinfectant spray, wipes, or distilled white vinegar. You don’t need to worry about the toilet just now since you’ll get to it in a little while.

Clean the walls, windows, and ceiling.

Image Source: i.ytimg.com

You will then clean your bathroom walls, windows, and ceiling with an all-purpose cleaner to get rid of mildew and any soap scum that might be on these areas. If there is mold on the ceiling or on the walls, start by spraying a disinfectant solution on them and letting them sit for a few minutes.

If the walls are tiled, repeat the process there as well, or use another cleaning product. Clean the sprayed-on tile surfaces with a sponge or a rag. Then carefully rinse it to remove any stripes, then pat it dry with a clean rag. Another excellent choice for cleaning walls and ceilings is a vinegar and water solution. But be careful not to combine vinegar and bleach, as this could result in a poisonous gas.

Step 6: Thoroughly Clean the Shower

Spray your all-purpose cleaner on the shower walls and shower head and let it sit for a few minutes. Spray cleaners designed specifically to remove soap scum work extremely well on tubs that haven’t been cleaned in a long time.

Thoroughly clean the shower

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For hard water areas prone to green and rust-colored stains, a cleanser designed to remove calcium, lime, and rust is probably what you need. Then remove the showerhead and soak it in vinegar overnight if it is clogged with hard water buildup or soap scum, or fill a sandwich bag with vinegar and secure it around the showerhead with a rubber band.

You can also scrub the holes with an old toothbrush the next day to remove any remaining buildup. In the same step, remember to also clean your shower curtain or doors using the cleaning solution.

Step 7: Scrub the Sink and the Counter.

Scrub the soap scum and toothpaste away with a small amount of cleaner, thoroughly rinsing your sponge as you go. Remember to clean your trashcan, toilet paper holder, toothbrush holder, and other bathroom items. To remove the debris from the space between the tap and handles, you can use an old toothbrush or cotton swabs.

Scrub the sink and the counter.

Image Source: everydaycheapskate.com

You should definitely clean and sterilize the vanity (including the doors of the cabinetry), as well as the sinks, handles on the faucet and door knobs, and even the pull on your window. For this, you should probably use hot, soapy water. Add a small amount of bleach to your soapy water if you’re concerned about the cleanliness of these surfaces.

Clean your toothbrush holder the same way you would a cup or bowl. It should be cleaned on the inside using a bottle brush or sponge after adding a few drops of dish soap and filling it with warm water. Rinse it thoroughly to get the soap off.

Step 8: Clean Your Mirrors.

Image Source: heajn.nitrocdn.com

Use water or glass cleaner to clean your mirrors, and use a cloth or squeegee to remove any extra water. Alternatively, you could use a spray bottle to spray a vinegar and water solution on mirrors and other glass surfaces.

Step 9: Clean the Toilet

It’s time to clean out the toilet! To begin, focus on the bowl itself, and then use a toilet cleanser together with a scrub brush to completely clean the surface. After you have completed this step, wait at least 15 minutes before flushing the toilet so that the solution has sufficient time to take effect and become fully ingested.

Clean the Toilet

While at it, remember to also clean the outside of the toilet. To avoid reinfecting the toilet, wipe all of its exteriors, beginning with the flush handle. Use a cloth dipped in a disinfecting cleaner. Use a cloth and detergent or another cleaning agent to thoroughly wash and rinse the toilet bowl’s exterior surfaces, including the bottom and flared base, the top and bottom of the toilet seat and lid, the hinges, and their mounting area.

Step 10. Completely Scrub the Floor Surfaces.

A genuine and thorough cleaning of your bathroom floors can’t be achieved just by vacuuming them. To do it, you will need to use a mop. Use a professional floor disinfectant and apply copious amounts of it, or prepare your own bleach solution by adding one tablespoon of bleach to one quart of water. Either way, this will accomplish the desired result.

Completely Scrub The Floor Surfaces.

After that, adjust the temperature of your shower to high and either turns off the vent or shut the window. As soon as the steam enters the room, switch off the shower and seal the door to the bathroom. After allowing the steam to remain for twenty minutes, you should then clean the floor. When you are finished, ensure that the door is left open so that the room may air dry.

One thing you should remember to wash when cleaning the floor is the bath mat. Be sure to follow the instructions on the tag. Most bath mats may be washed in the washing machine on the cold setting and then hung out to dry. While at it, you should also remember to wash any used hand towels or bath towels that you may have.

Step 11: Final Touches

After you’ve finished cleaning the bathroom, empty the trash can and, if it has a cover, clean it. Refill your soap dispensers to ensure that no one is without soap when they most need it. Make sure you have plenty of toilet paper and other supplies. Hang new towels and replace your previously cleaned and dried bath mats.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Clean a Bathroom

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Clean a Bathroom

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1. What is the best way to clean a bathroom?

Keeping a bathroom organized in between cleanings is the best way to keep it clean.

While the above steps and tips will help you deep clean your bathroom, use the following advice to keep it constantly spotless:

    • For daily hair and other debris cleanups in the bathroom, keep a hand-held vacuum there.

    • To prevent accumulation, install a hair catcher in your drain.

    • Water that doesn’t drain properly might form a disgusting ring around the shower or bathtub.

    • To avoid water stains, squeegee the shower walls after each use.

    • To prevent clutter creep, store smaller objects in boxes and baskets.

2. What is the proper way to clean the toilet and bathroom?

Make it a point to clean your bathroom once a week if your schedule doesn’t permit a daily washdown because it is one of the areas with higher traffic. Clean your toilet and wipe down shower tiles, walls, fixtures, and plastic shower curtains every other day, if not every day. By doing this, soap scum and unpleasant mildew won’t grow around the drain. Moreover, use microfiber towels to clean your mirrors.

It’s also recommended that you clean your bath mats once a week and your towels every three usages. If they become too wet in between, I hang them out outside to allow for some air flow and prevent the growth of mildew.

3. What can I use to deep clean my bathroom?

For a successful, thorough bathroom cleaning, you will require items such as rubber gloves, squeegees, vacuum cleaners, sponges, scrub brushes, microfiber cloths, and cleaning chemicals. You can purchase these items from your local store. The best part is that you can make your own cleaning solution using dish soap, baking soda, or vinegar.

4. What is the best mix to clean the bathroom?

For comprehensive bathroom cleaning, a solution of baking soda and white vinegar works nicely. You will need 1 cup of baking soda and 1/2 cup of white vinegar to make the solution.

Ian Mutuli

About the author

Ian Mutuli

Founder and Managing Editor of Archute. He is also a graduate architect from The University of Nairobi, Kenya.
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