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Cleaning your bathroom (or someone else’s) can feel daunting, and maybe even a little icky. It’s a high-touch area that gets used regularly throughout the day, which can lead to grime building up quickly. But this also means it has the potential to provide an even greater sense of accomplishment and pride when you’re able to maintain a clean space. And that’s where having a regular cleaning schedule — and a bathroom cleaning checklist — can benefit you.
If you don’t have a set bathroom cleaning checklist, or your current one needs a revamp, the housecleaning experts we spoke to are ready to walk you through it. Here they share their go-to cleaning supplies, thoughts on what needs to be cleaned on a daily, weekly, monthly and occasional/yearly basis and tips for making the bathroom cleaning process as frustration-free as possible.
Essential bathroom cleaning supplies
When you’re battling the grime in the bathroom, here’s what the experts we spoke to advised having in your arsenal.
Cleaning solutions
“A good bathroom cleaning routine starts with the right supplies, each with a specific job to keep things fresh and germ-free,” says Val Oliveira, chief executive officer and founder of Val’s Services Cleaning in Chicago. Here are some of the products she and other experts recommend having on hand.
- Toilet bowl cleaner.
- Disinfecting bathroom cleaner (like Clorox or Lysol) for wiping surfaces, suggests Shawn Grant, owner of Clear Facility Services in Minneapolis.
- Germicidal bleach. José Castillo of Brooclean Corp in Brooklyn, recommends it for superficial mold.
- Glass cleaner for the mirror.
- Degreaser. Jessica Agate, owner of The Cleaning Diva in Belmar, New Jersey recommends Barkeeper’s Friend for things like buildup on shower doors, while Oliveira recommends The Pink Stuff cleaning paste for hard water stains and other grime that may require more elbow grease.
- Mold/mildew-specific cleaner. Hydrogen peroxide provides an alternative to harsh chemicals when it comes to mold and mildew, says Oliveira.
- Tile and grout cleaner. A simple baking soda and vinegar mix can also help lift deep-set stains and mildew here, says Oliveira.
- Disinfecting wipes and/or spray for quickly sanitizing high-touch spots.
“A good bathroom cleaning routine starts with the right supplies, each with a specific job to keep things fresh and germ-free.”
— Val Oliveira, chief executive officer and founder of Val’s Services Cleaning in Chicago
A note on natural cleaners
If you hope or need to go green with your cleaning routine, they might be right for certain situations and not others, according to the experts we spoke to. For example, vinegar may be effective for killing mold or removing certain stains, such as mineral deposits or hard water, notes Grant. And baking soda can be used to control odors, and its texture helps with grime. However, if you’re looking for speed and the same results, he says he usually sticks with chemical cleaners with the Green Seal certification.
Agate adds that at her company, she uses eco-friendly cleaning products from Shaklee, including their basic solution and their germicide.
When it comes to natural cleaners, Oliveira adds that her company prioritizes them “whenever possible but turn to stronger eco-friendly alternatives when sanitization is a top priority.”
Cleaning tools
Your tools for cleaning can be as basic as sponges and a toilet brush, but here are the supplies the experts recommend:
- Microfiber cloths and/or sponges. Here, Agate and Oliveira recommend using color-coded cloths for each surface (red for the toilet, for example), to avoid cross-contamination.
- Paper towels.
- Toilet brush.
- Grout brush. These can be used to clean between tiles and in hard to reach spots around the toilet and sink, says Grant.
- Pumice stone. If there are hard water stains or rust you can’t remove with traditional methods, a damp pumice stone can take care of it easily. You can even buy ones specific for this purpose, with a handle.
- Long-handled brush for hard-to-reach spots.
- Melamine eraser sponge, such as Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
- Squeegee for removing water from shower walls and doors after showers and cleaning.
- Trash bags.
- Rubber gloves to protect your hands while cleaning.
- Storage caddy to keep all of your cleaning supplies in one easily transportable place.
- Vacuum or another way of removing dust, dirt, hair and other detritus, such as a broom.
- Mop or steam cleaner for removing bacteria and dirt.
Daily bathroom cleaning checklist
Whether the mess is from a child splashing soapy water everywhere during a bath, or toothpaste splattered on the mirror, tackling these trouble spots on a daily basis prevents a week-end disaster area. Here are the quick-fixes experts recommend:
- Spot-clean surfaces. Do a quick counter check, wiping down any surfaces that need it.
- Do a quick tidy up. If items have wandered out of place, put them away to maintain an uncluttered space.
- Wipe down shower walls and glass doors. Use a daily spray and squeegee or wipe down shower walls and doors after you shower.
- Empty the garbage, if needed.
Weekly bathroom cleaning checklist
Once a week, on whichever day you choose, it’s good to give your bathroom a full refresh. If you’re doing these comprehensive cleans yourself (or creating a checklist for your house cleaner), the experts recommend a top-to-bottom approach, wiping down fans or light fixtures first and finishing with floors.
- Run the vacuum. Before you start your official clean, Agate recommends shaking out the bath mats and vacuuming the floor. That way, if the floor gets wet while you clean, it “won’t get all grimy,” she says.
- Clean and disinfect the toilet. After letting a cleaner sit for 10-15 minutes on and in the toilet, wipe it from top to bottom, using your preferred cloth or sponge. Use your toilet brush to scrub the bowl (don’t forget to get under the rim). And finish up by wiping around the base, including behind the toilet.
- Scrub the shower and/or tub. Spray cleaner on the walls, shower surround and faucets and let it sit for 10-15 minutes, says Becky Rapinchuk, owner of Clean Mama. Then scrub and rinse. If you’re using non-toxic cleaners, Agate adds that you can give your shower a quick wipe down while you’re taking a shower, to save time.
- Deep clean the sink, including the fixtures.
- Clean door handles and light switches. These high-touch surfaces can be easy to forget but warrant a regular disinfecting.
- Wipe down and sanitize the garbage can.
- Mop.
How to clean that gross toilet brush
Rapinchuk recommends rinsing the toilet brush in the clean toilet water, putting the toilet brush under the toilet seat to hold it in place while it dries and spraying it with hydrogen peroxide (or similar) to disinfect. Let it drip dry before returning it to the holder.
Monthly bathroom cleaning checklist
In addition to your regular weekly clean, there are certain areas that take a little more effort and/or can go a little longer between cleanings, like the following:
- Dust surfaces, including the top of the vanity and light fixtures. These areas may be largely out of sight, but plenty of dust can accumulate up there.
- Scrub toilet seat attachment points. Some toilet bowl lids can come off, Agate says, and this is an important area to clean — “get in there around the screws and things like that because that gets super gunky and built up,” she adds.
- Clean shower curtain and/or liner. Easily forgotten, your shower curtain actually contains the highest level of bacteria, according to home safety nonprofit SafeHome.org’s 2023 study. Some curtains and/or liners can be thrown directly in the wash, while you may have to settle for a spray and wipe of others.
- Wash toothbrush holders. Water drips down on the base, and mold and mildew can build up here, says Grant.
- Clean soap dishes.
- Wipe down the insides of cabinets and drawers. Remove anything stored in them and vacuum out any dust or debris first, if necessary.
- Scrub grout.
- Wash the bathroom rug.
“It’s all about focusing on the essentials and creating a routine that keeps your bathroom clean without feeling like a major chore.”
— Val Oliveira
Seasonal, annual or as needed bathroom cleaning checklist
On a seasonal, yearly or as-needed basis, here are some areas to address:
- Clean vents and fans. If you have an exhaust fan, you may need to take it apart to clean it properly.
- Clear cobwebs, using either a broom or vacuum attachment.
- Soak your shower head. One way to clean your showerhead is to tie a bag of white vinegar to it, with all of the spray holes submerged. Leave it for at least three hours and then remove and rinse, says Rapinchuk.
- Clean external shower glass.
- Recaulk your shower or tub. Rapinchuk recommends re-caulking your shower and tub every year or so, to prevent mold and mildew.
- Deep clean and reseal grout.
- Dust and then clean baseboards and trim, says Agate, including both above doors and along the floor. Her pro-tip: “A fabric softener sheet works really well to wipe these boards with and actually will work in preventing future dust from kicking up on them.”
- Wash windows, paying attention to both the glass and trim.
- Pull out and clean behind removable furniture or decorations, such as trash cans.
- Declutter and organize closets or other storage areas.
Quick bathroom cleaning checklist
Maybe you’ve fallen out of your regular cleaning routine that follows the above guidelines, or perhaps cleaning your bathroom daily just isn’t for you. In either case, if your bathroom needs a quick refresh, here’s what the experts recommend:
- Keep cleaning supplies accessible in the bathroom, recommends Agate. Store cleaning rags or a roll of paper towels, an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner and/or disposable wipes under the sink. You can even keep a non-toxic solution in the shower for quick cleans, she adds.
- Clean the mirror.
- Wipe down the counters.
- Clean the toilet, scrubbing down the inside and wiping down the lid.
- Vacuum or use a Swiffer duster on the floor.
- Empty the garbage.
- Straighten the hand towels. It might feel like a small thing, but Agate says straightening your hand towels and bath towels so they’re nice and neat helps the bathroom feel cleaner.
A final word on maintaining a sparkling clean bathroom
Cleaning your bathroom can feel like a huge undertaking when you’re compiling a list in your head, but the reality is that by tackling it in a systematic way using these bathroom cleaning checklists, you will lessen your mental load and ensure a sparkling space. As Oliveira concludes, “It’s all about focusing on the essentials and creating a routine that keeps your bathroom clean without feeling like a major chore.”
