The Bathroom: A Complete Cleaning Checklist

by Antoaneta Tsochevaon 30 November 2023in Cleaning Tips No comment

Never miss a spot

The bathroom isn’t just a place where you go to clean yourself; for many, it is a mini sanctuary within their home. It’s a place to unwind after a long day at work or enjoy pampering yourself ready for an exciting evening out. It’s also one of the places in your home most visited by guests.

You, therefore, want to make sure your bathroom hygiene is free from damp and grime – not just because this makes it a pleasant room to step into, but because you want to get rid of, or even prevent, any harmful bacteria and germs that can easily breed in humid conditions.

In a busy household, keeping your bathroom sparkling clean may seem almost impossible but the key to success is to keep on top of a schedule of regular, bitesize tasks that will save you precious scrubbing time later down the line!

Here, we’ve outlined how you can split your bathroom cleaning duties into daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal jobs so you can stay on top of everything and ensure you never miss a spot!

DAILY

Give the sink and bathtub a quick wipe – There’s no need to be too thorough here! At the end of each day, taking the time to wipe away toothpaste and soapy residue will prevent the need for a bigger and more timely scrub later.

Wipe down shower curtains and squeegee glass doors – If you live in a hard water area, a quick wipe down or squeegee will help prevent limescale build up, which can corrode metal fixings and take away the gleam from your bathroom.

Wipe up spills immediately – Stop any water stains or discolouration of your surfaces from spilt toiletries in their tracks.

Hang up your towels – When under pressure in the mornings, the temptation may be to throw a towel on the floor or chuck it over the corner of the bed, but resist! Not only will they dry quicker, ready for their next use, but letting your towel dry completely between uses (as well as regular washing) is the best way to prevent germs.

Change your hand towels every couple of days – These towels are used by multiple people so need very regular cleaning to rid them of germs and promote effective hand cleaning.

Throw the windows open – The best way to prevent the build-up of mould is to ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated. Make sure to let some fresh air in throughout the day.

WEEKLY

Sweep and mop the floor – This will ensure a high level of hygiene and prevent unsightly dust and stray hairs from gathering in the corners.

Empty the bins – Don’t let a smelly bin spoil your beautiful bathroom.

Clean mirrors – You can achieve a streak-free clean by creating a DIY vinegar water solution at home, which is easy to do, less toxic than many off-the-shelf cleaners and much more environmentally friendly. It also prevents a mirror from steaming up for about a week! Simply spray the mixture directly onto the mirror and let it sit for a minute before wiping off.

Clean sinks and countertops – Our good friend vinegar is also one of the best things for cleaning a sink due to its anti-bacterial properties; and is very affordable too! Start by pouring white vinegar into the basin. Take a paper towel, dip it into the vinegar and place it around the edge of the sink. Continue doing this until the sink is covered in soaked paper towels. Leave for 20 minutes before removing and wiping down. You can also soak bathroom items such as toothpaste holders and soap dishes in vinegar to give them a thorough clean.

Keep in mind, however, that surfaces like stone countertops and deteriorating grout are too porous to stand up to an abrasive cleaner like vinegar, which could damage the finish or seal. It may also discolour coloured porcelain and take the shine off marble. For these surfaces, use a microfibre cloth and warm water.

Alternatively, bicarbonate of soda will give your sink a sparkling clean. Simply wet the basin, sprinkle the bicarbonate over the surface and rub with a soft cloth, then rinse. Rust stains can also be banished with a slice of lemon and salt. Pour the salt on the lemon and rub the lemon on the stain. When the rust loosens, wipe down with a soft cloth.

Clean the bathtub and shower – Cleaning a bath can be as simple as cleaning the sink. If you have a surface that can withstand vinegar, then hunt out a bottle, as well as some bicarbonate, from the cupboard again and apply them to the tub. Simply sprinkle the bath with bicarbonate and spray with a mixture of vinegar and water. Allow the mixture to bubble for a few minutes, then scrub with a sponge and leave for 15 minutes before wiping away and rinsing. You can use this same method for cleaning your shower tray.

For limescale or hard water stains, stick a paper towel soaked in white vinegar to the affected area, leave for a couple of hours and then scrub with bicarbonate and your vinegar water solution. Once done, rinse and dry with a cloth.

This household pair can also be teamed together to tackle grimy grout. Mix two parts bicarbonate with one part vinegar and apply to the dirty area. After five minutes, scrub with an old toothbrush and rinse.

Clean and disinfect the toilet – This is probably one of the most unpopular cleaning tasks in the bathroom, but it doesn’t need to be such an unpleasant chore, especially if you stick to this simple weekly routine. For general cleaning, look no further than our old friend vinegar again, which acts as an effective disinfectant and can get rid of some viruses and bacteria. Just spray a solution of vinegar and water across your toilet seat and bowel, and wipe down with a cloth. You can even add some essential oils for a really fresh scent!

Hard water stains are common in toilets. They can appear as yellowy-brown marks around the water line which are difficult to avoid in hard water areas. The good news is you can shift the stains with the help of our superhero duo of vinegar and bicarbonate. Flush your toilet, then add one cup of bicarbonate and two cups of white vinegar to the bowl and let the mixture sit for 10 minutes. Then scrub the stained areas with your toilet brush and leave for another 30 minutes before scrubbing again until the stain has gone!

MONTHLY

Wipe out drawers and organise – Bathroom cupboards, drawers and shelves can easily become cluttered with half-used toiletries. Take a few minutes to get rid of anything that’s out-of-date or not needed anymore.

Wash out the bins – Tissues, damp clothes and face wipes can lead to a build-up of mildew in bins and lead to unpleasant smells.

Clean any rugs – Plastic and rubber-backed mats are commonly found in bathrooms. To clean them effectively, first check the backing to see if it’s cracked or peeling. If so, it may be time to consider a replacement as little pieces can come off in your washer or dryer and cause damage. Place them in a washing machine on a cold setting with a gentle laundry detergent and hang them outside or tumble dry at the lowest setting – never use heat when drying these mats as this can cause the backing to crack or even melt.

Tackle mould – The bathroom is often the most humid room in the house, which can potentially lead to mould and mildew to appear. Mould not only looks unsightly but can be dangerous to your health if left untreated for long periods. You can keep your bathroom mould-free with preventative measures such as good ventilation, regular cleaning and adding purifying plants such as aloe vera and peace lilies.

But if black mould has set in, here’s what you can do. Once again, it’s our friend white vinegar’s time to shine! Simply pour vinegar directly onto the affected area. If this doesn’t banish black mould, you may wish to try a specialist cleaner. But, be aware that these usually contain strong chemicals so be sure to wear rubber gloves, a face mask and keep the room well-ventilated.

SEASONAL

Wash shower curtains – You can handwash your shower curtain without having to take it down. Dampen a microfibre cloth and sprinkle some bicarbonate over it. Then use the cloth to scrub down the curtain to remove any basic grime and dirt. Rinse with a clean cloth and then scrub with bicarbonate again to remove any set-in stains and mildew.

Your shower curtain rings are exposed to a lot of steam, soap scum and dirt too, so give them a clean at the same time. Fill your bathroom sink with hot water and a cup of white vinegar. Soak your rings for 20 minutes then rinse with water and remove any remaining limescale with your fingers.

If you need an extra hand in keeping your bathroom sparkling clean, FastKlean is here to help!

We provide a range of services to get you off on the right bathroom cleaning, including one-off deep cleaning and regular domestic cleaning.To find out more and discover how we can support you, call our friendly team on 020 8884 9149 or complete this form to receive a free call back. Check out our other blog posts like “Get Your Deposit Back With Proper Cleaning After Moving Out Of Your Home” while you’re here!

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Written by Antoaneta Tsocheva

Antoaneta has been editing FastKlean news articles since 2001. Highly experienced, passionate and proactive professional. She is managing, motivating, training and developing, a successful and productive team and thrives in highly pressurised and challenging working environments. Antoaneta has strong attention to detail and ability to help others improve their performance.