Get The 411 On Cleaning Your Home: The Bathroom

Let’s talk about the one room no one’s racing to clean… the bathroom.

If you’re anything like me, it’s probably your least favorite chore—and I say that as a mom who spent years sharing a home with four boys. (Yes, four!) So believe me when I say: I get it.

That’s exactly why I created Get the 411 on Cleaning Your Home: The Bathroom—a practical, grace-filled guide to tackling this not-so-glamorous space without losing your mind.

Because while it may be the job we all dread, it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Let’s break it down, step by step, and make your bathroom sparkle again—without the stress. 🧼🚿✨

As you can probably imagine, when it comes to boys and bathrooms, things don’t always stay where they’re supposed to. 😅 Let’s just say their aim—especially in the younger years (and sometimes even in the older ones!)—can create quite the mess. Bathrooms can take a beating, and keeping them clean becomes a full-time job of its own!

And let’s not forget about the girls—because they’re not exactly off the hook either! 😉 While boys may leave behind certain messes, teenage girls come with their own brand of bathroom chaos. Think: hair, hairspray, makeup brushes, sponges, foundation spills, and eyeshadow dust in places you didn’t know it could reach. It’s like a glam tornado blew through!

That being said, it is one of the most important places you will want to deep clean regularly.

If you didn’t catch it, check out my post Get The 411 On Cleaning Your Home: The Kitchen for more cleaning wisdom. I want to begin with a cleaning products checklist for bathrooms.

Cleaning Products Checklist

Bathroom Cleaning Kit List (PDF)

Toilet brush and bowl cleaner
Tub and tile cleaners (Scrubbing Bubbles & Bar Keeper’s Friend Cleanser are my go-tos)
All-purpose cleaning spray
Multi-surface cleaner
Bucket
Glass cleaner
Clean rags or paper towels
Broom/dustpan or vacuum with hard floor attachment
Rubber gloves
A stiff brush or an old toothbrush to clean grout
Shower squeegee
Mr. Clean Dry Erase pads
Microfiber cloths
Steam mop or mop

Let’s Get Started

Tidy Up

First things first: Before you dive into any deep cleaning, take a few minutes to tidy up the space. Clearing out the clutter makes it so much easier to clean thoroughly—and honestly, I find it nearly impossible to deep clean effectively when stuff is scattered everywhere.

For bathrooms, what does that mean? You can start by cleaning off counters, picking up clothes, removing dirty towels, and organizing products on the sink and in the bath/shower.

Bath Mats & Curtains

Pick up bath mats, remove window and shower curtains, and place them in the washing machine. The mats and curtains can be washed while you work on the rest of the bathroom.

Remember, this is your deep clean process. I recommend adding this part of your bathroom cleaning (curtains, rugs, shower curtains) a few times a year.

Top To Bottom

Now you are ready to clean! As a general rule of cleaning, start from top to bottom. Get a Swiffer, remove any cobwebs from the ceiling, dust and wipe the blinds, and dust and wipe the top of your light fixtures. At this time, you may want to wipe out the window sills if you have a window in your bathroom.

Surfaces

Start with surfaces. I like to spray my vanity/counters, shower, and toilet with your choice of all-purpose cleaner. I like Scrubbing Bubbles, but for those sensitive to toxic products, you can use vinegar and a little baking soda to deep clean.

Start with the vanity/counters. Remove all items, spray the countertop, and give it a good wipe-down with a microfiber cloth. Wipe the faucets and sink thoroughly to remove germs or debris such as toothpaste, makeup, or dust.

Start by cleaning the mirror using a good glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth for a streak-free shine. Once that’s sparkling, move on to the vanity surfaces—wipe down the countertop, faucet, and sink bowl until everything shines. Then, return any items that belong on the vanity, neatly arranged.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to wipe down the wall or backsplash above the sink. Toothpaste has a sneaky way of splattering during brushing and leaving tiny dots behind, so giving this area a good once-over is a smart part of any deep clean.

The Shower/Tub

In the shower, start from the top and work your way down, wiping all sides of the shower. Finish by rinsing and drying with a microfiber cloth.

If you have a glass shower casing, I recommend purchasing a squeegee to hang in your shower for regular use. If you have hard water, it can accumulate on your glass. You can buy a hard-water stain remover or try vinegar. See below.

If the tub has a layer of soap scum, it’s time to pull out the big guns: Bar Keeper’s Friend Cleanser. You can also use vinegar and baking soda to remove any soap scum. If there are stubborn stains on the tub surface, you can remove them with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser pads.

Don’t forget to shine the faucet and shower head in your tub. By shining them when you clean it keeps the soap scum from building up.

If you have hard water and spots are plaguing your faucet, soak paper towels in vinegar, lay them on the surface, and leave them for about a half hour. Vinegar is a miracle worker for removing hard water stains.

FYI, my favorite type of shower curtain rod is the curved kind. If you don’t have this type of curtain rod, then go pick yourself one up at Home Goods or Marshalls. They are the best! It gives you and your family a feeling of more space while showering.

The Toilet

Ah, yes… the toilet. It’s been soaking with surface cleaner, and now it’s time to roll up your sleeves and give it a good scrub and wipe-down.

If you’ve been using the same cleaning cloth for the vanity and tub, you’re still safe to use it here—but let’s be very clear: never start with the toilet and then move to the sink or tub. 😬
Just… no. Trust me. That’s a cleaning crime we don’t want to commit. 😂

When cleaning the toilet, I like to work from top to bottom here too. Start by wiping down the top and sides of the tank, then move on to the seat and lid.

For a true deep clean, don’t forget the little tabs that hold the seat in place—they usually pop off easily. Remove them and clean underneath, where grime (and yes, urine) tends to hide around the screws. It’s one of those sneaky spots that makes a big difference when it’s fresh and clean! 🚽✨

Wipe the top of the seat cover, under the seat cover, the top of the bowl, and around the entire bottom of the bowl. Flush the toilet to remove extra water, spray the inside of the toilet bowl with toilet bowl cleaner or vinegar and baking soda, and scrub well with a toilet brush.

If tough stains persist, get a nylon pad (Dobie is my favorite), add some extra baking soda and vinegar, and let sit for a while. After letting it sit for a bit, return and scrub, and hopefully, your toilet will be ring-free. When all done scrubbing, rinse and repeat if necessary.

You can take a toilet bowl or disinfectant spray cleaner and squirt/spray it around the bottom of your tank where the floor is. It is amazing how urine gets underneath your toilet.

This will draw out the urine that has made its way under the toilet. By doing this, you can avoid the embarrassing smells of urine in your bathroom.

In my main level powder room, I like to keep some Pooh-pouri spray in a basket with extra toilet paper. That way, if my friends need a little freshener after they finish doing their business, they can give a quick spray. This link is for the pumpkin spice scent, perfect for the fall season.

Don’t forget to disinfect the handle on the toilet. As you can only imagine, this can carry germs and dirt and transfer easily to hands.

Don’t forget the walls around the toilet—yes, really. With three boys in our home, this step became absolutely necessary.

Urine can leave behind stains and a not-so-pleasant smell, so grab that cloth and wipe, wipe, wipe. And no, I’m not just talking about your heinie! 🤣

Trust me—your nose (and your walls) will thank you.

Doorknobs & Lightswitches

Disinfect the door knobs on the bathroom and linen closet doors and the light switches with an antibacterial wipe. FYI, during cold and flu season, I like to wipe all of my doorknobs and light switch covers at least once a week.

The Floor

Onto the floor. First, sweep or vacuum your floor completely, and then either mop or get on your hands and knees and wipe with a good all-purpose cleaner.

I like to add Mrs. Meyers Clean Day to my bucket of water. If you mop, I highly recommend O-Cedar EasyWring Microfiber Spin Mop, Bucket Floor Cleaning System for all your mopping needs.

I work my way out of the bathroom as I mop. After it dries, return the clean bath mats and curtains to their rightful places. I like to replace my shower liner once every six months at least. They are 5-10 dollars and are easy to replace.

If you like this bathroom below, it’s mine. We remodeled it in 2021. You can find the complete transformation in my post Guest Bathroom Makeover.

Bathroom Cleaning Conclusion

Now it’s time to go and clean your bathrooms! I had a friend tell me once that she hated cleaning bathrooms, but decided that every time she cleaned the bathroom, she would sing a song that went something like this.

“I get to clean the toilets today.”

“I’m so thankful for my family who uses these toilets.”

“I get to clean the toilets today.”

It changes your perspective completely as you serve your family. There is a bible verse I love that I think of when I sing this little song in my head.

Even when you are doing a job you don’t like, you can do it with your whole heart as unto the Lord. My prayer is that you will think of this verse the next time you clean your bathroom and serve your family.

Also, it’s not a bad idea to give your kids some useful lessons and experience cleaning bathrooms when it is age-appropriate. This may also help them to rethink their bathroom habits if they are the ones who have to clean it.

Maybe if they are old enough, they could even read this blog post!

Like I said in my post Get The 411 On Cleaning Your Home: The Kitchen you will want to train them how to clean so that one day they can clean their own homes and do it with excellence.

If you are looking for more posts on cleaning, here you go:

Get the 411 On Cleaning Your Home: The Bedrooms

Get The 411 On Cleaning Your Home: The Kitchen

You can also check out Your Spring Cleaning Checklist & Spring Decor.

Wrapping It Up

Let’s be honest—cleaning the bathroom isn’t exactly glamorous, but it is one of the most important things you can do to keep your home feeling fresh, peaceful, and cared for.

You’ve got this, friend. Put on some music, light a candle when you’re done, and enjoy that sparkly bathroom—you’ve earned it! 🧼✨

Happy Cleaning!

Get The 411 On Cleaning Your Home: The Bathroom

Cleaning Products Checklist