Conquer bathroom cleaning in 7 steps

Have you ever gone to a friend’s house and enjoyed a really nice bathroom experience? It sounds silly, but I think we can all admit that there’s a satisfying charm in a well-kept restroom. It doesn’t mean the space is big or particularly fancy, but there are small details that make us feel welcome: a scented candle, a pleasant painting, a pretty soap or towel arrangement. And most importantly, the space is clean. Even if I just stepped in to wash my hands, a brief visit to a clean and beautiful restroom helps me actually feel rested when I come out.

After seeing so many clean and welcoming bathrooms, I decided to explore how I could best keep my own bathroom space that way. In this entry, I’ll focus more on the sanitation, and a future entry will speak to decorating.

Why clean the bathroom?

Whether it’s a half bathroom in the hall or a full bath in the bedroom, the bathroom is a place where we go in dirty and come out clean. It’s an important space not only for physical necessity but also for mental and even emotional quiet. It’s fitting that we also refer to it as the restroom.

If a bathroom is not kept clean, it will quickly fail to serve its purpose and will in fact do the opposite. Instead of helping wash away germs, it will collect and spread them. Plus, a dirty, smelly bathroom is particularly unpleasant and will leave its users with no sense of rest! Putting a little time and effort into cleaning the restroom is an unseen yet invaluable way to care for those who use it.

Getting started

There are plenty of approaches to cleaning a bathroom, but in my opinion, the best guideline is this basic principle I’ve received from several veteran homemakers: Cleanest to dirtiest, top to bottom. In other words, always start with the least dirty area or item, while working your way from the highest areas to the lowest ones. The reasoning behind this approach is to 1) use as few cleaning cloths as possible (if you start with a dirty area, your first cleaning cloth is already a hamper item!) and 2) capture as much dirt and dust as possible (if you cleaned the floor first, you might dirty it again while cleaning the upper areas). This principle also applies to cleaning other rooms of the home, and I’ve found it to be a useful homemaking hack!

Combining the cleaning wisdom I’ve heard from others and the insights from a few websites, here’s the step-by-step process I’ve adopted to clean the bathroom.

First, gather all your tools:

All-purpose cleaner spray (store-bought or a DIY of dish soap and water or distilled white vinegar)
Cleaning cloths (microfiber or other soft material), including one for just the toilet (or paper towels)
Toilet bowl cleaner (store-bought or one of these DIY natural mixtures)
Toilet brush (best to keep by the toilet)
Sponge
Mop or other floor cleaner
Rubber gloves (if desired)
Fresh bathroom towels (if switching out the current ones)

It’s also a good idea to open any windows in the bathroom for ventilation, especially if you’re using bleach products. Before I switched to non-bleach cleaning products, I would wear a face mask when cleaning my small bathroom to avoid breathing in too much of the chemical products.

1. Declutter

Once you have all your tools at the ready, clear the sink counter of soap dispensers, toothbrush holders, or any other small items so that you won’t have to work around them. To make this step easier (and also for a nicer presentation), keep those items in cups or boxes.

I clean naturally now

Bleach does a great job killing germs, but it’s also a powerful and poisonous chemical that can be dangerous, especially around small children. After reading up on natural and safe alternatives, I have almost completely done away with bleach when cleaning. (Occasionally, I’ll use a bleach product to clean the toilet bowl or clear a clogged drain). Now, I use distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle for almost all surfaces.

Take a glance around the rest of the room (especially the shower and tub area) and find any other loose items that will get in your way of cleaning. Scoop them up and set them at a far end of the counter or on the floor by the door. It’s also a good idea to replace bathroom towels in this step.

2. Pretreat

Pretreating allows the cleaning chemicals to start taking effect and ensure a cleaner space. Start by spraying the counter, faucets , shower, and tub with the all-purpose cleaner. Next, flush the toilet and treat it with the toilet cleaner and brush (following the toilet cleaner instructions, scrub the inside of the bowl and then let it sit). Also spray the outside of the toilet with all-purpose cleaner.

3. Mirrors, countertops, & sinks

Now it’s time to apply our basic principle: cleanest to dirtiest, top to bottom. Start with the (usually) cleanest and highest area: mirrors. Use the all-purpose cleaner and a cleaning cloth to wipe it down. Work your way down to the countertops, then wipe down the sink, adding more spray if needed. I like to fold my cleaning cloth in half or fourths so that as I go, I can switch to another side and so avoid carrying dirt and grime from one area to another.

4. Shower & tub

If this area isn’t too dirty, use the all-purpose cleaner and cloth. For a heftier clean, use a bleach product or try this handy DIY tile scrub with a sponge. Again, work from top to bottom. Wipe down the shower head and walls, then finish with the tub or shower floor. Using the shower head or a plastic cup, rinse everything down, and finish off with a fresh cloth wipe-down.

5. Toilet

The dreaded toilet clean! But actually, once I learned how to clean one, it wasn’t so intimidating anymore, and it even felt good to finish off a sparkling white porcelain. Using a toilet-only cloth or paper towels, wipe down the entire outside of the toilet, working your way — you guessed it — top to bottom. Next, lift the lid and wipe down the underside, as well as both sides of the seat. Make sure the cloth section you are using is clean, or use paper towels.

Cleaning the Shower Curtain

I never liked seeing the ugly black mold creeping along the bottom of my plastic shower curtain, so I decided to learn how to clean it. I followed the procedure I found in this handy article from the Martha Stewart website — throw the curtain and liner in a cold water machine wash with 1) a few bath towels and 2) a scoop of bleach. It worked like a charm! When I hung the curtain back up to air dry, almost every trace of mold was gone, and the little that was left wiped right off with a rag. The article recommends cleaning a plastic shower curtain once a month and a cloth one once every three months.

Last, give the inside of the bowl another scrub-down with the toilet brush, then flush the toilet again. (Every once in a while, you can clean the toilet brush by soaking it in the toilet bowl for an hour with bleach or toilet cleaner, then letting it air dry).

6. Floor

How you clean the floor is up to you. I usually like to sweep or vacuum first, then wipe down with a Swiffer. But sometimes, especially for a small bathroom, getting on my knees and wiping it down by hand is a quicker and more thorough method. Whichever method you choose, work your way from the back of the room to the front, finishing at the door.

7. Final check

Return the items you cleared away in Step 1, giving them a quick wipe-down if needed. Take a quick glance around to see if you missed any spots that need some cleaning cloth love, and voila! Done! If you’ve used bleach products, keep the windows open for a while to let the room air out.

Hopefully, this sevenfold procedure will help you as much as it’s helped me dispel the stress of bathroom cleaning while also making sure this all-important room serves its cleaning purpose properly!