Your Ultimate Bathroom Deep Cleaning Checklist

Now with more bonus chores for maximum cleanliness!

Cleaning the bathroom might be one of the least glamorous things one can do. It’s never on the top of anyone’s list of favorite activities. And, while most would say the kitchen is the most used room in the house, the john is certainly the most abused room in the house.

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It’s time to shed that narrative and embrace the humbling task of maintaining a spotless, germ-free bathroom. Not only is regular bathroom cleaning a healthy practice, but the more often you do it, the more these simple chores will become ingrained in your routine and the inevitable deep clean won’t be such an intimidating and colossal task. Some casual, weekly bathroom upkeep goes a long, long way.

Follow our comprehensive bathroom cleaning checklist, including all the tools you’ll need to get the job done right AND the order in which we recommend attacking everything. Believe us, it does make a difference.

Gather supplies:

Clean rags, paper towel, or sponge
Rubber gloves (optional, but will definitely earn you style points)
Stiff bristled brush
Glass cleaner
Microban 24 Bathroom Cleaner
Toilet brush + toilet bowl cleaner
Swiffer Sweeper + Swiffer Wetjet
Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
Multi-purpose cleaning spray (or mix baking soda + water to DIY cleaning solution)
Vacuum

Chore hack: By keeping all of your cleaning supplies together in a bucket or caddy, you’ll radically cut down your cleaning time by eliminating the “gathering of the cleaning products” portion of the task, which can be daunting or distracting.

Step 1: Prep and declutter the bathroom

  • Remove all items from the bathroom counter, shelves, and ledges.
  • Shake out the bath mats and remove them from the floor (if you’re feeling thorough, vacuum mats and throw them in the washing machine on the hot cycle)
  • Move the wastebasket and any other items that sit on your bathroom floor to make the space accessible to sweep/mop.

Step 2: Dust from the top down

  • Dust ceiling fan and vents with a dry rag, or vacuum cleaner detachment (feel free to use compressed air cleaner if you really want to get in there)
  • Wipe off all ledges, windowsills, and shelves with a dry rag

Step 3: Wipe all bathroom surfaces with a wet, soapy rag or spray multi-purpose cleaner on the following items, let sit and then wipe residue with a clean, wet rag

  • Fan blades
  • Vents (careful not to get interior of vents wet)
  • Sink bowl + faucets
  • Walls
  • Light switches
  • Countertops (don’t forget to get under those overhanging ledges!)
  • Showerhead, faucets, and handles
  • Shelves
  • Back of the toilet
  • Toilet flusher handle and any random attachments
  • Toilet seat
  • Underneath/exterior of toilet bowl

Step 4: Scrub the tough spots (hint: anything water regularly touches)

  • Use a bleach/water combo (about ¾ cup bleach to a gallon of water), disinfectant spray, or DIY baking soda solution on your tile and grout shower walls and/or shower floor to scrub away any visible mildew, mold, or discoloration
  • Wipe your porcelain tub with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath. It works great on hard soap scum.
  • Use a wet soapy rag to wipe down shower curtain, rod and rings to get rid of soap residue or mineral build-up
  • Scrub toilet bowl with cleaner and toilet brush, being sure to get beneath the seat
  • Using multi-purpose cleaner or DIY baking soda scrub, thoroughly scrub sink bowl, drain, and faucet.

Step 5: Shine all glass or reflective surfaces

  • Using glass cleaner and paper towel to wipe off all windows, mirrors, glass surfaces, and doorknobs
  • Spray inside and outside of shower doors with glass cleaner and wipe clean

Step 6: Vacuum and mop floor

  • Use your Swiffer Sweeper or a vacuum to collect all loose hair and dust from the floor.
  • Finish mopping your floor with your Swiffer Wetjet. It’s cleaning solution lifts dirt and grime off the floor and locks it into the WetJet pad so you’re not spreading it around.

Step 7: Sanitize and disinfect all surfaces

  • Spray disinfectant such as Microban 24 Bathroom Cleaner. Just spray and walk away – it protects against bacteria for up to 24 hours.*
    Use on hard, non-porous surfaces like:
    • Countertops
    • Shower stalls
    • Bathtubs
    • Toilet exteriors
    • Sink basins
    • Faucets
    • Handles
    • Doorknobs

Bonus Chores (should be completed monthly):

  • Unclog the drains, if necessary.
  • Sanitize the toilet brush.
  • Soak your showerhead overnight in a 50/50 vinegar/hot water solution.
  • Clean out and wipe down your medicine cabinet, discarding expired items.
  • Make sure you’ve restocked the hand soap.
  • Launder bathroom towels.
  • Toss soggy bath mats in the washing machine.
  • Throw your toothbrush caddy and soap dish in the dishwasher.
  • Sanitize your makeup and makeup brushes.

Click here to download your Bathroom Cleaning Checklist!

*When used as directed, effective for 24 hours against Staphylococcus aureus & Enterobacter aerogenes bacteria. Microban 24 does not provide 24-hour residual virus protection.

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