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How to Clean Your Bathroom: Step-by-Step Guide & Tips
Dirty bathroom? Follow this simple Clorox guide to keep your bathroom fresh, sanitized and sparkling.
Why bathroom cleaning matters
Between soap scum, hard water stains and everyday grime, bathrooms can quickly lose their shine. To tackle dirt and grime buildup from products like toothpaste, soap and shampoo, you’ll need the right bathroom cleaning supplies and solutions designed to tackle the ickiest cleanup jobs.
How often should you clean your bathroom?
A regular bathroom cleaning routine is essential to help prevent buildup and maintain hygiene.
Weekly: Wipe down high-moisture areas like showers, sinks and counters.
Biweekly: Deep clean floors, grout, toilets and tubs.
Monthly: Wash shower curtains, liners and rugs.
Seasonally: Refresh grout, descale fixtures and sanitize storage areas.
Routine cleaning keeps bacteria and odors under control, protects surfaces against stains and can help make everyday cleanup faster and easier over time.
What should I use to clean the bathroom?
Microfiber cloths
Scrub brush or grout brush
Gloves
Bucket or spray bottle
Mop (for floors)
How to clean the bathroom
Door & light switches
Start by disinfecting the high-touch areas that often go unnoticed. Use Clorox™ Disinfecting Wipes on door handles and light switches. This helps to remove fingerprints and bacteria that accumulate from daily use.
Walls
Bathroom walls can trap moisture and soap residue, leading to mold and mildew. Begin by dusting or dry-wiping the walls to remove loose particles. Apply a solution of ⅓ cup Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach per gallon of water and leave wet for 10 minutes.
Sink
Rinse the sink with warm water to loosen debris. Then mix water with Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach right in the sink. Use a scrubber sponge to wipe the sink bowl and the fixtures with the solution. Re-wipe as needed to keep surfaces wet for 6 minutes to disinfect, then wipe clean.
Faucet, counter & mirror
Wipe down faucets, counters and mirrors with Clorox™ Disinfecting Wipes. Wipe in circular motions to remove water spots and fingerprints. Buff dry with a lint-free cloth for a sparkling finish. Learn more about cleaning mirrors and faucets here.
Shower & tub
Remove all items from the shower and tub. Pour ⅓ cup of Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach into 1 gallon of water. This bleach solution works effectively to clean mold stains and mildew stains in shower and bathroom surfaces. Leave wet for 10 minutes, then rinse and let dry.
Shower liner
Remove the liner and inspect for mildew or soap scum. If machine-washable, place it in the washer with warm water, mild detergent and Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach (if bleach-safe). Hang on the curtain rod and let dry.
Check out this how-to article if you have glass shower doors.
Toilet
Apply Clorox™ Toilet Bowl Cleaner with Bleach inside the bowl, under the rim and around the waterline. Scrub and let sit for 10 minutes, then flush.
Tips for cleaning your bathroom with bleach
- Use freshly mixed bleach solutions.
- Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners.
- Wear gloves and ensure good ventilation.
- Check out our bleach dilution chart.
Bleach vs. natural household ingredients: Which cleans better?
| Cleaner | Notes | Disinfects? | Sanitizes? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach | Kills 99.9% of germs, removes mold & mildew* | Yes | Yes |
| Baking soda | Deodorizes, softens slightly | No | No |
| White vinegar | Helps with odor and mineral buildup | No | No |
| Hydrogen peroxide | Mild whitening, partial germ reduction | Partial | Partial |
| Lemon juice | Mild brightening, no germ removal | No | No |
Even if household ingredients are used first, follow with a Clorox disinfecting step to ensure true sanitization.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What should be your first step when cleaning the bathroom?
Start by removing loose debris — hair, lint and dust. This allows your cleaning products to work more effectively. Dry wiping surfaces before applying cleaners helps prevent streaks and ensures better contact with grime and germs.
- What do professional cleaners use to clean bathrooms?
Professionals often rely on EPA-registered disinfectants like Clorox™ Disinfecting Bleach and Clorox™ Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner Spray. These products are trusted for their ability to kill 99.9% of bathroom germs, remove tough stains and leave surfaces sparkling without damage.
- How to get rid of mold in the bathroom?
Use Clorox™ Plus Tilex™ Mold & Mildew Remover with bleach to target mold on walls, grout and shower surfaces. Let the product sit for several minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. For persistent mold, repeat weekly and improve ventilation.
- How to not get products dirty in the bathroom?
Store products in closed cabinets or bins to prevent exposure to moisture and residue. Wipe down bottles and surfaces weekly with Clorox™ Disinfecting Wipes to keep everything clean and organized.
- How to disinfect the bathroom?
A quick surface clean can take 15–20 minutes. A full deep clean—including grout, tub and toilet — may take 45–60 minutes. Using Clorox products helps speed up the process by combining cleaning and disinfecting in one step.
- *
When used as directed on hard, nonporous surfaces