Bathroom Cleaning Checklist

A sparkling, germ-free bathroom — without harsh fumes or damaged finishes. A bathroom is the one room that needs to be properly clean, not just tidy — but it doesn’t need to take an hour or smell like a chemical factory. With the right order (top to bottom, driest to dirtiest) and the right dwell time, a full bathroom clean takes 20-30 minutes, or 45-60 minutes for a deep clean.

Quick facts: Full clean 20-30 minutes, deep clean 45-60 minutes, daily wipe 2-3 minutes. Always clean top to bottom, driest to dirtiest: mirrors and shelves first, then sink, then shower/bath, then toilet, then floor last. Spray your shower and toilet cleaners on first so they can dwell while you clean everything else.

Safety — Please Read First

• NEVER mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or any other cleaner — the fumes can seriously injure you. Use one product at a time and rinse between products.
• Ventilate: open the window or switch the extractor fan on before spraying, and keep it running for 20-30 minutes afterwards.
• Wear rubber gloves, especially for the toilet and for any bleach or mould treatment.
• NEVER use vinegar, lemon, or acidic cleaners on natural stone (marble, granite, travertine, limestone) — acid etches stone permanently. Use a pH-neutral stone cleaner instead.
• Test first: on coloured grout, painted surfaces, or an unfamiliar finish, dab cleaner on a hidden spot, wait 10 minutes, and check for damage.
• Use a separate cloth for the toilet — never the same cloth on the sink or mirror afterwards.
• Do not leave strong acids or bleach sitting on chrome or brushed nickel — wipe off promptly to avoid dulling.

What You Will Need

• Rubber gloves
• Microfibre cloths (at least 3: one for toilet, one for sink/mirror, one for shower/bath)
• Old toothbrush for grout and tight corners
• Toilet brush and spray bottle
• Squeegee for shower glass
• All-purpose bathroom cleaner, or: baking soda, distilled white vinegar (5%), mild dish soap, 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Mop or large cloth for the floor
• Baking soda — about 1/2 cup per clean

Step 1 — Declutter and Prep (2 minutes)

Remove everything from the sink counter, bath edge, and shower caddy; shake out the bath mat and hang it up; toss towels in the laundry basket. Empty the bin and replace the liner. Spray shower walls, bath, and tiles with bathroom cleaner (or 1:1 white vinegar and water — 1 cup / 240 ml of each — on ceramic and porcelain only, never on natural stone). Leave to dwell 10-15 minutes. Spray inside the toilet bowl with toilet cleaner or 1 cup (240 ml) of white vinegar. Leave to dwell 10-15 minutes.

Step 2 — Mirrors and Shelves (3 minutes)

Spray mirror cleaner — or 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water — onto a microfibre cloth, never directly onto the mirror (spray can seep behind the glass and damage the backing). Wipe in a zig-zag pattern, top to bottom, then buff dry with a second dry cloth for a streak-free shine. Wipe shelves, medicine cabinet front, and light fixtures with a damp microfibre cloth. Dry chrome fixtures immediately to prevent water spots.

Step 3 — Sink, Taps, and Counter (5 minutes)

Clear hair and debris from the sink and plughole. Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda into the basin and scrub with a damp cloth. For stubborn marks around taps, make a paste of 3 tablespoons baking soda + 1 tablespoon water, apply, leave 10 minutes, scrub and rinse. For limescale on taps: wrap a vinegar-soaked cloth around the tap for 20-30 minutes (ceramic and chrome only — never on natural stone or brass), then wipe clean and dry. Wipe the counter, soap dish, and toothbrush holder with a damp cloth and a drop of dish soap. Rinse and dry. Polish taps dry with a microfibre cloth.

Step 4 — Shower and Bath (8-10 minutes)

Scrub shower walls, tiles, and bath with a non-scratch sponge or brush, working top to bottom (your spray has now dwelled 10-15 minutes). For grout lines: scrub with a paste of 3 tablespoons baking soda + 1 tablespoon water and an old toothbrush. For mouldy grout, dab 3% hydrogen peroxide on the grout, leave 10-15 minutes, scrub, and rinse. Never mix peroxide with vinegar in the same step. Rinse everything thoroughly with warm water. Squeegee shower glass and tiles dry (30 seconds — prevents most future soap scum). Clean the showerhead: if removable, soak in 1 cup vinegar + 1 cup water for 30-60 minutes; if fixed, tie a bag of the same mix around it for 1 hour, then run the shower 1-2 minutes to flush. Wipe the bath edge, shower caddy, and plug chain dry, and put everything back neatly.

Step 5 — Toilet (5 minutes)

Scrub inside the bowl thoroughly with the toilet brush, including under the rim, then flush. Wipe the seat (top and underside), lid, hinges, cistern, and base with a disinfectant cloth or a cloth dampened with bathroom cleaner — a separate cloth from the sink/mirror one. For a stained bowl: sprinkle 1/2 cup baking soda into the bowl, add 1 cup (240 ml) white vinegar, let it fizz 10 minutes, scrub, and flush. Never use this fizzing mix together with bleach. Wipe the flush handle or button and the toilet roll holder. Rinse the toilet brush holder once a month.

Step 6 — Floor (3-5 minutes)

Sweep or vacuum the floor, including corners, behind the toilet base, and under the sink pedestal. Mop with warm water and 1 teaspoon of dish soap per 4 litres of water, or your usual floor cleaner. Wring the mop well — a soaking floor takes ages to dry and invites mould. Pay extra attention to floor grout lines and the area around the toilet base. Dry the floor with an old towel or let it air-dry with the fan running before putting the bath mat back.

Step 7 — Finishing Touches (2 minutes)

Put out fresh hand towels and a clean bath mat. Replace the toilet roll if needed and restock soap and empty bottles. Give the mirror one last buff if you see streaks. Leave the door open or the fan running for 20-30 minutes so the room dries fully — a damp bathroom grows mould fast.

How Often?

Daily (2-3 minutes): wipe sink and taps dry after last use; squeegee shower glass after showering; hang towels up to dry; quick wipe of toilet seat if splashed.

Weekly (20-30 minutes): the full checklist above — mirrors, sink, shower/bath, toilet, floor; change hand towels and bath mat; empty and wipe the bin.

Monthly (add 15-20 minutes): deep-clean grout and the showerhead; clean extractor fan cover and light fittings; wash the shower curtain or liner (replace a plastic liner every 6-12 months); clean behind/under toilet base and sink pedestal; check silicone sealant for black spots or peeling.

Every 3-6 months: re-seal grout if water no longer beads on it; replace the toilet brush; check for leaks under the sink and around the bath seal.

What NOT to Do

• Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia, or toilet cleaner.
• Never use vinegar, lemon, or descaler on marble, granite, travertine, or limestone.
• Never use abrasive scouring pads or steel wool on acrylic baths, fibreglass, chrome, or enamel.
• Never pour boiling water into a cold porcelain toilet or onto an acrylic bath — thermal shock can crack porcelain and warp acrylic.
• Never spray cleaner directly onto mirrors, light fittings, or electrical switches.
• Never use the same cloth on the toilet and then on the sink or mirror.
• Never leave the room damp with the door shut — moisture is what mould needs to grow.
• Never ignore a musty smell or a black spot on grout or sealant — mould spreads behind tiles if left alone.

Tick-Off Checklist

• ☐ Room decluttered — counters, bath edge, and shower caddy cleared
• ☐ Bin emptied and relined
• ☐ Shower/bath spray applied and left to dwell 10-15 minutes
• ☐ Toilet cleaner or vinegar applied inside the bowl, left 10-15 minutes
• ☐ Mirrors cleaned and buffed streak-free (spray on cloth, not on glass)
• ☐ Shelves, cabinet fronts, and light fixtures wiped
• ☐ Sink scrubbed with baking soda; taps descaled and polished dry
• ☐ Counter, soap dish, and toothbrush holder wiped and dried
• ☐ Shower walls, tiles, and bath scrubbed top to bottom and rinsed
• ☐ Grout scrubbed with baking soda paste (or peroxide for mould, 10-15 minutes)
• ☐ Shower glass and tiles squeegeed dry
• ☐ Showerhead descaled (soak or bag method, 30-60 minutes)
• ☐ Toilet bowl scrubbed under the rim and flushed
• ☐ Toilet seat, lid, hinges, cistern, and base wiped with a separate cloth
• ☐ Floor swept/vacuumed, including corners and behind the toilet
• ☐ Floor mopped (1 tsp dish soap per 4 litres) and left to dry
• ☐ Fresh towels and bath mat put out; soap and toilet roll restocked
• ☐ Room left ventilated for 20-30 minutes until fully dry
• ☐ No bleach mixed with vinegar or ammonia; no vinegar used on natural stone

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