If you just moved into a new apartment or house, one of the first questions you’ll be asking is how to clean the bathroom. This essential deep cleaning will upgrade the space to one you like using.

Cleaning a bathroom well takes time and energy, but the effort pays off—especially if you can do it smartly. 

The best way to clean a bathroom is to split the project up into pieces. You have the shower, perhaps a tub, sinks, surfaces, a toilet, and so on. Each of these areas requires different cleaning techniques and products. In this easy, piecewise guide on bathroom cleaning tips, let us break it all down for you.

How to clean a bathroom shower

We recommend regularly using an anti-mold and mildew spray to keep your shower clean. When you clean regularly, the build-up situation stays under control. But if it’s time for a deep clean, you’ll need to do more intensive work. Start by clearing out any items, like soap, bottles, and razors, from the shower. This is an extra step, but you’ll work faster if you do it. 

Wet the whole shower down as best as you can, using the showerhead or water from a bucket. Wearing rubber gloves, scrub the walls using a shower cleaning solution and sponge or brush. After you’ve finished cleaning the surfaces, rinse the space down again. Use a squeegee to remove excess water and achieve a streak-free finish for glass shower doors. 

Finally, don’t forget to remove any hair or gunk stuck in the shower drain. This isn’t the most pleasant task, so we recommend keeping your gloves on while you do this. 

How to clean bathroom tiles

If your bathroom has tile walls, it may require a bit more work. Luckily, you can clean these tiles easily by sponging around a dish soap and water mixture. You can also use a store-bought product intended specifically for bathroom walls. 

No matter how clean the tiles themselves are, the overall space will still look grimy if the grout between them is dirty. Read up on how to clean grout to perfection with our handy tutorial here. 

How to clean a bathroom ceiling

Many people forget about the bathroom ceiling, which means that, after time, it can become a harrowing place to clean. Bathrooms are full of moisture and bacteria, and mold can grow anywhere, including overhead.  

Like with tiles, a mixture of dish soap and water works well for cleaning ceilings. Use a kitchen ladder or step stool to get as close to the ceiling as possible and sponge away any visible grime and mold. Be sure to use both rubber gloves and a mask for your health and safety. 

Then, disinfect the area with either white vinegar or bleach (never mix the two. This can release a deadly gas). If using bleach, dilute one-quarter cup of it in one quart of water in a spray bottle. If using vinegar, add it directly to the spray bottle. Then, spray the surface with the solution of your choice and let it sit for up to an hour. Finally, use a microfiber cloth to dry the area. When using noxious bleach or acidic vinegar, be sure to keep your gloves and mask on and consider wearing eye protection, especially since droplets can fall on you when you’re cleaning a ceiling.

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How to clean a toilet

When cleaning a toilet, make as minimal contact with the object as possible. Use gloves, sponges, and bathroom scrubber. Try never to touch surfaces directly. 

First, add bowl cleaner to the toilet and let it work as you wipe down the object’s exterior–including the base–with a disinfectant. Don’t miss the crevices of the lid and toilet seat. If you’re using a sponge to clean, it may be handy to have a bucket with a cleaning solution in it nearby so that you can squeeze out the sponge as you work. You don’t want to keep pushing grime around. 

Once the toilet bowl cleaner has had time to work, use the toilet brush to scrub the inside of the bowl clean.

How to clean bathroom sinks

Cleaning a sink is similar to cleaning a shower. First, wipe out any visible grime with a cleaning solution and sponge. Turn the sink on as you work to let hot water drain all of the dirt you’re removing. 

Sinks also benefit from regular cleaning. Keep some disposable disinfecting wipes on hand, and give the sink a quick clean every couple of days. This will remove traces of makeup, soap scum, toothpaste, and dirt. 

Don’t forget to wipe down the faucet. Some disinfectants leave a streaky or pocked finish, so we recommend a simple mixture of soap and water, or a product intended for metals. 

How to clean a bathroom floor

No matter which room of your house you’re cleaning, always leave the floor for last. This way, you’ll be able to pick up any dirt, dust, and liquid that falls on it during the cleaning process. If you start by cleaning the floor, you may have to repeat your work. 

Dilute floor cleaner in a bucket. Then submerge a mop in the solution and begin mopping the floors. Start in a far corner and work towards the door to avoid stepping over your work. Wring out the mop in the bucket frequently, too, so the dirt isn’t just pushed around the floor.

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Before we go, let’s address a final important question: how often should you clean your bathroom? A good rule of thumb is every week. This prevents mineral buildup, mold, and bad odors. If you keep up with the cleaning by wiping down the shower and surfaces on a daily basis, you may be able to squeeze in more time between cleanings. 

Get all the disinfectants you need for a proper bathroom cleaning by ordering from Gopuff. They’ll bring everything right to your door so that you can spend a few more minutes relaxing and reading up on cleaning hacks before your big bathroom project.