Keeping your bathroom clean should be a top priority, as it is one of the most frequently used rooms in your home and can harbor lots of germs if not properly disinfected. However, busy schedules and bathroom messes that accumulate over time can make it easy to overlook certain areas.
To help you get your bathroom sparkling from top to bottom, we’ve compiled insight from cleaning pros on the 7 most commonly missed areas and how to clean them properly. With their tips, you’ll be able to tackle every nook and cranny for a bathroom that looks and feels fresh.
1. Inside the Toilet Bowl
The toilet bowl tends to need some extra attention beyond the quick brushing you give it. Over time, staining, grime, and bacteria can build up, especially under the rim.
To really deep clean your toilet bowl:
- Scrub under the rim – Use a toilet brush or old toothbrush to scrub the hard-to-reach crevice under the outer rim. This removes built-up grime and bacteria.
- Use a pumice stone – Rub a pumice stone inside the bowl to remove stubborn stains and rings. The abrasive texture helps scrub away discoloration.
- Clean with bleach or other disinfectants – Pour a bleach-based cleaner or other disinfecting gel into the bowl. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing and flushing. This kills germs and breaks up grime.
- Flush hot water – After cleaning, flush the toilet a few times with hot water, which helps rinse away any residual cleaning product or grime.
Regularly cleaning the often overlooked toilet bowl prevents stains and leaves you with a pristine, germ-free throne.
2. Toilet Tank and Base
Out of sight, out of mind! The tank and back of your toilet hide areas that need occasional scrubbing.
Here are tips for sprucing up the toilet tank and base:
- Scrub the tank’s interior – Open the tank and use a toilet brush or old toothbrush to scrub the sides and bottom. This removes any grime and bacteria buildup.
- Clean the chain and flapper – While the tank is open, wipe down the chain and flapper with a cloth. Mineral deposits and grime can keep these parts from functioning properly.
- Disinfect the exterior – Spray the tank and base with a bathroom disinfecting cleaner. Let it sit briefly before wiping down with a clean cloth.
- Get behind the toilet – Pull the toilet away from the wall to clean grime that has built up on the tank and base. Use a cloth and bathroom cleaner for any hidden messes.
Giving attention to the often neglected toilet tank and base keeps everything functioning optimally and improves the overall cleanliness of your bathroom.
3. Inside of Cabinets and Drawers
The inside of your bathroom cabinets and drawers probably don’t get cleaned as often as they should. But these spaces can collect dust, hair, and other icky buildup over time.
Here’s how to give them a deep clean:
- Take everything out – Remove all contents from cabinets and drawers so you can fully access all the interior surfaces.
- Vacuum and dust – Use your vacuum attachment and a microfiber cloth to remove built-up dust and hair inside each cabinet and drawer.
- Disinfect surfaces – Spray or wipe bathroom disinfectant over the bottom and sides of cabinets and drawers to kill germs. Avoid wood surfaces if using bleach products.
- Clean racks and organizers – Remove any racks, organizers, or trays to clean separately. Soap scum and grime often collects in these removable components.
- Rinse and dry – Use a clean damp cloth to rinse cabinets and drawers after disinfecting. Let air dry fully before replacing contents.
Giving the neglected interiors of your bathroom storage a periodic deep cleaning keeps them free of unsightly buildup and germs.
4. Exhaust Fan and Vents
Is your bathroom exhaust fan working properly or is the air still feeling humid and heavy after a shower? Grime and dust buildup in the fan and connecting vents can reduce airflow.
Here’s how to clean them for optimal performance:
- Turn off power – Turn off power to the fan at your electrical panel to prevent shock while cleaning.
- Remove cover – Take off the fan’s cover so you can access the fan blades underneath.
- Clean blades – Wipe the exhaust fan blades with a cloth dampened with an all-purpose cleaner. Spin the blades to clean both sides.
- Remove dust from vent – Use a duster or vacuum crevice tool to extract built-up dust from the duct leading outside.
- Clean cover – Clean the fan cover you removed earlier with an all-purpose cleaner and let air dry.
- Replace cover and restore power – Once fully dry, replace the cleaned fan cover and turn power back on at the electrical panel.
Regularly removing accumulated dust, grime, and debris from your bathroom fan and vents maximizes air flow for humidity and odor control.
5. Window Tracks and Glass
When tackling busy bathrooms, it’s easy to overlook the windows. But cleaning window tracks and glass should be part of your regular bathroom cleaning routine.
Here are some tips for getting them spotless:
- Vacuum tracks – Use your vacuum crevice tool to suck up dust, dirt, and debris accumulated in window tracks.
- Clean with all-purpose cleaner – Spray an all-purpose cleaner onto tracks and wipe away grime with a cloth. Q-tips help get into small spaces.
- Clean window glass – Use glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth designed for windows to clean the glass inside and out. Wipe in light, circular motions.
- Remove hard water stains – For stubborn hard water stains on glass, use equal parts white vinegar and water. Wipe on and let sit briefly before rinsing.
- Prevent future buildup – After cleaning, consider applying a silicone-based lubricant to window tracks to prevent future dirt accumulation.
Putting window tracks and glass on your cleaning checklist keeps your bathroom bright with streak-free windows.
6. Walls, Baseboards, and Moldings
It’s easy for bathroom walls, baseboards, and moldings to get overlooked when cleaning. But standing water, humidity, and everyday messes can soil and damage them over time.
Here’s how to get these bathroom surfaces clean and keep them looking fresh:
- Check for damage – Look for any mildew, peeled paint or caulk, or other damage on walls that may need repairing after cleaning.
- Clean walls – Wipe bathroom walls down using a cleaner suited for the wall material. Avoid harsh cleaners on painted or papered walls.
- Scrub baseboards – Use an old toothbrush and bathroom cleaner to scrub grime off of baseboards. Rinse with clean water afterwards.
- Dust corners and moldings – Use a dry microfiber cloth or duster to dust all hard-to-reach corners, crevices, and moldings.
- Spot clean – Spot clean any stubborn dirt or stains on walls and baseboards with a cleaning toothbrush or magic eraser.
Giving attention to bathroom walls, baseboards, and moldings during cleaning removes grime buildup and keeps these surfaces looking their best.
7. Under the Edge of Rugs
It may come as a surprise, but even bathroom rugs need regular cleaning underneath! Mildew and built-up grime can fester under bathroom mats and rugs if not actively cleaned.
To keep them fresh:
- Vacuum regularly – Routinely vacuum bathroom rug surfaces to prevent dirt and debris from getting tracked underneath.
- Lift and clean – Lift up bathroom rugs and use an all-purpose cleaner to scrub the flooring underneath. This removes any buildup.
- Disinfect – After scrubbing, disinfect the floor underneath your bathroom rug using a cleaner suitable for the floor type.
- Let dry – Allow flooring to dry completely before placing rugs back down in their original spots.
- Rotate rugs – Consider rotating the position of bathroom rugs to evenly distribute wear and allow floors to get equal air circulation.
By actively cleaning and rotating your bathroom rugs, you’ll prevent gross grime and mildew from building up in forgotten places.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cleaning a Bathroom
Cleaning the bathroom thoroughly often raises questions about the best practices. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
How often should you deep clean a bathroom?
Most pros recommend doing a thorough deep cleaning of your entire bathroom every 1-2 months. This involves cleaning the often forgotten areas like those covered above. For daily and weekly bathroom cleaning, focus on surfaces like counters, sinks, mirrors, and toilets.
What’s the best way to clean bathroom grout?
For dirty, stained grout, mix equal parts baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Apply the paste and let it bubble and sit on the grout for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing and rinsing. The combination helps brighten and whiten discolored grout.
What should you not mix when cleaning a bathroom?
Never mix bleach and ammonia-based cleaners together, as this creates toxic vapors. Also avoid mixing bleach with other acids like vinegar. Always read labels and exercise caution.
How do you sanitize bathroom surfaces?
To kill germs and bacteria, clean bathroom surfaces using a disinfectant cleaner containing chlorine bleach or other EPA-registered antimicrobial ingredients. Let the disinfectant sit visibly wet on surfaces for the product’s recommended contact time before wiping.
What is a quick way to clean a bathroom?
For a speedy bathroom touch-up, spray down surfaces with an all-purpose bathroom cleaner. Focus on counters, sinks, faucets, mirrors, and toilet exteriors. Let sit briefly before wiping clean with a cloth. Also do a quick once-over with the toilet brush.
Should you clean a bathroom before or after showering?
It’s best to clean your bathroom after showering or bathing when surfaces are still warm and wet. Heat helps cut through built-up grime, and moisture prevents cleaner residues from streaking onto dry surfaces.
Conclusion
Thoroughly cleaning a bathroom takes a little extra focus on often neglected spots we covered, like inside the toilet bowl, behind appliances, exhaust fans, window tracks, baseboards, and under rugs. But putting in the extra effort provides huge payoff through a cleaner, healthier bathroom environment.
We hope these tips from the pros help you tackle every last corner and crevice next time your bathroom needs a deep clean! Just take it step-by-step, use the right cleaning tools and products, and get into those habitually forgotten areas. With a routine that covers every surface, you can keep your bathrooms pristine.