The Complete Bathroom Cleaning Checklist

A guide on what to clean and how often to pay attention to the dirtiest room in your house.

Leslie Corona is the Associate Home Director at Realsimple.com. She has been styling, organizing, writing, and reporting on all things in the home space for a decade. She was previously at Good Housekeeping, HGTV Magazine, and Parents. She has shared her expertise on the TODAY show, Cheddar, and local television news outlets.

Like the kitchen, the bathroom is one of the most highly-used areas in your home. So much happens in the bathroom, from brushing your teeth and taking a shower to applying makeup and brushing your hair, so extra care and attention must be paid when cleaning this room. But what items need to be cleaned and how often? Keep reading for a complete bathroom cleaning checklist that details exactly what you need to clean and when.

Daily Bathroom Cleaning

There are certain areas of your bathroom that need a quick spruce-up every day, such as wiping up spills on the counter. These daily tasks should only take a few minutes and will come as second nature in no time.

Wipe down counters

Wipe your bathroom counters with a microfiber cloth every day to clean up water droplets, makeup, hair, and toothpaste that you may have missed. For a more thorough cleaning, use a surface cleaner and a clean cloth.

Wipe the faucet and fixtures

Use a cloth spritzed with cleaner and wipe the sink and shower fixtures after every use. Buff with a clean cloth to avoid streaks.

Change hand towels

Your bathroom hand towels should be changed at the end of every day. (You can change bath towels after 3 or 4 uses.) Make sure all towels are correctly hung and not left on the counter or floor throughout the day.

Weekly Bathroom Cleaning

You'd be surprised how much scum, gunk, dust, and hard water stains can build up in a week. Pick a day for these tasks and stick to it to get into a routine. Here's what to clean weekly to keep your bathroom in working order.

Disinfect the toilet

Scrub both the inside and the outside. Or toss two antacid tablets into the bowl, let them dissolve for 20 minutes, then brush stains away with a toilet brush.

Scrub the sink and drain

Wipe the sink and the vanity top with a damp cloth and dishwashing liquid or cleaner. Rinse completely and go over the area a second time. Scrub the drain with a toothbrush and scrape buildup from the joints between the sink and the counter with the edge of an old credit card.

Hair and soap scum can easily build up in sink and shower drains. To unclog a drain, pour boiling water into the drain to flush it. For a more thorough cleaning once a month, add one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar down the drain, let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes, and then flush with boiling water.

Clean the tub and shower

Spray with the bathroom cleaner and scrub the walls and the basin in a circular motion from top to bottom. Spray the entire area with plain water to rinse off the cleaner, and wipe it down again with a damp cloth.

Mop the floor

Using a sponge and cleaner diluted in water, start from the farthest corner of the room and work toward the door, going left to right. Dip a mop into the bucket of cleaner, wring it out, and push it over a manageable section of the floor. Then, dip the mop into a pail of clean water, wring it out, and mop the section again.

Shine the mirror

Spritz a cloth with glass cleaner or dip it in dishwashing liquid and water.

Dust baseboards and light fixtures

Just because the bathroom tends to be the most humid room in the house doesn't mean that dust doesn't build up. Remove loose dirt, dust, and hair from baseboards with a vacuum brush attachment, followed by a good clean with a soapy mixture and cloth. For light fixtures, warm, soapy water and a clean cloth should do the trick. Make sure the lights are off and the fixture is not hot prior to wiping it. Let dry completely before turning the electricity back on.

Monthly Bathroom Cleaning

Certain areas of your bathroom, some of which you may not even think to clean, can benefit from a good cleaning once a month. Be sure to add the items below to your monthly cleaning roster—and pick the same day each month to remember (like the second Saturday).

Clean the cabinets

Lightly dampen a cloth with water and cleaner, and work in the direction of the grain, from top to bottom. Rinse and repeat. Polish the knobs. Empty the contents, placing them on the counter, then mist the interior walls and the shelves with cleaner and wipe with a cloth. Scrub any dirty areas with a toothbrush.

Clean the waste basket

Spray both the inside and the outside of the wastebasket with all-purpose cleaner, and wipe it down with a cloth.

Wash bath rugs and mats

Toss your bath rugs and mats in the wash once a month, and spot clean when a spill happens. Be sure the rug is fully dried (check the label if it can be put in the dryer or if it should air dry) before replacing it to prevent mildew.

Clean the shower curtain and liner

To prevent mildew, soap scum, and mold, clean your shower curtain and liner with a bathroom cleanser meant to treat this type of buildup. After six months, the liner should be replaced with a new one.

Wipe down the shower rods and rings

Use a dampened cloth and dishwashing liquid to clean the shower rod. Dust can build up, preventing the rings from moving smoothly. To clean the rings, allow them to soak in a solution of equal parts warm water and vinegar.

Yearly Bathroom Cleaning

We tend to forget about the parts of a bathroom that aren't visible, but that doesn't mean they don't need a good checkup. These are the areas of your bathroom to clean and provide a safety check to once a year, by yourself or a professional.

Unclog the air vents

Thoroughly dust or vacuum air vents with a brush attachment, making sure the bathroom is well-ventilated while cleaning.

Clean out medicine cabinet contents

Empty the contents and go through any medicine, toiletries, creams, and ointments, or items that are no longer functional. Check the expiration dates and safely dispose of any medication.

Clean the exhaust fan

Your bathroom exhaust fan works very hard at keeping excessive moisture, humidity, and odors at bay, as well as other pollutants that can be harmful to your health. While it should be properly maintained throughout the year, a bathroom exhaust fan should receive a deep cleaning at least once a year. You can clean the fan (cover, fan blades, motor, and housing) yourself or have a professional detail it for you.

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