Angela Brown’s Simple Bathroom Cleaning Ideas

The bathroom is one of the most popular rooms in every home. People use it around the clock, which is why keeping it clean is important. We reached out to Angela Brown, CEO of Savvy Cleaner Training and a professional house cleaner of 25 years, for simple bathroom cleaning ideas anyone can do.

“People most often use three things in the bathroom: the shower, the toilet, and the sink,” says Brown. “Taking care of these main areas will make your bathroom time more enjoyable and improve the resale value of your home.”

Homes often have multiple bathrooms

Most homes have a master bathroom and a family bathroom on each floor. Some homes have even more depending on their size. Because homes have many bathrooms, every family member must maintain the bathrooms they use as they use them. Staying on top of the maintenance makes cleaning them quick and easy.

General bathroom cleaning

Angela Brown’s first rule for keeping the overall appearance of a bathroom clean is the one-touch rule. “Only touch an item once. If you use a towel after taking a shower, you’re touching it. When you’re done with it, hang it up to dry or put it in the laundry bin.” This rule prevents the need for anyone to pick it up off the floor or touch it a second time. 

This also applies to clothes. If you change outfits in the bathroom, fold your clothes and hang them up to avoid messes piling up. The one-touch rule is a simple habit that every family member can use.

Use over-the-door hangers

Try using over-the-door hangers on bathroom and bedroom closet doors. This allows for easy access to robes, towels, and other everyday laundry items. Hanging things up lets them dry and frees up floor space.

Shower cleaning tips

Cleaning your shower and tub after each use is an essential simple bathroom idea. Hose the walls down after each use. Water splashes higher on the walls when you take a shower compared to in a tub while taking a bath. Shampoo and soap also build up quickly, so rinse it out after each use.

Brown recommends using a showerhead on a removable hose so you can easily clean up after a shower. This will keep the walls clean and the need for chemical cleaning to a minimum.

Soap scum on shower glass

Unsightly and unsanitary soap residue builds up on even the cleanest showers. Brown suggests keeping a nylon scrub sponge and squeegees along with a small dish soap container. Here are the three steps to cleaning soap scum:

1. At the end of a shower, use a bit of dish soap on a nylon scrub sponge. Dish soap cleans the thickest of the gunk without scratching the glass and will remove all soap scum and protein build-up.
2. Rinse the shower glass to remove the gunk and dish soap.
3. Squeegee the glass dry with the other side of your squeegee and sponge combo.

Following these three simple steps after each shower will keep the showers gleaming and inviting for subsequent use.

Cleaning the grout in the shower walls and floors

“The grout in showers can be tricky to clean,” says Angela Brown. “This is because grout is porous like cement and can absorb soap, hair dye, and body proteins. Be sure to seal the grout annually – otherwise, it can get dirty or moldy in a hurry.”

Brown recommends cleaning the grout at least twice a month with a scrub brush. “The key is maintenance,” she says. “So when you sell your home, you don’t have to do major bathroom renovations like ripping out tiles, removing mold, and replacing grout.”

How to clean a toilet

The toilet is another bathroom area that needs constant care because of its frequent use. Break toilet cleaning down into five parts:

• The toilet tank and exterior
• The toilet bowls
• The toilet base
• Baseboards
• The floor around the toilet 

Cleaning the toilet tank and exterior

Don’t forget any areas here. Most notably, clean the flush handle, toilet tank, behind the toilet seat, the toilet seat, and the exterior of the toilet bowl.

A toilet’s exterior is coated in a porcelain or ceramic glaze, which you can easily spray with disinfectant and wipe down with a paper towel. Clean the toilet tank and exterior at least once to twice weekly — more frequently if needed.

Daily cleaning inside the toilet bowl

Clean the inside of the toilet bowl every day. To do this, Brown recommends keeping a toilet brush next to the toilet for easy access. Three rounds with a toilet brush around the water line will help prevent toilet bowl rings. Scrub the bottom and top of the toilet bowl as well. 

As you flush the toilet, rinse the toilet brush in clean water and sandwich the brush between the toilet rim and toilet seat. This allows the brush to drip dry, so the toilet brush is clean for the next cleaning. 

Cleaning the toilet base, baseboards, and floor

“Clean the base of the toilet at least once per week, more frequently if needed,” says Angela Brown. “The base is the hardest part to clean because you need to get down on your knees to reach behind the toilet.” 

To clean it, spray around the toilet’s base with disinfectant, let it sit, and wipe it down with paper towels. Make sure to get all of the nooks and crannies as well. Mops and vacuums can’t generally reach behind the toilet, so using your hands is the best option.

How to clean sinks, mirrors, and countertops

People use the bathroom sink for all sorts of purposes, including washing hands, brushing teeth, washing down bits of makeup, soap residue, and more. Brown recommends having a clean cloth on hand before using the sink to clean up afterward easily.

Clean the mirror first

Before cleaning anything, do your hygiene routine. Then:

1. Take a cloth and dampen a corner with clean water.
2. Wipe down the mirror, removing hairspray, toothpaste splatters, soap, and other spots.
3. Rinse the cloth and squeeze out any excess water to prepare it for the next step.

Wipe down cosmetics

Using the same cloth, wipe down your hygiene items, especially toothbrushes and their plugin base or container. Wipe down makeup jars, face creams, soap containers, and anything else you may have touched with soapy or sticky fingers. This process takes less than a minute and helps keep your bathroom looking pristine. 

Tackle the countertop

Now that you’ve cleared your hygiene products off the countertop rinse your cloth and wipe down the countertop, pushing any leftover residue into the sink. Next, use the clean side of the cloth to wipe down the cabinets below the counter. Check for spilled soap, toothpaste, and water. 

Finally, the sink

Rinse out your cloth again and squeeze out excess water. Angela Brown recommends storing a pump bottle of dish soap beside the faucet for easy cleaning. Add a drop of dish soap to your cloth and wipe down the handles and head of the sink faucet. The soap is gentle enough that it won’t harm your sink and strong enough to act as a degreaser, removing any residue on the faucet knobs.

While you still have soap on your cloth, wipe the inside of the sink bowl to remove any toothpaste, makeup, or other residues. Rinse your cloth one last time and wipe the soap off the faucets and the inside of the sink.

Cleaning the sink every morning and evening keeps the bathroom clean and inviting for the next use.

Cleaning the garden tub

Many homes still have big 60-to-80-gallon tubs that people rarely use. “Garden tubs still collect dust,” says Angela Brown, “and they need to be dusted at least once a week. Dusting can be as simple as using an extension pole or a vacuum hose with a soft brush attachment.” Dusting the tub helps keep the tub free from towel fibers and flyaway hair.

How often should you clean the bathroom floor?

Because people often walk on the floor barefoot, keeping it clean is essential. Clean the bathroom floor twice to three times weekly to remove hair and dust. Brown recommends steam-mopping the bathroom floor at least once a week. A steam mop eliminates germs and removes sticky residue from hair products.

Wash your bath and shower mats weekly and either hang them up to air dry or add them to the dryer on a low-heat cycle.

Bathroom deep cleaning checklist

Other items to keep in mind for deeper cleanings are: 

• Windows
• Window ledges
• Blinds 
• Valances or curtains 
• Linen closets 
• Shelves
• Drawers
• Random other knick-knacks and products

A clean bathroom sets the tone for your day or night

Angela Brown believes everyone deserves a clean bathroom because it sets the tone for the day or night. “A clean bathroom is welcoming when you get home from a long day and are getting ready for bed. Since you cleaned the bathroom earlier, it only takes a minute here and there to maintain,” says Brown. “You’ll sleep easy knowing your bathroom is clean. And when you wake up the next day, your bathroom will be clean, fresh, and set a positive tone for your day.”