Uncover 21 of the best bathroom cleaning tips with our essential guide and expert commentary.
What we’ll cover…
- The use of borax, baking soda and salt as a mild abrasive cleaner
- White vinegar application for the removal of limescale and soap scum
- Placement of baking soda around the bathroom to absorb odours
- Cleaning mirrors using vinegar and soft cloths to avoid scratching the surface
- Using baking soda to scrub vinyl shower curtains before rinsing thoroughly
- Restoring shower screen shine with extended vinegar application
- Creating a paste from baking soda and water to gently tackle sinks and bathtubs
- Pouring baking soda down drains on a weekly basis to dissolve grease and stop clogs
- The maintenance of key cleaning tools such as combs, cloths and sponges
- Utilising natural, non-toxic ingredients to create effective, eco-friendly cleaning solutions
How To Clean a Bathroom
The bathroom is one of the filthiest rooms in the home and requires extra attention when it comes to cleaning. Our bathroom experts here at Big Bathroom Shop have been busy researching high and low to offer you the best bathroom cleaning tips that will ensure your bathroom is guest ready all year round.
Better yet, our findings show that you don’t have to rely on expensive cleaning products to keep the dirt and grime at bay. From natural cleaning remedies to deep clean hacks, we have all the natural cleaning advice you need in one easy to read article.
For the most of us cleaning your bathroom is a pretty mundane task, but there are those that find it therapeutic. Whichever category you fall in, get your favourite Spotify playlist at the ready and give your bathroom the best deep clean of its life.
Giving your bathroom a weekly clean is essential to the hygiene of your home. Set yourself a day/ afternoon to give your bathroom the attention it needs to avoid unnecessary dirt build up.
Tackle Limescale
Limescale builds up over time so it’s extremely important to clean your bathroom products regularly to avoid any nasty build up.
Dried limescale deposits tend to build up more around taps and shower systems. The best way to remove limescale is by soaking a cloth in a solution of white vinegar and warm water (half white vinegar half water). Submerge the cloth in the solution and then wrap around the tap/shower and leave for a minimum of 2 hours.
Rinse with warm soapy water and wipe away the remainder of the limescale debris.
Remember to blot dry with a microfibre cloth to avoid splash marks.
If there is still traces of limescale pick up a descaling product and follow the instructions on bottle.
Expert top tip – Avoid using any abrasive products/ tools to remove limescale – it may mark your brassware.
See our guide on how to descale a shower head for more details on limescale.
Bathroom Ventilation Is Key
Ventilating your bathroom is key in preventing mould. I think we can all agree there is nothing quite annoying like mouldy walls.
The best ways to ventilate your bathroom is by opening a window whilst showering/ bathing, or turn on your extractor fan in colder months to reduce risk of mould developing.
If your bathroom is already infected with mould, don’t worry we have great ways to combat this pesky issue. Mould grows on shower curtains. To make them look new, soak them in diluted bleach. This solution should be one part bleach and four parts water.
If this hasn’t done the trick, find the HG mould spray – this should be your new best friend. It is versatile spray you can use on grout, tiles, bathroom floor and walls and basically anywhere you need to!
Get rid of mould with the help of our step-by-step guide.
How To Clean Your Bath Like A Pro
Baths gather soap scum like nothing else. Residue of bubble bath, shampoo, conditioners, and oils are hard to remove once they have dried, so make sure you are rinsing your bathtub after use.
If in the event you missed some spots use the trusted duo, white vinegar, and warm water. At this point this powerful solution is your new friend.
Mix the solution in a nifty spray bottle and spray generously all over the inside of your bath alongside baking soda. Leave for 15 – 20 minutes and rinse off with hot water. This should bring back the sparkle in the white acrylic.
If you would like to use something different, a general bathroom cleaner should also do the trick. Finish off with a microfibre cloth.
The Best Shower Tray Cleaning Trick
Maintaining your shower tray is easy with modern eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Use warm soapy water or a biodegradable mild detergent after each use, and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth to prevent water spots and limescale. Avoid abrasive cleaners and consider using high-efficiency non-abrasive products specifically designed for bathroom surfaces.
If your tray has limescale build up use white vinegar, and baking soda. Leave on the area for 15 minutes. Return and scrub lightly and rinse.
If the sealant on your shower enclosure has turned dark and stained, it could mean it is infection with mildew. The best way to try and lift the stains is with a mould cleaner or the Pink stuff, which is a great non abrasive cleaner.
A Shower Door That Shines
The shower door is a hard area to keep pristine clean. When it comes to cleaning glass shower, we have a few tips and tricks to help it gleam.
Your biggest enemy will be removing stubborn hard water stains and soap scum. There’s nothing less luxurious than having a cloudy shower door, but thanks to distilled white vinegar and water you can wave goodbye to grubby glass shower.
You should know the drill by now, add equal parts of water and white vinegar to a spray bottle. Generously spray the glass and leave no part untouched.
Use a cotton cloth to wipe down the glass and go over any stubborn stains by pouring more mixture onto the cloth. Scrub the affected area in a more vigorous fashion (don’t go too hard, you don’t want to damage the glass).
Clean the screen with water from the shower handle or a jug, then use a shower squeegee to remove extra water. Once that’s done, you can buff down with a microfibre cloth for a clean, streak free finish.
Expert top tip – to keep on top of your shower glass, rinse and squeegee after every use.
If you’d prefer to use a multi purpose cleaner we suggest CIF.
No More Smelly Bins
People often forget about the bathroom bin, but it’s crucial to actively clean.
We all know that bins are a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. The best way to kill the bacteria is with hot water and a detergent. Zoflora is a great solution as it has a long-lasting smell and kills 99.9% of germs. Dilute 1:40 in water and leave in your bin for 5- 10 minutes.
Pour out the water and wipe the outer and rim of the bin with Zolfora spray. Wipe and dry the bin and voila!
Expert top tip – use cotton wool balls drench in essential oils and place in the bin to keep it smelling fresh.
A Pristine Clean Toilet
When dealing with the toilet, we always advise using rubber gloves. This prevents direct contact with harmful bacteria by using stronger cleaning chemicals.
If you want a toilet bowl and toilet seat so clean you could eat from it, grab some Zoflora in a spray bottle, 1:40 diluted with water and spray the lid, seat and any outer surfaces.
Make sure you lift under the seat and wipe down with a soft cloth. Don’t forget about the handle or flush plate.
For extra hygiene points, give it another wipe with disinfection wipes.
Now for the bowl, use a strong bleach and coat the entire bowl starting underneath the rim. Leave the bleach for an hour and then flush.
If your toilet bowl is stained, use your toilet brush to scrub away any mess or stains before flushing the bleach away.
Spotless Bathroom Floor
The bathroom floor accumulates dust, stains, and germs and important to regularly clean. Start off by vacuuming the floor to pick up any dust or hair. Then dilute your favourite floor cleaning product in hot water and mop the floor. Leave to dry and open bathroom window, if possible, to help the floor dry quicker.
Say Goodbye To Tired Looking Tiles
Before cleaning your tile, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid causing any harm.
How to clean bathroom tiles?
Once you have done that it’s worth noting that regular cleaning of your tiles will avoid staining and build up.
The best bathroom tile cleaning method is…
First things first, wipe down the surface of your tiles with a dry cloth to remove any dust or debris. This will prevent spreading dirt around tiles making them harder to clean.
Avoid using any harsh chemicals, make sure your tile cleaner of choice doesn’t contain ammonia, bleach, or acids. With a damp cloth work in a circular motion to thoroughly clean tiles, put in a little more elbow grease on more stubborn buildups.
Finally wash down with a warm water and dry using a microfibre cloth to avoid streaks.
The Importance Of Good Quality Air
Maintaining good quality air to your bathroom is hugely important. You can do this by leaving the windows slightly open as often as you can, allowing fresh air to breeze through the bathroom. Alternatively, you can use air purifiers or ventilators – this are great for removing ordors or fumes from cleaning products.
Streak Free Mirrors
What is the best thing to clean bathroom mirrors with?
It can be a task to get your bathroom mirror streak free, thanks to us and our expert advice, we are going to give you the perfection formula for glistening mirrors.
For the best bathroom mirror cleanin techniques all you need is a spray bottle of one-part white vinegar and one part water. This duo won’t cloud your mirror like store bought products that are full of soap solutions. Glass cleaner also works a treat for mirrors!
Spray your entire mirror and gran a microfibre or cotton cloth. Wipe the mirror side to side or up and down. Avoid doing circular motions, as this movement is more likely to cause streaking.
Why Are My Mirrors Smeared After Cleaning?
The problem could be if you are using an all-purpose cleaner or any cleaner that contains soap. Using a natural remedy like white vinegar and water will get you the best cloud free results.
Unclog The Showerhead
It’s important to clean your shower head every few months because your shower heads are constantly releasing large amounts of water and over time these water droplets turn into mineral deposits, that calcify overtime and eventually solidify.
This will then cause the shower holes to fill with dirt and debris and leave your shower working at half of its capacity due to water not being able to push through the hard build up.
So the best way to unclog or descale your shower head is…
Step 1 – Fill a plastic bag with a generous amount of white vinegar and water.
Step 2 – Carefully wrap the bag around your shower head, ensuring the head is fully submerged in the solution.
Step 3 – Leave for 1-2 hours, this should give the vinegar and water time to breakdown the deposits.
Step 4 – Remove the bag and give the shower head a wipe down with a cotton cloth.
Brighten Your Brassware
How to clean bathroom brassware?
If you want to give your bathroom brassware a deep clean, use 75% lemon juice and 25% water. The natural acids of the lemon will break down limescale build up and give it a wonderful fresh shine. Don’t leave the solution for more than a few minutes.
Ensure you’re covering the entire tap including faucet handles. Buff with a microfibre cloth to dry to avoid water marks.
Lemon juice and water work a treat but washing up liquid and warm water will also clean your brassware brilliantly!
If you’ve recently purchased or thinking about purchasing brassware, take a look at our ultimate care guide.
Don’t Forget About Your Heated Towel Rail
To clean your heated towel rail warm soapy water should do the trick. Soak a cloth in the water rinse and give the entire product a good wipe down. Dry with a microfibre cloth for a streak free shine.
How Do I Clean My Toilet Brush?
Don’t abandon your toilet brush, it’s the dirtiest thing in your bathroom and should be cleaned once a week.
The toilet brush should be submerged in part water, part bleach and left for an hour to disinfect. Come back and swish the brush around in the water and then empty into the toilet bowl.
How To Keep My Bathroom Towels Fluffy And Smelling Fresh?
Over time your once fluffy gorgeous towels can stiffen and become sandpaper like. Not to despair, there are in fact some ways in which you can prevent this from occurring.
Set your washing machine to 30 degrees, as heat can harden the fibres. When washing towels, don’t overfill the washing machine. Try your best to avoid tumble drying at a high temperature.
Microfiber Technology
Microfiber cloths and mops are far more effective at picking up dirt and bacteria than other materials or harsh chemicals. Always try and have one around the house for a smoother and easier clean.
How to Clean Grout?
Keeping your bathrooms grout clean can take your room from grab to fab. We recommend using the pink stuff and an old toothbrush is great to lightly scrubbing.
If you’re looking for a more natural solution, once again it’s a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar!
Mix the white vinegar and baking soda until it creates a paste. The lather your grout in the past and use an old toothbrush/ electric toothbrush and gentle massage the paste into the grout.
Then leave the paste for another 30 minutes to pick up any harsher stains. Now rinse off the paste with warm water and wipe up any remaining paste with a clean cloth.
Regular wiping – The best way to keep your bathroom looking fresh, especially tiles and grout, in the best condition and for longer lasting durability is by regular cleaning. This can be task if you live in a busy household, but it will keep your bathroom germ free and grime build up free!
How To Effectively Clean Different Bathroom Materials
The bathroom features a variety of materials ranging from glass to ceramic and chrome. Follow our advice on how to maintain and clean a range of materials.
How To Get Glass Sparkling?
If you live in a hard water area, don’t allow limescale to build up, if left it can be more difficult to remove. To remove limescale use a 50:50 mixture of vinegar and water, but make sure all the vinegar is rinsed off completely.
You can also use a mild solution of lemon juice to remove limescale too. Always avoid using strong detergents or cleaning products, and under no circumstances should you use any abrasive substances. If using a cleaning agent ensure that it has a PH rating of between PH4 and PH8.
Stainless Steel
The surface appearance of stainless steel can be maintained by regular cleaning; this also helps to prevent corrosion and maintain hygienic conditions. To clean stainless steel simply use warm soapy water or a mild detergent, then rinse and dry with a soft cloth. Do not use strong acids or disinfectants. A specialist stainless steel cleaner can be used if there is a build-up of dirt.
If using a proprietary cleaner always follow the instructions on the bottle. Never use steel wool or steel wool soap pads, as these can leave rust spots.
Chrome
The chrome plated finish on our range of bathroom taps, showers and fittings is very durable, but to keep it looking its best we recommend that you clean regularly with warm soapy water, rinse and then dry with a soft cloth.
A proprietary chrome cleaner can be used, but just make sure to read the instructions first.
Be aware that chrome is vulnerable to acid attack and strong domestic cleaners such as disinfectants, hair dyes and denture cleaners can have a varying effect on the surface, ranging from black spots to streaks and pitting that can’t be removed, so avoid contact with harsh chemicals.
Wood
Bathroom furniture, bath panels and seats are constructed from either solid wood or veneered MDF, and in either case the surface is varnished.
To prevent damage to the surface, do not let water pool for a long period of time and dry immediately with a soft cloth. Simply use a soft damp cloth to clean wooden bathroom products.
Avoid using scouring powder, scourers and abrasive cleaners on a wooden surface. You can preserve the polished surface of the wood by using a proprietary wax polish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tarnished brass taps can be cleaned with the application of a lemon juice and baking soda solution. To create the mixture, use half a lemon’s worth of juice combined with a teaspoon of baking soda to form a paste. Then, use a soft cloth to apply the paste to your brass fixtures and fittings.
Another option, meanwhile, is to soak tarnished brass taps in a vinegar-based solution, one that features two parts water and one part vinegar.
For further help and information surrounding how to treat and maintain tarnished brass taps and other fixtures and fittings, consult our dedicated blog – Bathroom Brassware: The Complete Care Guide.
The best homemade brass cleaner consists of a combination of lemon juice and baking soda. For the very best results, mix the juice from half a lemon with a teaspoon of baking soda and stir them together until a paste is formed.
Use a soft cloth to apply the paste to brassware to clean it. In instances where the brass incorporates heavy tarnish, allow the paste to remain on the brass for 30 minutes, before rinsing with warm water and drying.
If you would like to find out more about maintaining brass fixtures and fittings, explore our dedicated blog, Bathroom Brassware: The Complete Care Guide.
Soft cotton cloths are the best materials to use to clean marble bathroom tiles, along with mild detergents and cleaning solutions.
Scratches and damage can appear on marble surfaces quite easily, hence the need for soft cloths when tending to them. And be sure to avoid using strong or harsh chemicals on marble at any time, to avoid the risk of corrosion occurring.
For a more detailed insight, take a look at our dedicated blog, The Best Ways To Introduce Marble To Your Bathroom.
It is an easy and inexpensive process to create your own effective shower cubicle cleaning solution. Simply mix baking soda together with water to make a thick paste.
The shower cubicle size will determine how much of the solution is required, but typically half a cup of baking soda will be enough.
After concocting the paste, use a non-abrasive sponge to apply it to the cubicle and scrub or wipe down the glass shower doors until they are clean. Once satisfied, you can rinse off the cubicle doors with fresh water and/or vinegar to leave the glass looking sparkling.
If you would like any inspiration surrounding the shower cubicle ideas for your home, explore our related blogs – 12 Wonderful Walk In Shower Ideas and our Shower Cubicle Buying Guide.
Considering that the bathroom is a prime breeding ground for bacteria in general, it should ideally be cleaned at least once a week.
Specifically, you should look to disinfect your toilet and sink at least weekly, and your bathtub or shower enclosure on a bi-weekly basis.
Of course, you can clean your bathtub more frequently if you bathe especially often, and the same logic applies to your shower area.
Rikki has a passion for interior design and an even bigger passion for writing about it. When she isn’t writing about gorgeous bathroom interiors, you’ll find her discovering all of the latest trends.
