Bathrooms are not only high-traffic areas in most homes, but the moisture levels in bathrooms can make them especially dirty. Most cleaning professionals agree that you should clean your bathroom weekly, focusing on specific areas like your toilet, counters, and sink.
Learn more about how often you should clean each area of your bathroom to keep this space clean and germ-free.
Meet the Expert
- Rocky Vuong is the founder and owner of Calibre Cleaning and Neatbrite.com.
- Carolina Kazimierski is the co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service.
- Steven Ip is the founder and owner of Cleanzen Boston Cleaning Services.
How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom?
Our experts agree that bathrooms are one area of your home that should be cleaned on a weekly basis, at the bare minimum. Consistent cleaning will help you maintain proper hygiene and prevent buildup.
"I recommend doing a quick bathroom clean every week, with a deep clean every month or so," says Carolina Kazimierski, the co-owner and president of Sophia's Cleaning Service.
Your weekly cleaning should focus on the toilets, floors, and counters, including the sink. For showers, bathtubs, and mirrors, you can afford to wait every other week. Some deep clean tasks like scrubbing the grout in your shower and cleaning out drains can even be postponed until your monthly deep clean.
All that said, if there are bathrooms in your home that are regularly used by multiple family members or guests, it's important that you clean every part of the bathroom weekly.
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How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom Counters?
Of all the unique zones in your bathroom, counters arguably need to be cleaned most often. In fact, Rocky Vuong, the founder and owner of Calibre Cleaning and Neatbrite.com, says you should wipe down your bathroom counters on a daily basis, then complete a more thorough cleaning each week.
"Use a disinfectant cleaner and microfiber cloth," he says. "Pay attention to areas around the faucet and soap dispenser."
For shared bathrooms, frequent cleanings are vital to keep the germs, bacteria, and mold in your bathroom at bay.
How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom Toilet?
In addition to your bathroom counters, the toilet absolutely needs a weekly clean. Fortunately, cleaning your toilet shouldn't take more than 10 minutes.
Flush the toilet bowl then add your preferred toilet bowl cleaner or a combination of baking soda and vinegar for a more natural cleaning solution. Leave the cleaner to sit for a few minutes before returning with your toilet brush.
Scrub thoroughly, then flush again. To finish the process, spray the toilet seat with a disinfecting bathroom cleaner, then wipe down the outside of the toilet. Don't forget the top of your toilet, the tank, and the handle as well!
How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom Mirror?
While your bathroom counters and toilets definitely need frequent cleanings for the sake of hygiene, you can be a little more flexible with your mirrors. Keep your eyes peeled for water droplets and other blemishes and wipe down your mirrors when they need it.
"Mirrors should be cleaned weekly or as needed when you notice smudges," says Steven Ip, the founder and owner of Cleanzen Boston Cleaning Services. "Spray with a glass cleaner and use a microfiber cloth to remove streaks. For a faster touch-up, a simple damp cloth can also do the trick in between cleanings."
How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom Floor?
Your bathroom floor can become a catch-all for dust, hair, soap residue, and more. Not to mention, you'll track that dirt and grime in and out of your bathroom, since it's such a high-traffic area of the home. To help you minimize the transfer of germs in your bathroom and throughout your home, it's important to clean your bathroom floors weekly.
Start with a thorough sweep to remove debris. Don't forget to vacuum and wash any bathroom rugs as well. Next, move onto a mop or sponge.
"I will usually mop bathroom floors with a disinfecting mop solution, sometimes a commercially available one and sometimes a bleach or vinegar mixture depending on the home," says Kazimierski. Make sure you allow the floors to dry completely to avoid slipping hazards.
How Often Should You Clean Your Bathtub?
Like your shower mirror, the frequency with which you clean your bathtub is somewhat dependent on how often you use it. For the sake of consistency, cleaning experts like Ip suggest cleaning your bathtub weekly, especially if soap scum has built up around the tub.
"The bathtub should be cleaned weekly, or more often if it gets heavy use," Ip says. "A non-abrasive cleaner works well for scrubbing away soap scum and dirt. After each use, rinsing and drying it with a cloth can reduce buildup and make deep cleaning easier."
You can also use a baking soda and vinegar to clean your bathtub, but be sure to rinse thoroughly.
How Often Should You Clean Your Shower?
Last but not least, like your bathtub it's important to clean your shower weekly or biweekly, depending on frequency of use. This is imperative if you want to prevent mold and soap scum buildup.
"Spray with a shower cleaner and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing," Vuong says. "Rinse thoroughly and leave the door or curtain open to air dry."
Between cleanings, make sure you always use a squeegee on the glass doors and walls after you shower to prevent water spots and buildup of grime and mildew.