How can I give my bathroom a really deep cleaning?

Nelodene
by Nelodene
  4 answers
  • Wash the ceilings, walls with a vinegar / water solution. What type of flooring do you have?

  • Twyla J Boyer Twyla J Boyer on Aug 29, 2019

    Some of this answer depends on what materials you have in your bathroom, but here's my best way to really deep clean a bathroom (like I do when I move in or after construction or when I really spring clean). This could take several hours, depending on the size and condition of your bathroom. It is listed in the optimum order for letting chemicals and such work on some parts while you work on other parts.


    Remove anything from the bathroom that you can remove (decorative items, soap dishes, shampoo bottles, etc.) and wipe or wash it (you can wash a plastic shower curtain liner in the washing machine with the shower curtain and towels, but don't put the plastic one in the dryer!). Weed out the things you don't really need to keep in the bathroom. This includes emptying cabinets and baskets and shelves. Wash any washable rugs and window curtains, as well.


    Take down any light covers and either wash them by hand or run them through the dishwasher. Take down and clean any blinds or window shades you might have in the bathroom.


    IF YOU HAVE GROUT or caulk that has mildew, spray it with a solution of bleach and water - about 1/2 cup bleach to 1 cup water and let it sit while washing walls and ceiling.


    Wash the ceiling, walls, door, and trim with a cloth using a bucket of warm water with just a splash of whatever your favorite all purpose cleaner is. (If there is mold, wear gloves and use a bleach and water solution.) Change the water as needed. Don't forget to wash the vent fan cover.


    IF YOU USED BLEACH on grout and/or caulk, spray it again and scrub it with a stiff bristled brush. Rinse all the bleach off. Make sure you really get it all rinsed so you don't get any interaction with other chemicals.


    Wash the shower curtain rod, the non-removable part of the light fixture (don't get the working parts of the light fixture wet - just wipe down the outside parts), any shelves and the insides and outsides of any cabinets. You can use the same sort of mixture as on the walls and ceiling, but make it a little stronger.


    Spray the tub and surround (and doors, if you have them) with whatever type of cleaner you typically use (I tend to use Scrubbing Bubbles or Kaboom or something foamy so that it's thicker than a liquid). Give it a good, heavy spray. Let that work while you clean the toilet.


    Put cleaner in the toilet bowl and let it sit while you work on the outside of the toilet. Wipe down the whole outside of the toilet starting with the tank lid, then the tank and flush handle, then the lid (both sides), the seat (both sides), the rim, and the base of the toilet using whatever kind of cleaner you prefer and paper towels (so you don't transfer toilet germs to other parts of the bathroom). Make sure to pay special attention to any bits that are contoured and around the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor. If you can, remove the toilet seat and clean the bolts, bolt covers, and the part of the toilet where the bolts attach the seat to the toilet. Reattach the seat afterwards. Using a good toilet brush, scrub the inside of the toilet bowl well. Flush it twice. If there are rust marks or hard water deposits, you will need to turn off the water to the toilet and scoop out some water so you can really scrub those places with a scouring powder or CLR and a piece of green scrubby (wear gloves, of course!). Don't forget to turn the water back on and flush.


    Spray the tub surround again and using either a non-scratching scrubby sponge (if plastic or fiberglass surround) or a stiff bristled brush or green scrubbie, scrub the tub and surround really well, working from top to bottom. Don't forget to pull the drain cover and clean it well, too, if possible. And pull out any hair you can from the drain.


    Clean the sink and counters using whatever cleaner you prefer (I like Comet) and a good sponge. Rinse well and dry with a clean rag or microfiber towel.


    Clean the mirror and frame really well. Once clean, use a dab of shaving cream and smear it over the mirror, then buff it off with a soft dry cloth. This will help prevent the mirror fogging up when you shower.


    Vacuum the bathroom floor (yes, really). If you have a tile floor and the grout is yucky, clean it using a bleach solution like mentioned for the tub grout and a stiff bristled brush. Rinse it all really well. Next (whether you have grout you dealt with or not), clean the floor using two cloths (one wet, one dry) and a bucket of warm water with a splash of your favorite all purpose cleaner in it. Wipe it really well with the wet cloth that you rinse out regularly in the cleaner solution. Dry it with the dry cloth. You might need more than two cloths if you have a large bathroom.


    Finally, put everything back that you want to replace in the bathroom - including the light fixture covers and shower curtain.


    Your bathroom is now truly deep cleaned. (And you probably need a nap!)