How to clean a bathroom fast, in the order professionals use

Step by step: how to clean a bathroom fast, in the order professionals use

Safety first. Use one cleaning product at a time and never mix bleach with ammonia, vinegar, toilet bowl cleaners or other products: the fumes can be toxic. Open a window or run the fan, and wear gloves.

1. 1

   Clear out and ventilate

   Turn on the fan or open a window, then take bottles, toothbrushes, the trash can, towels and the bath mat out of the room. Shake the mat outside and put the towels in the laundry. Empty surfaces clean in half the time.

2. 2

   Start the soak: shower, tub and toilet

   Spray the shower walls, tub and fixtures with a tub and tile cleaner, and squirt toilet bowl cleaner under the rim so it runs down the bowl. Leave both to work for 10 minutes or the time on the label. This dwell time is what lets you wipe instead of scrub later.

3. 3

   Dust from the top down

   With a dry microfiber cloth, dust the light fixture, the top of the mirror and cabinet, the fan cover, shelves and the top of the toilet tank. Working top to bottom means dust falls onto areas you have not cleaned yet.

4. 4

   Clean the mirror

   Spray glass cleaner onto the cloth rather than the mirror so it does not drip into the frame, then wipe in an S pattern from top to bottom. Buff with a dry part of the cloth. Toothpaste spots may need a damp cloth first.

5. 5

   Clean the sink, faucet and counter

   Spray the counter, sink and faucet, scrub the basin and the base of the faucet with a non-scratch sponge, and use an old toothbrush around the drain and handles. Rinse and dry the faucet so it does not spot. Then disinfect the faucet handles and light switches, following the product’s contact time.

6. 6

   Clean the toilet, outside first

   With a separate cloth kept only for the toilet, spray and wipe the tank, handle, lid, seat (both sides), hinges and the base, working from the cleanest part to the dirtiest. Then scrub the bowl with the brush, under the rim first, and flush. Disinfect the handle and seat last.

7. 7

   Scrub and rinse the shower and tub

   Scrub the walls, tub and fixtures from the top down with a non-scratch sponge, using a grout brush on the lines. Rinse everything thoroughly, then squeegee the walls and glass. Wipe the fixtures dry for a shine.

8. 8

   Clean the floor last

   Vacuum or sweep, getting behind the toilet and along the edges. Mop with warm water and a little floor cleaner, working from the far corner toward the door so you do not step on wet floor. Put the dry mat, fresh towels and your things back.

How often should you clean a bathroom?

Clean a bathroom in daily use once a week, and spread the bigger jobs over the month. Quick daily habits keep the weekly clean to under an hour.

Clorox’s bathroom guide follows a similar rhythm: weekly wipe-downs of showers, sinks and counters, a deeper clean of floors, grout and toilets every couple of weeks, and monthly washing of curtains, liners and rugs.

Cleaning vs disinfecting: what does a bathroom need?

Clean everything, and disinfect the touch points and the toilet. Cleaning removes dirt and most germs; disinfecting kills what is left, and it only works on a surface that is already clean.

The CDC’s guidance on cleaning and disinfecting your home is to clean with soap or detergent first, then use a disinfectant when needed, following the label. Check that the product is registered with the EPA and leave it wet for the full contact time on the label, which can be several minutes; a quick spray and wipe does not disinfect. Focus it where hands go: the toilet handle and seat, faucet handles, the door handle and light switch.

Which bathroom cleaners should you avoid mixing?

Use one product at a time and rinse between them. The dangerous combinations are easy to make by accident in a small bathroom.

• Bleach plus ammonia (in some glass cleaners) makes toxic chloramine fumes.
• Bleach plus vinegar or an acidic toilet bowl cleaner releases chlorine gas.
• Two different drain cleaners, or a drain cleaner and anything else, can react violently.

Ventilation matters even with one product. The EPA notes that cleaning products can release volatile organic compounds indoors, and the American Lung Association warns that many cleaning products can irritate the eyes and throat and contribute to breathing problems. Open a window or run the fan, and choose fragrance-free or lower-fume products if anyone in the house is sensitive.

For each surface in more depth, see our guides on shower tiles, grout and shower glass.

Mistakes to avoid

• Spraying and wiping immediately, so the cleaner never has time to dissolve soap scum or kill germs.
• Using the same cloth on the toilet and then the sink or counter.
• Cleaning the floor first and then dropping dust and drips on it.
• Mixing bleach with a glass cleaner or toilet bowl cleaner in a closed room.
• Spraying glass cleaner straight onto the mirror so it drips behind the frame, where it can damage the mirror backing.
• Forgetting the touch points: door handle, light switch, toilet handle and faucet handles.