Here's a Bathroom Cleaning Checklist You’ll Actually Use

A clean bathroom helps every day start on the right note. The trick to success? Getting into the groove. Committing to daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal chores is the easiest way to success.

You have a few minutes to spare every day, so focus on quick wins. By following these routines, you'll have to deep clean less often and you'll feel like your life is in order.

Daily Bathroom Cleaning Tasks

1. Wipe the sink down after you brush your teeth.

First, get in the habit of running water in the sink for a few seconds after you brush your teeth. My kids have a way of spitting onto a dry sink surface, and it sets like cement to the basin by the end of the day! Make sure your toothpaste washes down the drain.

For clumps and hairs that don't rinse away, wipe them off. Keeping a small cotton cloth nearby makes it easy; no need to do a full cleaning spray/disinfecting routine daily.

2. Rinse the shower walls.

Run clean water over tile or fiberglass. This rinses away soapy film. This is one reason we like keeping a showerhead that detaches from the wall.

3. Dry faucets and handles.

Water spots are nearly inevitable. Wiping down the handles with a soft cloth helps stop them from forming. If you have bronze or matte black fixtures, it'll also cut down on mineral deposits that tend to form on the hardware (reducing your weekly and monthly duties).

4. Clear the counter.

Put items back in drawers or baskets. Keeping the area around your sink as decluttered as possible is good for the soul. (I also underscore the importance of having a well-organized storage system. Make it a priority.)

5. Hang your bath mat.

If the bath mat is wet, get it off the floor to dry. Drape it over the edge of the tub or on a towel rack between uses to reduce mildew and mold growth.

6. Empty the small trash can.

Whether or not this is a daily requirement varies by the number of people in the home and whether it's cold and flu season. During that time of year, transfer tissues, wrappers, or cotton swabs into a larger garbage can in your home. It'll reduce smells and keep the space clean.

7. Check the toilet bowl.

Cleaning your toilet doesn't have to be a daily chore, but sometimes the bowl could use a good swirl. Keep the toilet brush nearby to scrub as needed.

8. Run the fan every day.

Better airflow keeps humidity lower and slows the growth of mildew. Let it run for 10 minutes after your shower or bath. If the weather is favorable, opening the window will also work wonders.

Weekly Bathroom Cleaning Tasks

1. Spray down and scrub the toilet.

Unless someone in your family is sick, a weekly toilet scrub should be at the top of your list. Use a powerful gel or DIY toilet bowl cleaner; just get it done. Remember to wipe the lid and the base. Some toilets have detachable seats; if yours is equipped, unclip the seat so you can more easily clean around the hinges.

2. Clean the sink and faucet.

If you've been wiping it down daily, this step will be easy. Use a basic bathroom cleaner spray to lift grime and wipe it down with a clean cloth.

3. Wipe mirrors.

Your bathroom mirror likely has some splatter to clean. It also collects dust. I tested a power squeegee earlier this year, and it's still a product I use today. Use a window cleaning spray and microfiber cloth to clean the surface, then a squeegee to remove all moisture.

4. Wash the bathmat and hand towels.

Straight to the laundry. These items work hard during the week.

5. Wash the shower or tub.

Focus on cleaning soap scum around corners and shelves. Buy or make an all-purpose spray cleaner that's easy to apply. Cleaning a shower regularly reduces the need to deep clean.

Spray the showerhead every week with a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar. This helps keep mineral deposits from hard water at bay until you do deeper cleans on a seasonal basis.

6. Spray your plastic shower liner

Manage the growth of mold and mildew. Spray the inside of your shower liner with an all-purpose cleaner or a 1:1 mixture of water and white vinegar. Focus on the bottom 12- to 18-inches that don't always completely air-dry.

7. Wipe light switches and door handles.

These areas collect more buildup than most people notice. A quick disinfecting wipe helps keep them clean.

8. Vacuum and mop the floor.

We always vacuum first because it gets dusty in there. Afterwards, a quick mop helps refresh the space and keep surfaces clean. A simple wet-jet style mop makes this chore easier than ever, but you can also fill a bowl with water and a mild cleaner and wipe it down by hand in minutes.

9. Rinse toothbrush cups and soap dishes.

These fill with residue during the week. If they're dishwasher-safe, add them to your next load of dishes.

Monthly Bathroom Cleaning Tasks

1. Dust vents and the fan cover.

This is an overlooked chore (and it usually shows). Build-up slows air flow and spreads lint throughout your bathroom. Attack it with a dusting wand to keep it clean.

2. Clean grout lines.

There are a lot of grout lines in most tiled bathrooms, but the ones you need to pay close attention to are the ones in high-traffic areas. Focus on the floor grout inside the shower and out, in front of the toilet and in front of the sink. Use a gentle cleaner and an old toothbrush to keep these grout lines clean.

3. Clean shelves and inside cabinet doors.

Dust is a given, but product spills might also leave build-up on shelves and inside your drawers and cabinets.

4. Clean cabinet fronts.

Mist all-purpose cleaner on a microfiber cloth and wipe down fingerprints or product drips from these surfaces.

5. Polish metal hardware.

This goes beyond fixtures. Wipe down towel bars, wall hooks and drawer pulls to keep things dust-free.

6. Wash the wastebasket.

Even with liners, your bathroom garbage can gets dirty over time. Wash it out and let it dry thoroughly before putting a new liner in place.

7. Clean the base of the toilet and behind the toilet.

If you've been vacuuming and mopping, you've probably been keeping dust at bay, but this area still needs a deeper clean once in a while. Use a disinfecting spray around the base of the toilet itself, then reach behind to clean the floor and wall behind the toilet.

Seasonal Bathroom Cleaning Tasks

1. Wash shower curtains and replace shower liners.

Washing your fabric shower curtain at the beginning of every season is a great habit. At the same time, wash or replace the plastic liner.

2. Clear the shower drain.

This is an important chore if you or anyone in your home has long hair! Preventing clogs requires maintenance. Get in the habit of removing the drain cover to clear loose hair and buildup. And if it ever seems slow to drain, deep clean it with baking soda and white vinegar or by using a plumber's snake to snag blockages.

2. Deep clean the showerhead.

Mineral deposits build up in the jets and reduce water flow. Plus, it just gets dingy. A deeper clean goes beyond spraying it down with white vinegar and water: it involves soaking the showerhead in vinegar and baking soda. Yes, it's a little extra, but it works so well.

3. Clean inside drawers.

Remove everything, wipe the space and reorganize. Double-check product expiration dates (especially for medicines) and toss empty bottles or properly discard items you no longer use.

4. Check caulk around the tub and sink.

Look for cracks or peeling spots; fresh caulk stops moisture from slipping behind surfaces.

5. Wash walls and baseboards.

Yes, they get dusty, but the moisture level in the bathroom can leave marks or drips that need to be washed away. When you're washing walls, remember to start at the top and work your way down!

6. Get organized.

A seasonal audit is a great way to manage clutter. Donate old towels (or cut them down and reassign them to cleaning duty). Organize baskets of products, add hooks, or rearrange items so daily use stays simple.

Cleaning Tips to Disinfect Your Bathroom When Someone's Sick

• Spray down faucet handles, toilet handles or flush buttons, light switches, doorknobs and cabinet pulls twice a day. Buy a handheld steam cleaner and you'll thank us later.
• Swap hand towels twice a day (better yet: switch to using paper towels to dry hands until everyone feels better).
• Clean the toilet seat, lid and base with a disinfecting spray every day. Better yet, spray down after the sick person uses the toilet every single time.
• Store toothbrushes apart from each other. Don't share toothpaste with the sick person, either. (If you think about it, the plastic tip of the tube could be spreading germs from brush to brush.)
• Use a disinfectant spray in the tub, or on the shower floor and walls after the sick person bathes.
• Empty the trash can daily and use a fresh liner each time.
• Keep the bathroom exhaust fan running longer to reduce moisture and circulate air.