35 Bathroom Cleaning Hacks That Really Work, According to Pros

Bathrooms are one of the least pleasant rooms to clean, but one of the most used rooms in a home—what a conundrum.

To help make cleaning your bathroom something you'll actually want to accomplish, we talked to housekeeping pros and gathered 35 hacks to help keep the bathroom sparkling clean and fresh.

Keep a Caddy Handy

Store disinfectant wipes, glass cleaner, and a spray bottle of all-purpose cleaner in your bathroom. This way, you have the supplies you need to spot clean quickly, according to Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids.

"Toothpaste splatters won't have a chance to dry on the mirror, water doesn't stick around long enough to make a moldy mess around the sink, and bonus: your bathroom is always drop-in guest-ready," Cohoon says.

Use a Vinegar and Water Rinse

Here's a tip that three pros swear by. Cohoon, Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer at ProHousekeepers, and Becky Rapinchuk of Clean Mama recommend using a quick 50/50 distilled white vinegar and water rinse daily (or every other day) to keep soap scum from building up in the shower.

Tip

Rodriguez suggests adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the solution in a spray bottle to add freshness to the bathroom.

Stop a Sputtering Shower

Fix sputtering showerheads by soaking them in distilled white vinegar to cut through the mineral deposits that are clogging the jets. Remove the head and let them soak in a bowl or bucket overnight.

Showerhead won't come off? Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and attach it securely to the showerhead with several rubber bands. Remove the next morning and turn on the water to rinse away the dissolved minerals.

Start with Clean Cleaning Tools

To get the cleaning results you want, always use clean tools. A dirty mop does not absorb dirt well and leaves residue on the floor, and a vacuum that is filled with dust can't clean well. Dusters filled with grit can leave scratches on surfaces. Clean supplies after every use so they are ready to go when you are.

Dry as You Go

Leaving puddles on the bathroom floor is a recipe for disaster, according to Cohoon. A wet floor is hazardous and could lead to slips and falls later, plus standing water is a magnet for hair and dust.

A good habit is to spot dry wet spots right after you get out of the bath or shower to avoid issues later.

"This will help you avoid a nasty fall and a hairy dust bunny," Cohoon says.

Grab the Baking Soda and Vinegar

Rodriguez is a big fan of the vinegar and baking soda combo. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and baking soda to create a foaming solution. Apply this mixture to surfaces like sinks, faucets, and tiles to remove grime and stains. Always scrub gently and rinse thoroughly, she suggests.

Get a Shower Squeegee

A squeegee that lives in your shower is perfect for cleaning the glass after every rinse. "Make a shower squeegee your new BFF," Cohoon says.

Cohoon notes that you can buy one of these amazing tools just about anywhere cleaning supplies are sold. Hang it up and use it at the end of every shower—this is one of the best ways to keep hard-water deposits from building up on shower tile and doors.

Ventilate the Shower Curtain

The shower curtain is a big magnet for scum and mildew, as it often stays damp after use, says Cohoon. Opening bathroom windows is one way to help completely dry out the shower curtain.

If you don’t have a window in your bathroom, vinegar and baking soda spritzes help keep mildew and mold at bay, which is important for both the look and health of your home.

Embrace the Power of Steam

Rodriguez recommends using a handheld steam cleaner to effectively sanitize and remove dirt from tiles, grout, and bathroom fixtures. The high temperature of the steam helps break down and dissolve buildup.

Keep Bathroom Drains Flowing

Kristopher Juniel, the host of USA Today’s Problem Solved series, recommends using vinegar and baking soda as a fix for slow-running drains. Add a few tablespoons of baking soda into the clogged drain, and pull out the drain plug if it is removable. Then, add equal parts of vinegar.

Allow the concoction to rest in the drain for about twenty minutes, working its magic, and then rinse it with warm water. This hack works wonders on all household drains, including shower and tub drains.

Use Lemon Power

Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle salt on the cut side. Use it as a natural scrubber to clean faucets, showerheads, and other metal fixtures. The citric acid helps break down mineral deposits, Rodriguez shares.

Banish Hard Water Rings and Streaks

If you live in an area with hard water, chances are, you have an unappealing ring or streaks in your toilet bowl—even if you clean it regularly. Hard water has an especially high mineral content of magnesium, calcium, and iron particles that form chalky white residue or rust-colored stains that need extra attention to remove.

Vinegar and baking soda used every few days are effective in keeping stains at bay. Or, make a borax paste with water to tackle tough discoloration.

Raid Laundry Supplies to Remove Soap Scum

Rodriguez says head to the laundry room for dryer sheets to remove soap scum. \Wet a dryer sheet and use it to scrub away soap scum on glass shower doors and tiles. The fabric softener on the sheet helps to loosen and remove the scum easily.

Clean Tight Corners and Spaces

If you think your old toothbrush is worthless, think again. It is the perfect tool for cleaning tight spaces like shower door tracks or those tiny spaces behind sink faucets.

Or, if you have a drawer full of takeout chopsticks, put them to good use. Wrap a microfiber cloth around a chopstick to clean small fixtures and crevices that can be tricky to reach.

Make DIY Toilet Cleaner Bombs

Create homemade toilet bowl cleaner bombs by mixing baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils, says Rodriquez. Drop these into the toilet bowl, let them fizz, then scrub and flush for a fresh clean.

Scrub Gunk Off Hair Styling Tools

If your curling or flat iron isn't giving you the results you desire, it is probably covered with hair spray and other hair products gunk. Since you can't just dunk these appliances in water, put a first aid product to work.

Wet a cotton pad or ball with rubbing alcohol, and go over the sticky surfaces. Allow it to work for a few minutes. Then, wipe down the surface with a clean, damp microfiber cloth, and dry it with a soft cloth.

If the surface still isn't clean, mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one teaspoon of water. Apply the paste to the sticky areas with a soft cloth, and scrub lightly. Wipe away the residue with a damp cloth and then dry with a soft cloth.

Discover Microfiber Magic

"Invest in microfiber cloths for cleaning," Rodriguez recommends. "They are highly effective at trapping dirt and bacteria, and they work well for wiping down surfaces without leaving streaks or lint."

Tip

As an added tip, color-code the cloths with different colors for kitchen and bathroom cleaning.

Help Control Toilet Leaks With Food COloring

Do you suspect you have a toilet leak? Put several drops of food coloring in the tank of the toilet. This will help you pinpoint where the leak is happening. Even a tiny leak in your toilet can allow hundreds of gallons of water to be lost every day—which can add hundreds of dollars a year to your water and sewer bills.

Defog Mirrors with Shaving Cream

Apply a thin layer of shaving cream to bathroom mirrors and then wipe it off with a microfiber cloth. This can help prevent fogging during hot showers, advises Rodriquez.

Sanitize and Drip Dry Your Toilet Brush

A dirty, wet toilet brush placed back in its holder is a recipe for bathroom mold and bacteria. After cleaning your toilet, spray it with hydrogen peroxide to disinfect it. Then, sandwich the wet brush under the toilet seat and let it drip dry into the bowl before you put it away, Rapinchuk recommends.

Keep Bath Toys Fresh and Clean

Bath toys can become coated with soap scum and moldy on the inside. Washing them regularly will help. Most can be placed on the top rack of the dishwasher for easy cleaning.

The best option is prevention, so squeeze each toy after every bath time until the water is out and allow it to dry. For quicker drying, squeeze out the water and place the toys in a mesh laundry bag. Hang the bag from the faucet or shower head to allow the toys to drip dry.

DIY Grout Cleaner

Rodriguez shares how to make a homemade grout cleaner. Create a paste using baking soda and water, then apply it to grout lines. Scrub with an old toothbrush and rinse for cleaner grout.

Customize Your Air Freshener

Make a customized air freshener with just distilled white vinegar and essential oils.

To create the small, fine droplets of air-freshening mist, use a mister bottle usually used for plant care. Use a small funnel to fill the bottle with undiluted distilled white vinegar.

Add a few drops of essential oils to the undiluted vinegar. Choose your favorite scent like citrus, lavender, or woodsy notes. Or, you can create scented vinegar with herbs, citrus peels, or flower petals.

Pumice Away Stains

Rapinchuk suggests you keep a pumice stone on hand to tackle toilet bowl stains. Pumice is a naturally occurring volcanic rock and is available in powder or solid form. Pumice sticks or stones can be used to scrub away rust, limescale, and hard water stains.

For the best results, drop the water level in the toilet. And, always wet the stained surface with water and keep the area wet while using the abrasive.

Easily Clean Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes, Beauty Blenders, tweezers, or eyelash curlers should be cleaned regularly to remove bacteria or embedded makeup—and you can use a gentle baby shampoo to do so. With just a few steps, you can clean a makeup brush easily,

Tackle Mildew with Hydrogen Peroxide

If you don't like to use chlorine bleach, Rodriguez recommends using hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle to target mold and mildew in the bathroom. Spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse.

Use a DIY Bleach Pen for Dirty Grout

Bleach pens are surprisingly versatile cleaners that you can use to deep-clean grout. Just run a pen over the grout lines in your kitchen or bathroom tile and let it set overnight. Then use a sponge or cloth in warm water to wipe it clean and you’ll have bright grout lines for days.

Tip

No bleach pen? Pour some chlorine bleach into a clean, empty school glue bottle to give you an accurate applicator for the grout.

Dust Before You Clean

Bathrooms get dusty. Use a duster to capture dust on countertops, window sills, and toilet tanks before you clean them. There's no need to push that dust around as you clean.

Try a Tipsy Toilet

No toilet bowl cleaner? Check the liquor cabinet for a cheap bottle of vodka and use it to clean the toilet. Pour 1/2 cup vodka into the toilet bowl and scrub well. You can even use it to dampen a microfiber cloth to disinfect your toilet seat and cover.

Grab Some Oxygen Bleach

Sprinkle oxygen whitener in a toilet, let it sit for 15 minutes or overnight, scrub, and flush! It works great for whitening up the toilet bowl naturally, Rapinchuk shares. 

Power Up Grout Cleaning

If you have an old electric toothbrush or an extra head, use it to clean grout and tight spots around faucets. Dampen the toothbrush head and dip it in baking soda to act as a gentle abrasive to remove soap scum and trapped dirt.

Freshen Your Bathroom Trash Can

When you remove the plastic liner in the bathroom trash can, rinse the can with warm water and some all-purpose cleaner. Sprinkle baking soda in the bottom before you add a new page to help keep the trash can fresh.

Use Aluminum Foil to Remove Rust From Chrome

If rust appears on chrome fixtures, use aluminum foil to help restore the shine. Crumple a square of aluminum foil into a loose ball, dip the foil in a solution of warm, soapy water, and gently rub it over the rusty chrome in small circles.

Be sure to keep the foil and chrome very wet while you are cleaning. If the foil begins to discolor or tear, dispose of it and use a fresh square until the chrome is clean. After cleaning, rinse the chrome well with warm water and buff dry with a soft cloth.

Make Your Bathroom More Relaxing with a Quiet Fan

Quiet a bathroom fan by removing dust and dirt with a disposable duster or handheld vacuum.

Grab an Aspirin

The salicylic acid in aspirin makes it an effective bathroom cleaning agent. If you are in a pinch with no cleaner, dissolve two aspirin tablets in water and use it like you would any other cleaner to remove soap scum in the sink and shower.

Read Next: How to Clean Your Bathroom in 5 Steps

Read the original article on The Spruce.