How Often To Clean Bathroom Surfaces, According To Experts

Bathrooms can be one of the dirtiest places in our homes, mainly because of what we have to do in them. Because bathrooms are usually damp, humid environments, they can harbor mold and mildew, which can potentially lead to illness. Plus, considering bathrooms are wet environments, they tend to hold smells longer than other rooms in your home. Cleaning every surface of your bathroom with the proper cleaning agents can kill bacteria and keep you healthier in the long run.  

Below, we’ve asked the experts for their best tips on how to clean each surface of your bathroom, as well as how often you should take out your cleaning supplies.

Meet The Experts

Sara San Angelo is a professional home cleaner and founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady in Charleston, South Carolina.

Taylor Matthews is the owner of Sparkling Queens in Savannah, Georgia.

How Often To Clean the Bathroom Sink and Mirror

According to Sara San Angelo, a professional home cleaner and founder of Confessions of a Cleaning Lady in Charleston, South Carolina, mirrors can be cleaned on an as-needed basis. “If it’s just a bathroom that’s rarely used, the mirror is probably not going to get that dirty,” she explains. “If it is your master bath mirror, and you can't see yourself through all the spots of toothpaste, it's probably time to clean it.” Using a vinegar solution (equal parts vinegar and water) and a microfiber cloth will do the trick.

Bathroom sinks get a lot of use, but luckily they are relatively easy to clean. “While you are using the sink, you can use your hand to swish the water around so any particles or toothpaste go down the drain,” suggests San Angelo. “This keeps them relatively clean.” 

You should clean the bathroom sink once a week (when you clean the toilet) with a cloth or sponge and a cleaning solution, like a disinfectant spray or white vinegar solution. “You can usually use the same solution you are using on the toilet, but be sure to check the label,” says San Angelo.

How Often To Clean the Toilet

You want to clean and disinfect your toilet at least once a week. “Start from the top, spray the whole toilet down, and clean from the bottom up, until everything is done,” suggests Taylor Matthews, owner of Sparkling Queens in Savannah, Georgia. “If you have hard water, I definitely recommend using a wet pumice stone in the toilet bowl to remove stains, in addition to a toilet bowl cleaner.” Use a bathroom disinfectant to clean the porcelain, and pay attention to the seams at the back of the seat as well as the seals around the bottom of the toilet.

How Often To Clean the Shower

The shower is usually where mold and mildew grows, so depending on how often you use it, you'll want to clean it at least once a week. “Use a cleaning solution and let it sit on the mold or mildew in your shower for at least 20 minutes, and then wipe—you can clean other parts of the bathroom while you wait,” explains San Angelo. “A bleach solution will work, but white vinegar is actually better at killing mold as it seeps down into porous materials (like grout) and kills mold and mildew at its roots.” San Angelo suggests leaving a spray bottle of vinegar solution in your shower and spraying after each shower to prevent mold growth.

Matthews suggests squeegeeing your shower daily if you have hard water, as glass doors and shower surfaces can get permanently damaged from repeated hard water stains over the years. “Clean the shower from top to bottom with an all-purpose cleaner that is compatible with your shower materials and rinse well,” she says. “It’s okay to use an old toothbrush to get into the nooks and crannies.”

The material of your shower curtain will determine how you clean it. “A fabric shower curtain can be washed every few months on warm or hot water in your washing machine with your favorite laundry detergent,” explains Matthew. “A plastic shower liner should be replaced as soon as it starts to show visible mildew or mold.”

How Often To Clean the Bathroom Floor

If you have a tile floor, Matthews suggests using a traditional mop and bucket with hot water and a little liquid dish soap or Fabuloso once a week. “Always be sure to sweep your floor and wash your bath mats first,” she says.  “The key is to get all the loose debris up before you start mopping, so you don't make a mess.” It’s okay to wash your bath mats once a week in hot or warm water with your favorite laundry detergent.

How Often To Clean Underneath the Sink

Consider cleaning under your sink every three to four months. “Start by taking everything out and go through the items to see if anything needs to be thrown away,” suggests Matthews. “Then, wipe the area down with a dry cloth before cleaning surfaces under the sink with an all-purpose spray cleaner applied to a microfiber cloth.”

Once you’ve sorted through everything underneath, San Angelo suggests implementing a shelving system or space saver underneath the sink.

How Often To Clean Linens

Don’t forget bath towels, hand towels, and rugs in your cleaning routine. They are often in contact with many bathroom surfaces. Rugs and bath mats can be cleaned weekly. You should wash bath towels after every two to three uses, but they should be laundered at least once each week. Make sure they have time to dry between uses. Hand towels should be washed weekly–more often if they are in a high-traffic bathroom.

What To Avoid

When cleaning your bathroom, it’s important to remember that bathrooms are typically comprised of a wide range of materials, from marble and tile to wood and metal. “Read the labels on cleaning products before you use them to make sure you're using the right product for the surfaces in your bathroom,” explains Matthews. “Never use toilet bowl cleaner in the shower, regardless of what you've seen on TikTok. Be extra careful when handling bleach and make sure you have adequate ventilation.”

Other things to avoid include not cleaning your bathroom surfaces out of order. Start with the cleanest surfaces like the mirror and countertop first to prevent spreading bacteria. Then move on to the sink and the tub or shower. Save the toilet for last. Also, make sure you aren’t using dirty cleaning supplies and that you have a dedicated cloth for different surfaces.

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