Your bathroom sees a lot of action. One moment it’s clean, the next it’s a mess—making it probably the least favorite room to clean in your house.
However, we believe that when it’s kept tidy, this personal space can become an oasis—a spot to unwind and recharge while you shower, bathe, or prep in front of the mirror for your daily motivation.
Instead of waiting until the mess becomes overwhelming and requires a major deep clean, we suggest adopting small cleaning habits on a weekly or daily basis to stay ahead of the grime and clutter. Below, we’ve gathered some clever cleaning hacks for each part of your bathroom along with their recommended frequency.
Even though your toilet harbors plenty of germs, you don’t need expensive products to make it shine. Here’s a simple method using baking soda and vinegar:
Clean the bowl with baking soda and vinegar
Frequency: Once a week
This natural cleaning hack involves mixing equal parts baking soda and white vinegar. Pour the mixture into the toilet bowl, ensuring it reaches under the rim, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, scrub and rinse clean with your toilet brush. Incorporating this into your weekly routine will help prevent buildup, eliminating the need for harsher products.
Drip-dry the toilet brush
Frequency: After every use
To avoid the unpleasant accumulation of water at the bottom of your toilet brush holder, allow the brush to drip dry after each use. An easy method is to close the toilet seat and lid onto the handle of the brush, so the brush part hangs over the bowl.
Sprinkle baking soda into the bowl
Frequency: Daily
Baking soda’s abrasive nature makes it effective for cleaning. Sprinkle a small amount into the toilet bowl daily to help reduce the need for frequent deep cleanings. Consider using a cute salt or pepper shaker filled with baking soda, conveniently placed near your toilet.
These simple habits can help you maintain a clean and inviting bathroom space without the stress of a major cleaning session.
Clean glass shower walls with black tea
Frequency: Once a week
Glass shower walls may look luxurious, but they often accumulate stubborn lime deposits. Luckily, you can tackle this issue with a simple pantry item: black tea.
Brew two or three tea bags in hot water, then allow the tea to cool enough for dipping a microfiber towel into it. Watch as the tea effortlessly cuts through the grime.
Wipe down shower walls with a squeegee
Frequency: Every time you shower
In regions where water contains high levels of calcium, leaving behind a white residue, wiping down shower walls with a squeegee after each shower is a common practice. It’s a quick task that significantly reduces the frequency of scrubbing lime deposits.
Spray shower walls with vinegar
Frequency: Every time you shower
Vinegar is a versatile solution for many cleaning challenges, and shower grime is no exception. Keep a spray bottle with a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water in the bathroom. After each shower, generously spritz the walls with the solution to see noticeable improvements in cleanliness.
Scrub grout with baking soda
Frequency: Whenever you notice buildup
For those hard-to-reach areas like grout between tiles, baking soda can work wonders. Begin by wetting the shower surfaces, then sprinkle baking soda over the problematic areas. Allow it to sit for 10 minutes before scrubbing with an old toothbrush.
Wash a mildewy curtain of shower using baking soda and vinegar
Frequency: Once every 2 weeks
It’s easy to overlook washing the shower curtain, but it’s an essential step in maintaining a clean bathroom. To tackle mildew, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry detergent when washing the curtain. Run the machine on the hottest cycle, and add 1/2 cup of white vinegar just before the rinse cycle starts.
Clean gunky showerheads with vinegar
Frequency: Once a month
Your showerhead is often overlooked when it comes to cleaning, but it does require occasional attention. To thoroughly clean it, remove the showerhead and soak it in a bowl filled with white vinegar. If it’s heavily clogged, you can add some baking soda to the vinegar.
If removing the showerhead isn’t possible, fill a plastic bag with the same vinegar mixture, secure it around the showerhead with a rubber band, and let it soak for an hour before rinsing.
Magic-Erase grout in the shower
Frequency: Whenever you notice lime deposits building up
For quick spot cleans and removing buildup, a Magic Eraser can work wonders. Since it’s activated by water, it’s convenient to keep one in the shower to use after each shower.
Don’t forget about the sink
Sinks tend to accumulate dirt quickly due to stray hairs, toothpaste residue, and makeup. Here are some effective methods for keeping them clean:
Remove deposits on ceramic sink and porcelain with vinegar
Frequency: Whenever you notice deposits
Start by scrubbing away any dirt from your porcelain or ceramic sink with soap, water, and a sponge. Then, line the sink with paper towels soaked in white vinegar and let them sit for 30 minutes before rinsing.
Polish faucets with lemon juice
Frequency: Once a week
Simply cut a lemon in half and rub it over all the chrome parts of your sink and shower. Rinse it off afterward, and then buff with a towel for a sparkling finish.
Clean faucets with baking soda and a toothbrush
When: Once a week, or you can do whenever buildup appears
For faucets that require a deeper clean, sprinkle baking soda on the chrome. Then, wet an old toothbrush and scrub the faucets clean. Rinse thoroughly when finished.
Get to hard-to-reach spots with a chopstick
Frequency: Once a week
For those tight and tricky spots in your sink, sometimes a smaller tool is necessary. Wrap a cloth around the end of a chopstick to access even the tiniest areas. If there’s stubborn grime, sprinkle the targeted area with a mixture of water and baking soda before cleaning for a deeper cleanse.
Shine faucets with cooking spray
Frequency: Once a week
Cooking spray isn’t just for greasing pans—it can also work wonders on making your faucets shine like new. Simply spray the faucets and wipe them down with a rag for a sparkling finish.
Unclog the drain with Tums
Frequency: As needed
If you’re dealing with a clogged drain, Tums can come to the rescue! Drop four tablets and 1/2 cup of white vinegar down the drain, then let it sit for 10 minutes before pouring boiling water over it. Note: This method might not be effective for hair clogs, which may require a snake tool for removal.
Scrub the tub with grapefruit and salt
Frequency: Once every 2 weeks
While any citrus fruit can be used for cleaning, grapefruit is particularly effective due to its size. Splash water over the tub and its surrounding walls, then cut a grapefruit in half and sprinkle each half with coarse sea salt. Use the grapefruit halves to scrub every inch of the tub before rinsing thoroughly.
Clean the tub with cooking spray
Frequency: Whenever lime deposits start to build up
Oil is known to cut through lime deposits effectively. Grab your cooking spray again and give your tub a generous spray. Rinse with very hot water for a clean and shiny tub.
Make mirrors and windows spotless
Keeping the mirrors and windows in your bathroom clean on a weekly basis can make a big difference, especially if there’s vigorous tooth-brushing happening in your household.
Coat mirrors with shaving cream to prevent fogging
Frequency: Once every 2 weeks (or after each mirror cleaning)
Apply a thin layer of shaving cream over the entire mirror surface, then wipe it off with a cloth. This trick will keep your mirror from fogging up for about 2 weeks or until you clean it off with glass cleaner.
Clean windows with vinegar and rubbing alcohol
Frequency: Once a week
For crystal-clear windows, mix 2 parts white vinegar with 1 part rubbing alcohol. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the glass with this solution. Opt for cleaning when direct sunlight isn’t hitting the glass to make it easier to spot and eliminate streaks.
Freshen up your trash cans
Your bathroom trash can needs some attention too, especially each time you take out the trash. Here are some helpful tips:
Cut down on trash odor
Frequency: Whenever you take out the trash
After removing the plastic trash bag, rinse the trash can with warm water, then sprinkle baking soda on the bottom. This simple step helps prevent unpleasant odors.
Use Command hooks to help you hold bags in place
Frequency: Only once
Avoid the annoyance of a trash bag slipping into the bin by using 3M Command hooks to secure it in place. This simple solution only needs to be set up once.
Deodorize with cotton balls and essential oils
Frequency: Whenever you take out the trash
Add a pleasant scent to your trash can by dripping 10 drops of your favorite essential oil onto 3 cotton balls. Place them in the bottom of the trash can and repeat this process each time you take out the trash.
Other bathroom cleaning hacks to know about
Take your bathroom cleaning to the next level with these amazing tips that will truly enhance your bathroom experience. Challenge yourself to try one of these tricks each month!
Make a rice and essential oil deodorizer
Frequency: Once a month
Harness the natural odor-absorbing and moisture-absorbing properties of rice by creating a simple deodorizer. In a wide-mouthed mason jar, combine 2 cups of rice with 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Cover the jar with thin fabric or cheesecloth and place it in your bathroom to help prevent mildew and odors.
Use crushed aspirin as baking soda
Frequency: As needed
If you’re out of baking soda, don’t worry! Crush some aspirin and mix it with water to create an abrasive paste that can be used for cleaning.
Old toothbrush can be a specialized tool
Frequency: As needed
Get creative with an old toothbrush by melting it down and reshaping it into any form necessary to reach those small and tricky areas in your bathroom. Boil the toothbrush first, then, while wearing protective gloves, bend it into the desired shape.
Reuse old sponges
Frequency: As needed
Instead of throwing away old kitchen sponges, give them a new life by repurposing them for bathroom cleaning. This simple action not only reduces waste but also saves you money. Just remember to cut off one corner of the sponge to differentiate it from new ones.
