Deep cleaning of your bathroom is essential to maintaining a fresh and hygienic living space. If you’re struggling to do a deep clean of your bathroom and are wondering how often to do it, you’re in the right place. In this post, you’ll learn how to deep clean a bathroom, step by step, and keep it spotless every time.
Supplies and Tools Needed
- Soft Scrub/barkeeper paste shower cleaner / or bio-clean (choose a cleaner suitable for your shower/ bath floor type)
- Disposable gloves
- Scrub brush or sponge
- Microfiber cloths
- Glass cleaning cloths
- Spray bottle filled with water (optional)
- Glass cleaner
- Vinegar (optional)
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Paper towels (optional)
- All-purpose cleaner/disinfectant
- Magic eraser
- An old toothbrush/ crevice /grout brush
- Step Stool Ladder
- An electrostatic duster
- Vacuum
- Mop
Bathroom Deep Cleaning Checklist
Here is my bathroom deep cleaning checklist.

How to deep clean a bathroom
Instructions and Precautions
1. Preparation.
For your safety, it’s crucial to put on gloves to protect your hands. Additionally, open windows or turn on the ventilation to ensure proper airflow.Open windows and turn on the exhaust fan.
Remove items: Clear countertops, shelves, and the floor of all removable items, such as toiletries, bath mats, and trash cans.
2. Dust the bathroom exhaust fans/ vents, the walls, and light fixtures.
Use a duster, vacuum hose, and crevice brush to remove visible dust and cobwebs from vents, walls, and corners. If necessary, use a step stool or ladder to reach the fans and vents. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the light fixtures as well.
3. Clean the shower head, faucet, and grout on the shower wall.
Pour a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar into a plastic bag. Immerse the shower heads in the liquid, tying a rubber band around the bag to hold it.
Let it soak for 20-30 minutes to dissolve the soap scum. Use an old toothbrush or crevice brush to clean any remaining residue; rinse and dry. You can omit this step if you are not using vinegar. Just apply the hard water/soap scum like Bio-Clean remover on the shower head, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wash it off.
Apply the cleaner to the walls, grout, and faucets. Use a wall duster and a crevice or grout brush to scrub the grout on the walls, if any, then rinse. Use a sponge or microfiber cloth to clean the faucets as well, and rinse thoroughly.

4. Clean the shower, bathtub, and grout.
Spray with cleaner. Wet the bathtub /shower tub and grout with water using a spray bottle. Spray or apply the cleaner, such as Soft Scrub all-purpose or your favorite cleaner, directly onto the surfaces.
Ensure that you cover all the surfaces you plan to clean. Let the cleaner sit for 20-30 minutes to allow it to break down the stains.
Scrub surfaces: Use a scrub brush, drill brush, wall duster, or sponge to thoroughly scrub the bathtub surfaces, walls, floor, and any fixtures (such as showerheads and faucets). For tough stains, use a mildew stain remover. Focus on areas with heavy stains or soap scum buildup. You can also use a wet Magic Eraser to scrub off tough stains or a mildew stain remover.
Use a crevice brush or an old toothbrush to reach hard-to-reach corners and crevices. For stained grout, use a grout brush and grout cleaner.

Clean the shower door or curtain: Use glass cleaner or bathroom cleaner to scrub the shower door. If you have a shower curtain, wash it in the washing machine following the label’s instructions or replace it.
Rinse
After cleaning, it’s essential to rinse the bathtub with water to remove all the stains. Use a detachable showerhead or cup to rinse the surfaces and walls thoroughly.
Additional Cleaning
For tough stains or extra cleaning power, spray vinegar or add the tub cleaner to the surfaces and scrub again before rinsing.
Dry
To prevent watermarks from forming, dry the bathtub thoroughly with a microfiber cloth or an old towel.
5. Clean the toilet
Flush the toilet.
Apply toilet bowl cleaner: Squirt cleaner under the rim and let it sit for the recommended time (check the product label).
Clean the exterior: Spray the outside of the toilet (including the base, tank, and handle) with disinfectant. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
Scrub the bowl: Use a toilet brush to thoroughly scrub the inside of the bowl, paying particular attention to stains and mineral buildup.
Flush again: Flush the toilet to rinse away the cleaner.
Clean the seat and lid: Disinfect both sides of the seat and lid. Wipe clean.

6. Tackle the mirrors and vanity.
Dust the mirrors using an electrostatic duster to remove dust. Then, use a commercial or DIY glass cleaner and a glass cleaning cloth to clean and shine the mirrors from top to bottom.
Dust and wipe down all the vanities in the bathroom and arrange everything nicely.
7. Clean sinks and countertops
Clean and wipe down all the countertops and sinks in the bathroom with an all-purpose cleaner. Use a sponge or scrub brush to clean the sink basin, focusing on the faucet and drain.
Rinse, dry, and rearrange the surfaces neatly.
Polish fixtures: Use a clean, dry microfiber cloth to polish the faucet and other fixtures.

8. Cabinets and Drawers:
Empty cabinets and drawers: Remove all items from inside.
Wipe down interiors: Use a damp cloth with a mild cleaner to wipe down the inside surfaces of cabinets and drawers.
Clean exteriors: Wipe down the outside of the cabinets and drawers with a damp cloth and cleaner.
Organize and return items: Once dry, organize your items and return them to their places.
9. Collect the trash /replace the garbage bag.
Empty all the trash cans and collect all the trash; replace the garbage bags.
10. Sweep or vacuum the floors and clean the baseboards.
Sweep or vacuum all the floors and clean the baseboards. Mop the floors according to their type. Dry and put everything in its place.
Precautions to take when deep cleaning the bathroom
1. Always wear gloves to protect your skin from chemicals in the cleaning products.
2. Avoid mixing cleaning products, as it may create toxic fumes.
3. Ensure proper ventilation while cleaning to avoid inhaling strong fumes.
4. Test the cleaners on a small, inconspicuous area first to check for any adverse effects on the surface.
5. Avoid using acidic cleaning products, such as vinegar, on stone, granite, or marble, as they can etch or damage the surfaces.
Secrets to deep cleaning your bathroom when you hate doing it?
Nobody enjoys cleaning the bathroom, especially the toilet. Most people hate it! However, let’s face it, this is one of the most critical areas in the home and must be maintained at a high standard of hygiene. But how do you do it when you hate it? Here are 12 secrets to make the task more manageable:
Set a timer
Limiting your cleaning time can help make the task feel less overwhelming. Set a timer for a specific duration, such as 15 or 30 minutes, and focus on accomplishing as much as possible within that timeframe.
Break it down
Instead of trying to clean the entire bathroom at once, break the task down into smaller, more manageable steps. For example, one day, you can focus on cleaning the mirrors and countertops, and another day, the toilet and shower, and so on.
Play music or listen to your favorite podcast.
Put on some upbeat music or listen to your favorite podcast or music while cleaning to make the time pass more quickly and create a more enjoyable atmosphere.
Use naturally scented cleaning products.
Opt for cleaning products with pleasant, natural scents that you enjoy. Naturally scented products can make the cleaning process more enjoyable and leave your bathroom smelling fresh and clean.
Open the windows
Allowing natural light and fresh air to enter can make cleaning more pleasant and create a more inviting atmosphere in the bathroom.
Reward yourself
After completing the cleaning task, treat yourself to a reward or take some time to relax. Knowing that a reward is waiting for you can help motivate you to get through the chore.
Declutter regularly
To make cleaning easier, try to reduce clutter in your bathroom. Keep only essential items on the countertops and utilize storage solutions to keep things organized. Decluttering helps prevent the buildup of clutter and alleviates feelings of overwhelm and fear.
Multitask
While you’re in the bathroom, take the opportunity to multitask by doing other small chores, such as wiping down the sink while brushing your teeth or cleaning the shower while you’re waiting for your hair mask to set.
Involve the family
Get your family members involved in the cleaning process. Delegate tasks and create a cleaning schedule so that everyone is responsible for maintaining a clean bathroom.
Clean regularly
Regular maintenance can help prevent the buildup of dirt and grime, making deep cleaning sessions less frequent and easier to manage. Try to do minor cleaning tasks daily or weekly to stay on top of the mess.
Hire help
If you dislike cleaning or have a busy schedule that makes it challenging to find time to clean the bathroom, consider hiring a professional cleaning service provider to do the job. It can be worth the investment to have a sparkling clean bathroom without the hassle and stress.
Deep cleaning your bathroom, especially the bathtub, enhances the overall appearance and promotes a healthier environment. Regular maintenance and thorough cleaning, using products like Soft Scrub, can help keep your bathroom looking fresh and clean.
Please let me know if this post was helpful to you. If so, I would appreciate it if you could share a picture of a bathroom you recently cleaned, following the steps I shared above.