How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom

We all know this isn't the most glamourous of household jobs but when it comes to dirt and bacteria build-up, your bathroom is the most susceptible room in your house. This means that when it comes to deep cleaning your bathroom, it's something that needs to be taken seriously, even more so given the current situation we all find ourselves in. But we hope our tips and tricks will help you out to become more organised and make the whole process a lot less painful along the way.

Preparation - Getting Your Bathroom Ready For A Deep Clean

Before the deep clean begins, it's important to start by clearing away anything that could get in your way. This includes:

• Shampoo and other bottles
• Bath mats & towels
• Any decor that sits on countertops etc.

Clearing out these items and placing them in another room should give you a clean slate to work on.

Removing What You Can See - Dusting and Sweeping

First things first, you will want to dust all your different bathroom surfaces to remove any surface dirt that is sitting on them. Once this is done and all your surfaces are dusted, vacuum or sweep your bathroom floor to remove any dirt from there and any dust that may have fallen from your surfaces onto the floor. This method of dusting surfaces first then tackling the floor is a great way to maximise how much dirt you remove and saves you time as well. Before we move on, you will want to give your bath or shower tray a good spray down that the bathroom cleaner of your choice to make life easier down the road.

How to Remove Stubborn Dirt in The Bathroom

If you have any stubborn areas of dirt or dust, don't be afraid to spray on a bit of bathroom cleaner to spot treat these areas before we go on to cleaning the whole bathroom. Ensure you use the right cleaner for the surface you're working on such as not using an abrasive cleaner on taps and glass. Then wipe dry with a dry lint-free cloth to avoid water spots.

Deep Cleaning The Bathroom

This is where the deep clean really begins. We've removed all the visible dust and dirt from your surfaces, now it's time to tackle the things we can't see. Bathrooms can harbour a lot of bacteria and even viruses that are invisible to the human eye. Don't worry though, these next steps will make short work of them.

Wiping Down Your Surfaces

Now all your surfaces are free of visible dust and dirt, it's time to use the bathroom cleaning spray of your choice to go back over them to remove all the invisible nasties that may have decided to take residency in your bathroom. simply spray directly onto the surface your cleaning, give it a good wipe with a clean lint-free cloth and then dry using a second cloth. The process of drying does add time to the cleaning but eliminates the chances of leaving behind any water or cleaner spots that could make your clean surfaces look dirty.

Start with higher up surfaces first such as towel rails and shelves, this is a great way of maximising your cleaning time because any dirt that escapes your cloth will fall to the lower surfaces, then when you clean those they'll be removed. Also, make sure you use a glass cleaner for your bathroom windows and any shower glass as normal cleaning sprays can leave streaks (speaking from experience).

Cleaning a Shower and Bath

Now it's time to tackle the shower and or bath area of the room. Because we allowed the cleaner to soak in from earlier, a simple wipe down should be all that's needed to easily remove any dirt and grime. Use a soft cloth or sponge for this, and work from top to bottom. From here you will be able to see any spots around the bath or shower that could need extra attention. If you have a lot of limescale build-up for example, now's the time to tackle this, same with any grime built up on the tile grout. For tiles, you can use an old toothbrush and a purpose-made grout cleaner. Spray on your cleaner and allow it to dwell for 10-15 minutes. A quick scrub and a wipe down later and it should look a lot better than before.

How to Remove Limescale In The Bathroom

Some areas of your bathroom will require more attention during a deep clean such as areas with limescale. Our recommendation when tackling limescale is to always wear gloves and check whether your chosen cleaning products are suitable for the job. Theirs a wide range of off-the-shelf limescale cleaners on the market but we find that you can make a natural limescale cleaner at home that can be just as if not more effective as the shop-bought sprays, without harsh chemicals.

To create your own limescale busting spray at home is quite simple. First, find and rinse out an empty spray bottle. Once you have that, fill half with white wine vinegar then top it up with an equal amount of water. If you want to, you can also use lemon juice instead of white wine vinegar. Take your spray bottle and spray down any stubborn limescale spots around your bathroom and let it get to work and soak for at least 30 minutes. After 30 minutes is up if should scrub away very easily.

If you have limescale built up on your showerhead, the process is just as simple but a little bit different. Find a ziplock or watertight carrier bag and fill it with just white wine vinegar. From there, place it over your showerhead or tap spout and tie it in place (we recommend hair ties or elastic bands). We find it's best to leave this overnight to work it's magic, then in the morning remove the bag and give your tap or showerhead a rinse, revealing a beautifully clean surface.

Cleaning the Toilet

This is the job we all dread, the toilet! A second pair of gloves and sponges are highly recommended when tackling this area of the bathroom for obvious reasons, ideally in a different colour so you have toilet cleaning supplies and rest-of-the-bathroom supplies. Starting with the bowl, get some bleach and pour a good amount all around the entire bowl, allowing it to soak in for a few minutes before grabbing your toilet brush and scrubbing away any dirt.

If your toilet is suffering from a build-up of limescale, our old friend white wine vinegar is here to save the day once again. Our the solution around the bowl the same way you did the bleach only this time let it soak for a good 3-4 hours. After it had a good soak, go back in with your brush and all the limescale should come off easily. Once you're all done, give the toilet a good flush and it should be sparkling clean.

Mop the Floor

Now your bathroom is looking amazing, you'll probably find that some of the dirt and dust you've been removing has avoided your cloths and made it's way to the floor. We've already swept the floor but if you can see any new patches of dirt, simply sweep them before we start mopping. Theirs lots of choice when it comes to bathroom floor cleaners, so grab your favourite and add the recommended amount to a bucket and fill with boiling water, grab your mop and head back to the bathroom.

Dip your mop in the bucket then strain it out. Make sure you mop from the furthest point away from the door backwards so you don't trap yourself in the room.

Keeping A Bathroom Clean

Now you've put in the elbow grease to make your bathroom sparkle, you'll probably want to keep it that way. Here are some tips on how to do just that.

Clean Little & Often

The best way to avoid having to do another deep clean (for a while anyway as they are important) is to clean little bits regularly. Whether it's making a note to wipe down surfaces every other day, mopping the floor once a week or a monthly clean and polish of your shower glass. These small cleaning jobs will keep your bathroom looking great and make it so you don't need to deep clean as often.

Clean Toothpaste Straight Away

The most common bathroom stain, and the one that and ruin the look of any bathroom is a toothpaste stain. It's inevitable when brushing your teeth that toothpaste will get into the basin. But, if it's left to dry out it can leave an unsightly stain. Make sure you clean off any toothpaste straight away to keep your bathroom looking amazing.

Shower Recesses

Shower recesses are great ways of increasing the storage space in your bathroom and reducing clutter. However, make sure you don't overcrowd them with products and neglect to clean them out at the same time you're cleaning the wall it's in.

Squeegees

When it comes to shower glass or even the glass panel on a shower bath, s squeegee makes life so much easier when it comes to keeping the glass clean and clear. After your shower, simply run the squeegee down the glass to remove any excess water and eliminate water spots.