The perfect quick and easy bathroom cleaning checklist

So you can get back to self-care time

Bathroom with pink and white tile and plants
(Image credit: Luke Butterfly)

As a kid, there was nothing more dreaded than the contemptible chore list. As an adult, you soon learn that having such a list can save you from stress and disorganization down the road. When making your ultimate bathroom cleaning checklist, it’s worth breaking the chores down by how frequently they need to be done. While cleaning the bathroom is one of the most boring things out there, you'll be happy to know not every task needs to be done every day (or even every week).

Here are the various chores needed for a squeaky clean bathroom. Feel free to buy yourself shiny stickers for more motivation. 

Daily bathroom cleaning checklist

  • Spray down your shower: There’s one cleaning tip that can leave your shower feeling fresh every day and that’s keeping a spray cleaning bottle nearby for daily sprays. Keep the bottle in your line of vision so that you remember. This small tip will save you from having to do deeper cleans more often.   
  • Organize dirty laundry: From dirty towels to socks left on the bathroom floor, putting a laundry hamper in your bathroom can save you the hassle of having to haul clothes from one place to another.  

Weekly bathroom cleaning checklist

  • Clean windows and mirrors: Without a clean mirror, doing your skincare or hair care routines well is impossible. Instead of looking into a smudge-filled mirror each morning, consider placing a small bottle of window and mirror cleaner nearby to remind you that you can have a perfectly clean mirror whenever needed. 
  • Clean faucets: It’s easy to forget that shower and sink faucets need love, too. A quick wipe down of these is the best way to have your bathroom feeling a little extra clean and fresh. Not to mention, it cuts down on germs.
  • Clean the toilet: No one likes cleaning the toilet, but as one of the most bacteria-ridden areas of your home, it’s a vital place to spend your cleaning time. With many products on the market to help make the process easier, this is an area where spending money on tools can be a helpful way to motivate you to clean weekly. 
  • Sweep and mop floors: By sweeping and mopping at least once a week, you can keep your feet clean post-shower each morning. Go even further by popping your bathroom rugs in the washing machine once a week for a perfectly fresh feeling. Don't forget to clean your bathroom trash can when moving it out of the way.

Monthly bathroom cleaning checklist

  • Declutter cabinets: Whether you tend to hang on to expired cosmetics or can't say no to a free sample, these products end up sitting in your bathroom for years if you forget. A big once-a-month or seasonal decluttering session can help make way for more room for the items you actually like. 
  • Give the bathtub and shower a deep clean: Perhaps one of the most dreaded parts of cleaning your home, scrubbing your bathroom can be very rewarding. There’s nothing that makes you feel more hygienic in the mornings (or at night) than stepping into a freshly-cleaned shower or tub. Some cleaning experts recommend deep cleaning your tub every two weeks, which will keep your tub feeling fresh longer. If you're not down for that cadence, monthly is okay, too.
  • Get your bathroom ready for guests: During the holidays (or any time of year when you’re expecting guests), it is worth it to pay extra attention to your bathroom care. Whether that means you need to stock extra towels and toilet paper or clean more often, cleaning your bathroom is the most generous act you can do for friends and fam. 
Kate Santos
Contributor

Hello! I’m Kate Santos, a writer and photographer based in Los Angeles. In the design world, I got my start working as an Editorial Intern for Dwell magazine in San Francisco. Since then, I’ve written about design and architecture in many national magazines and online publications, including Playboy, Hunker, and The Culture Trip.

I grew up in a very old house in North Carolina and am still influenced by the rustic, charming, antique and aged elements of a home. Sustainability and longevity is extremely important to me and I believe learning to reuse materials or purchasing items you’ll love forever goes a long way. I also lean towards the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi when designing my own home, embracing the perfectly imperfect items I can find. 

Latest in Cleaning
A living room with a white brick walll, a fireplace with logs next to it, a wooden coffee table with books on it, and a brown leather armchair
How to do a fall reset — 5 easy steps that are approved by designers and cleaners
A white laundry room with three purple, blue, and pink floral laundry bags
This TikTok laundry bag hack is a game-changer for dorm dwellers
A blue Scrub Daddy inside a pan with a gray interior and a peach lid and handle on top of a black hob
I swear by this sponge for cleaning surfaces in my home — it has changed my life for the better
Multicolored clothes hanging on a domestic backyard washing line on a windy day, hung by multicolored pegs - for article on how to remove mildew from clothes
How to remove mildew from clothes — 5 steps to glowing garments
Window screens on floor
How to clean window screens — 5 steps to gleaming glass
A white Roborock Qrevo S Vacuum in its base with a woven basket and a plant stand either side of it
I tried the Roborock Qrevo S Vacuum — it's a clever and chic time-saver
Latest in Advice
A collection of purple and red flower pots on a wooden table in a backyard with grass
The outdoor plants you need to protect for winter, according to gardening experts
A white watering can with a gold handle and spout watering a green monstera plant
How often to water monstera, according to gardening pros
Three pictures of pothos plant care - one of a hand spritzing it, one close-up of the leaves, and one of a hand wiping it with a cloth
How to care for a pothos plant — 4 simple steps for stunning leaves
Purple indoor plant
Best purple indoor plants – 6 easy to grow beauties that will add some dark drama
A living room with a white brick walll, a fireplace with logs next to it, a wooden coffee table with books on it, and a brown leather armchair
How to do a fall reset — 5 easy steps that are approved by designers and cleaners
A collection of dark green monstera plants in front of a beige wall with a white door
How to propagate monstera — 5 easy steps for new leafy plants