Tips for Speed Cleaning Your Bathroom

No one likes cleaning their bathroom, so why let it take any longer than it needs to? I have a smallish family bath that I clean (most of) weekly. The part I don't always get to is the all-glass shower; that means glass enclosure panels ‌and‌ glass tile. I don't squeegee after every shower (for shame!), so it gets very spotty between cleanings. I've tried several different cleaning solutions and methods on the shower and found that a simple spray of homemade cleaner works best — and it requires no scrubbing!

Follow along as I clean my glass shower lickity split and use some other tricks to clean the entire bathroom as quickly and effectively as possible.

This solution works well on glass, ceramic, and porcelain tile. Combine equal amounts of water and vinegar (I used 2/3 cup of each) and a few drops of dish soap in a spray bottle.

‌Note:‌ Don't use this solution (or any acidic materials such as vinegar or lemon juice) on natural stone tile. Instead, use water and a pH-neutral soap.

The first thing I do when I clean my bathroom is take everything off the countertop and wipe down the vanity and sinks with a disinfectant wipe (or two). I also like to wipe down the soap dispensers and anything else on the countertop that gets dirty before I put everything back.

I've heard so many hacks for cleaning a mirror (using newspaper, various solutions, even a dryer sheet), but I prefer just water and a microfiber cloth, such as this one from Norwex. Wet half of the cloth and use it to wet down the entire mirror. Then use the dry half of the cloth to dry the mirror, moving in circles.

Once the mirror is sparkling, you can use the microfiber cloth on any number of surfaces, to give the bathroom a quick once-over. I use it to polish all the chrome (faucets, drain stoppers, showerhead, shower door hardware), then I dust around the door and window and above the wall cabinet. This step takes less than a minute but it makes the entire bathroom look and feel that much cleaner.

Sprinkle or squirt some cleanser all around the inside of the toilet bowl so it can get to work while you clean the rest of the toilet. Using a disinfectant wipe, work from the least gross to the most gross parts: start with the top and tank, then the lid and around the base, and finish with the seat and (yuck) under and behind the seat. Finally, brush out the bowl, making sure to get the underside of the rim to keep the water jets clean. Congrats, you've just finished the worst part of cleaning your bathroom!

Wet down the glass shower door and enclosure panels and all the wall tile with water. (I use my detachable showerhead, but you can use a spray bottle or a wet towel.) Follow with the shower cleaning solution. If your shower is really dirty like mine was, you can let the solution sit for a few minutes. Wipe down the shower walls with a cloth or sponge (anything that won't scratch the glass).

Wet the shower base and sprinkle it with cleanser. Use something abrasive, such as a kitchen sponge, to scrub the shower base. If necessary, use a disinfectant wipe to clean any grimy or moldy nooks and crannies (this works great for pink slime!). Rinse the base with the shower spray.

This is an optional step that I do if I'm cleaning for guests; otherwise, I don't bother. It makes all that glass sparkle for a precious little time before the next time the shower is used. Quickly dry all of the glass with the microfiber cloth to remove water spots.

Sweep or vacuum the floor. I think sweeping is faster and is easier for getting in the corners and around the toilet. You can then mop with a wet Swiffer-type tool or any kind of mop — or, in a pinch, on your hands and knees with a disinfectant wipe. I have dark tile with dark grout (highly recommended for remodelers because it doesn't discolor over time), but if you have light-colored grout, you can scrub it with a non-abrasive sponge and warm water or, if that doesn't work, the same solution you used to clean the shower.

Congrats! You just cleaned your bathroom in record time. I use this method once a week to maintain a clean environment. If I'm in a hurry to clean before guests arrive, I'll use my microfiber cloth and a couple of disinfectant wipes to quickly freshen up the countertop, sinks, toilet, and mirror in just a few minutes.