Everyone loves a sparkling clean bathroom, but if you find yourself overwhelmed by the work it takes to keep it that way, it may be time to rethink your approach. According to an expert in the cleaning business, five simple habits can help keep your bathroom cleaner longer—and make deep cleaning easier too.
“Cleaning becomes more manageable when it is quick, easy, and part of a routine,” says Michael Silva-Nash, president of Molly Maid. “By building these habits into a routine, deep cleaning becomes less necessary and, when it is needed, a much shorter and easier task.”
Here’s the quick and easy routine he recommends to keep a bathroom clean between deep cleanings. Give these habits a try, and you’ll be surprised by the difference they make.
1. Vacuum—Give Bathroom Floors and Rugs a Daily Once-Over
Keep a small vacuum near the bathroom for the job.
“Bathrooms and rugs quickly accumulate debris such as hair, skin cells, lint, and clothing fibers, along with moisture-related buildup due to the naturally humid environment. Vacuuming daily helps remove this debris before it turns into a larger, harder-to-clean mess,” Silva-Nash says.
2. Squeegee After Showering
“Using a squeegee after a shower cleans up one of the main contributors to bathroom grime: standing mineral-rich water. A shower can look clean right after use, but once water evaporates, it leaves behind dissolved minerals, soap ingredients, body oils, and microscopic residue. Using a squeegee every day helps prevent this buildup.”
3. Give Sinks, Faucets, and Counters a Daily Wipe-Down
Keep sanitizing wipes near the sink so they’re easy to grab for this task.
“Sinks, faucets, and counters are high-contact, high-moisture surfaces, so they tend to collect buildup faster than most people realize. If these areas aren’t wiped down daily, grime builds up and becomes harder to clean later,” says Silva-Nash.
4. Use a Hair Catcher or Nylon Netting Over Shower and Tub Drains
“Hair is the biggest culprit of bathroom clogs, and using a drain cover is the absolute best way to prevent a clog. A couple of strands of hair here and there may not seem like such a big problem, but once down the drain, these strands tangle together and mix with soap residue and skin oils to grow into a mass that will eventually need a professional plumber to remove.”
5. Make Sure Your Bathroom Has Proper Airflow
“Open windows and leave the bathroom fan on for longer than you think (up to 30 minutes after use),” says Silva-Nash. “Airflow reduces moisture, which in turn reduces the likelihood that surfaces remain hospitable to bacterial growth.”
Now that you have your daily routine down, avoid these common bathroom cleaning mistakes:
Don’t confuse disinfecting and cleaning: “One common misconception is that disinfecting and cleaning are the same thing,” says Silva-Nash. “While disinfectants help kill germs, they don’t always remove buildup like soap scum, hard water stains, or residue on their own. The best results usually come from using the right cleaning products and techniques together.”
Don’t waste time cleaning what you don’t have to: “People tend to overclean guest bathrooms that aren’t used often,” he says. “If it isn’t being used, save the time and clean something else instead.”
Terri Robertson has been an editor and storyteller for more than 20 years. As Deputy Digital Editor at Country Living, she curates daily newsletters and has found a niche writing about odd corners of the internet and people embracing American life off the beaten path. She’s passionate about gardening and nature, writing about everything from super monarchs to supermoons. She also contributes to Country Living’s entertainment coverage, including HGTV stars, popular TV shows, and music. Terri began her career proofreading Southern Living cookbooks—a first job befitting an English major with a childhood penchant for reading her mom’s cookbooks—and went on to edit many food, garden, and lifestyle titles. She later worked for the University of Alabama’s marketing and communications division, capturing the stories of students and faculty. Returning to lifestyle media in 2017, she covered local arts, culture, and business news in Birmingham, Alabama, for Bham Now and later served as digital media manager for Flower magazine, a luxury home, garden, and lifestyle publication, before finding her home at Country Living. She and her husband live with their four cats in Birmingham.
