8 Tips to Give Your Bathroom the Deep Clean It Deserves!

Woman deep cleaning bathroom tub

Regular cleaning of your bathroom keeps it usable and presentable from week to week, but deep cleaning also focuses on the hard-to-reach—and harder-to-clean—areas. For example, you do not need to unclog your showerhead weekly, but you should during a deep cleaning to keep water pressure at its highest. The bathroom typically ranks as the room in the house most in need of deep cleaning, even if kept tidy. It simply gets too much use—use that involves water—to remain spotless for long. Bring the sparkle back to your bathroom by following these eight tips.

1. Bathroom Cleaning Supplies and Products

Keep the following items on hand, and you have everything you need to deep clean your bathroom:

  • Glass cleaner
  • All-purpose cleaner
  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar
  • Tile and grout cleaner; use an acid-based cleaner to tackle soap buildup
  • Bucket; opt for a double-sided one for the best results
  • Grout brush
  • Microfiber
  • Toilet brush
  • Rubber gloves; your hands will thank you
  • Broom or vacuum
  • Microfiber mop
  • Extendible duster

2. Deep Cleaning Bathroom Checklist

Create a checklist of all items in the bathroom that need deep cleaning and make the checklist a to-do on your monthly chores list so it never gets missed. You’ll aim to clean every surface in the bathroom.

Bathrooms vary in their setup, but your list should include, at the minimum:

  • Shower and/or bathtub and any grout
  • Showerhead
  • Shower doors and any handles
  • Bathroom sink
  • Bathroom counters
  • The toilet, inside and outside
  • Light fixtures and vents
  • Mirrors
  • Floors and any grout
  • Bathmats and any other rugs
  • Trash can

3. Cleaning Glass Shower Doors and Removing Water Stains

The constant use of water and soap in the bathtub and/or shower results in buildup and spots. To deep clean the shower, whether fiberglass or another material, follow these steps:

  1. Start by removing shampoos, conditioners, and the like
  2. Then spray your all-purpose cleaner on all surfaces and let it sit.
  3. Wipe down the items you removed from the shower.
  4. Once done, begin scrubbing the shower with the microfiber, working your way around until all surfaces are clean.
  5. To remove stubborn spots and stains from glass shower doors, spray more all-purpose cleaners, also letting it sit longer, and then wipe clean.
  6. Once cleaned, wipe down with a clean, dry cloth.

To clear a clogged showerhead, you have two options. You can remove the showerhead, soak in diluted vinegar and boil in water, or you can fill a plastic bag with diluted vinegar, place it over the showerhead so it sits in the vinegar and tie the bag closed, letting it sit overnight to break down the water deposits.

4. Bathtub Cleaning Tricks

If the bathtub and/or shower itself also have stubborn spots and stains, use the all-purpose cleaner as stated above. If that doesn’t do the trick, try applying a layer of baking soda. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes, then tackle it again with a microfiber.

5. Deep Cleaning Tile and Grout

Keeping any tile and grout in the bathtub and/or shower clean requires both regular and deep cleaning. Get more tips on How to Clean Grout and Tile.

6. How to Deep Clean Bathroom Floors

Most bathrooms have tile floors, as they stand up best to water. To deep clean your tiles and grout, start by vacuuming on the hard-surface setting. Vacuuming proves more effective than sweeping, which can also cause dirt to scratch your tiles and to embed in grout. Then follow with a microfiber mop dipped in diluted tile and grout cleaner. Be sure to use only cleaners safe for the type of tile you have. Use the grout brush to tackle any stains in those areas.

7. Toilet Cleaning Tips and Getting Out Toilet Stains

The same paste you used to rid your bathtub and/or shower of stubborn stains and spots also works for the toilet.

8. Getting Rid of Pesky Bathroom Mold

If you are still having trouble removing mold from various areas in your bathroom, try one of these solutions. As with any new cleaning product, test it in a small area first to ensure it does not cause damage.

  • Bleach — 1 part bleach, 2 parts water
  • Vinegar — Do not dilute
  • Borax — 1 cup borax, 1-gallon water
  • Hydrogen peroxide — 3 percent and do not dilute

Let Molly Maid Tackle the Bathroom

Let’s be honest. Do you really feel like cleaning your bathroom? Call the professionals at Molly Maid, a Neighborly company now to connect directly with your local Molly Maid. Each maid services team comprises bonded, insured, licensed, and uniformed housekeepers who are regularly supervised. Click here to request service in your area.


This resource is provided to help DIYers clean their own homes. It is not intended to reflect the steps taken by Molly Maid’s professional cleaning teams. Each franchise is independently owned and operated. Services may vary by location.