Water marks, soap residue, steam and daily use make the bathroom one of the quickest rooms in a home to lose its shine. These bathroom cleaning tips are for Woking households who want the room to stay fresh between cleans, with a few minutes of effort a day rather than an hour of scrubbing at the weekend.
1. Wipe the sink, taps and mirror after use
Splashes dry into marks within hours. A quick wipe of the sink, taps, mirror and any worktop after the morning rush stops residue building up. Keep a microfibre cloth in the room so it is always to hand; thirty seconds is usually enough.
2. Dry the shower screen
Glass screens show water spots almost straight away, and hard water leaves limescale as it dries. A small squeegee or a dry cloth after each shower removes most of the water before it can mark the glass, and it keeps the tiles and the shower tray cleaner too.
3. Ventilate after every bath or shower
Steam that stays in the room settles as condensation on walls, ceilings and window frames, and that is where damp smells and mould start. Run the extractor fan during and after a shower, or open the window if there is no fan. Wipe condensation off the window and sills before it soaks into the sealant.
Government guidance on damp and mould in the home names condensation as one of the most common causes of damp and mould. It says residents can usually deal with condensation and very small amounts of mould using a mould and mildew cleaner, with gloves and good ventilation, and that larger areas need a professional and a look at the cause.
4. Keep on top of limescale
Limescale gathers on shower heads, taps and screens, especially where water is hard. Little and often is easier than one big job:
- wipe taps and the shower head with a descaling product once a week, following the label
- for a clogged shower head, soak it in a limescale remover or diluted white vinegar, then rinse well
- test any product on a small area first, as some finishes and natural stone are easily damaged
Never mix bleach with other cleaning products. Some combinations give off harmful fumes, and the room is small and often closed.
5. Change towels and empty the bin often
Damp towels hold moisture and smells. Hang them spread out so they dry quickly, and swap hand towels every few days. Empty the bathroom bin before it overflows; it is an easy job to forget and one of the first things a visitor notices.
6. Give high-touch points a weekly wipe
Some spots are handled many times a day but rarely look dirty: the flush handle, tap tops, the door handle, the light switch or pull cord and the edge of the sink. Wipe them once a week with a household cleaner, then clean the toilet and mop the floor while you have the cloths out.
Jobs that need a deeper clean
Daily habits slow the build-up, but some jobs still need time and the right products every few months:
- discoloured grout between tiles
- the shower tray, drain and the seals around the bath
- behind and around the base of the toilet
- the extractor fan cover, which collects dust and stops the fan working well
- heavy limescale on glass and tiles
A regular domestic cleaning visit can take care of the weekly bathroom work for you. When grout and limescale have built up over a long time, a one-off deep clean brings the room back to a standard that is easy to keep. For the room next door, see our kitchen cleaning tips.
Want the deeper jobs done for you? Call 01483 773531 or send us a message and tell us what your bathroom needs.