Not many people enjoy cleaning a bathroom. For a place that is meant for cleaning, it can get so very dirty. It’s a complicated space to clean, with so many different cleaning product options. Can you use the same thing to clean the sink and the shower? How can you keep your mirror and counters from looking streaky? But there’s something about freshly cleaned, gleaming bathroom surfaces that is just satisfying. We’ll walk you through our tips on the best ways to clean your bathroom and keep it squeaky clean, so it can keep you that way.

The first thing to do is assemble a kit and a method. Having all of your cleaning supplies together will help you to tackle the whole thing at once, rather than just cleaning the mirror and getting sidetracked on the way to the grout cleaner. Then, have a streamlined method with logical steps that are easy to repeat. 

Shower: try covering your showerhead with a bag filled with vinegar and letting it soak overnight, then run the water to rinse it out. Wash the plastic shower curtain liner in the washing machine every once in a while to prevent the buildup of mold and mildew, and add some towels to help scrub it all away. An easy investment for any bathroom is a long toothed plastic stick that can be put down drains to grab any hair or grime that clogs everything up and do that every couple of weeks. Finally, apply a foaming bathroom cleaner to the tub and let sit for fifteen minutes before scrubbing.

Sink: after wrapping up with the shower, simply spray down the sink with the same foaming cleanser and scrub. If you have a clog, try using your new stick friend that unclogged the shower drain, or pour some vinegar or baking soda down. For bathroom fixtures like faucets, try wiping down with white vinegar or dish soap and warm water. 

Grout: it’s almost unbelievable how quickly grout can become dirty and dingy. And because grout is porous and susceptible to bacteria growth, it’s important to give it a good scrub when needed. Just use a brush dipped in bleach and scrub away. You can also try using a sealant one or twice a year to keep out the moisture.

Tile: spray tile with an all-purpose cleaner and let the shower do the work for you. Get some steam going with hot water from the tap and shut the door, letting it all mix for around 20 minutes. This is also a good way to clean walls and ceilings. Then just wipe it all down with a cloth.

Toilet: is there anything baking soda can’t do? Pour a cup of it in the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes, then use your toilet brush or a sponge and scrub away.

There you have it! Soon your bathroom will be as sparkling as you, and with so much less hassle. 

There’s no such thing as the perfect bathroom. There’s always a nook that refuses to be clean, or the cabinets don’t quite line up, or the shower just isn’t the way you wanted it to be. Even those beautiful minimalist bathrooms, with their long expanses of neutral tones and subtle surfaces, can be unforgivable when it comes to maintenance. We can’t cover the solutions for everything in one article, so here we will only be helping those who are feeling spatial challenges.

There are upsides to having a small bathroom — it can feel cozy, and even intimate. But when it starts to feel claustrophobic, it’s time to take action. One of the easiest fixes is to use white finishes in your bathroom. The lack of color recedes on itself and opens the space up, and brightens the room so it doesn’t feel so dark and cramped. If white isn’t your style, almost any neutral will work as well. That goes for floors as well, so don’t pick dark wood or tiles hoping to feel like your room is larger than it is. You can still use brighter and darker colors, just save that for your accents rather than your main areas.

Use mirrors and lights to your advantage. The goal here is to magnify the amount of space you have, while preventing clutter on what little space you do have available. Try a large mirror over the bathroom sink to reflect all the light and color in the room, or even a collection of little mirrors arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way. Lighting is key, especially since most small bathrooms don’t have a great source of natural light. It should come from a variety of locations to brighten up the room and prevent shadowy areas. 

Similar to the effect of a large mirror is that of a glass wall or door instead of a shower curtain. Shower curtains are synonymous to walls and can close off even more of your precious square footage. With a glass wall you will be able to see the entire bathroom, and it elevates the space.

If you want to add some of 2019’s top bathroom trends to your space, try “floating” surfaces. That can be a ledge, or cabinet, or sink, or even toilet. It gives the illusion of opening up the floor space while still being functional and chic. 

Use tiling to your advantage. The natural lines that tiling creates can be used for a variety of optical illusions. Taking tiling all the way up to ceiling in your shower keeps transitions simple, and can make the room seem taller. If your bathroom is long and tunnel-shaped, try using subway tiles on the floor going perpendicular to the longer walls to expand the width. 

The most useful tip, though, is simply removing any unnecessary clutter. A neat small bathroom is one that is ten times more pleasant to be in than a messy large one. Keep your essentials like your toothbrush and towels out and accessible, but put the rest away until needed.