Let’s talk about the one room in the house that nobody wants to clean but everybody notices when it’s dirty—the bathroom. Between the toothpaste splatters, water spots, and mysterious floor gunk (how does it even get there?!), it can quickly go from sparkling to scary. And if you’ve got kids, you know that keeping the bathroom clean feels impossible most of the time! But don’t worry—you’re not alone! I’ve been there too, dreading the deep clean and wondering how it got so messy in the first place.
I’ve discovered that when you break bathroom cleaning into simple, manageable steps, it’s not nearly as overwhelming. There’s no magic wand (unfortunately), but with a few strategic moves, you can cut your bathroom cleaning time in half. Think of it as the “get in, get out, and get on with your day” approach. Whether you’re dealing with a full-blown disaster zone or just keeping up with daily maintenance, I’ve got you covered.
So if you’re looking for the best way to clean a bathroom fast, let’s get started!

Get Rid Of The Bathroom Counter Clutter
Decluttering your bathroom counters is a total game-changer when it comes to cleaning. The less you have sitting on the counter, the faster and easier it is to give it a quick wipe-down and keep things looking tidy. Start by removing anything you don’t use daily—like extra lotions, hair products, or decorative items that just collect dust. Store those in cabinets, drawers, or cute baskets under the sink, or just get rid of them if they are in the way!. For the essentials—think toothbrushes, soap, and skincare—use small trays or organizers to keep them corralled and out of the way. The goal is to keep the surface as clear as possible, so when it’s time to clean, you’re not playing Tetris with random items or knocking things over. Bonus: a clutter-free counter instantly makes the bathroom feel cleaner and more spacious!
Have a Grab-and-Go Cleaning Caddy
Let’s be real—half the battle of cleaning the bathroom is just getting started. That’s where a cleaning caddy comes in to save the day. Instead of running around the house searching for the glass cleaner, disinfectant, or a clean sponge, you’ve got everything you need in one portable spot. Stock your caddy with the essentials: all-purpose cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, glass cleaner, microfiber cloths, sponges, paper towels and disinfectant wipes. When it’s time to clean, you can simply grab the caddy and get to work without wasting time hunting down supplies. And when you’re done, everything goes back into the caddy, keeping your cleaning routine streamlined and hassle-free. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.

1. Clear The Counters
Start by removing everything from the countertops, shelves, and around the sink area. Move makeup, hair products, lotions, and any other daily essentials to drawers, cabinets, or storage baskets under the sink. Once you’ve decluttered and created designated spaces for these items, cleaning becomes much easier—you’ll no longer have to clean around a maze of products. By keeping surfaces as clear as possible, you will find cleaning your bathroom much easier and much faster!
2. Dust & Sweep
Before you spray any cleaners, take a few minutes to very quickly dust the light fixtures, vents, and any decorative shelves. A lot of dust can settle in the bathroom, and it’s much easier to clean when you’re not spraying dust around with a damp cloth. Then grab a broom or vacuum and sweep up any hair and debris from the floor (because let’s be real, there’s always hair). If you have little time, use a handheld vacuum to pick up.
3. Spray First
Start by spraying toilet bowl cleaner inside the bowl, making sure to get under the rim where grime tends to hide. Let it sit for a minute to break down any buildup. While you wait, spray an all-purpose cleaner or disinfectant on the sink and countertops, allowing it to sit for a minute to loosen dirt and stains. Go back to the toilet, scrub thoroughly with a toilet brush, and then flush to rinse the bowl. As the clean water flows, rinse off the toilet brush by holding it under the stream before placing it back in its holder.

4. Clean Mirrors and Glass Surfaces
Use a streak-free glass cleaner or a mix of vinegar and water to wipe down mirrors and glass shower doors. A microfiber cloth works best for a streak-free shine. If you’ve got stubborn water spots, a quick vinegar soak should do the trick!
5. Scrub the Sink and Countertops
By now, your cleaner should have loosened up the grime, making it easy to wipe down. Use a microfiber cloth or sponge to scrub the sink, faucet, and countertops. Pay extra attention to any soap scum or toothpaste splatters that magically appear every day (thanks, kids!). Don’t forget to give the faucet handles a good scrub too—they can be a hotspot for germs.
6. Clean the Floor
Wipe down any baseboards first, then mop the floor with a disinfectant solution. Make sure to get into the corners and around the base of the toilet, where grime loves to hide. For small bathrooms, I like using a handheld mop or just a damp cloth to get those hard-to-reach spots.

7. Scrubbing the Tub and Shower
Cleaning the tub and shower doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore if you tackle it efficiently. Start by spraying a heavy-duty bathroom cleaner or a soap-scum remover on the walls, fixtures, and floor of the tub or shower. Pay extra attention to areas prone to buildup, like around the drain and along the corners. Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes to break down grime, soap scum, and any mildew. Use a scrubbing brush or sponge to scrub the surfaces, moving in circular motions to lift stubborn spots. I like to use a toothbrush to get into hard to reach areas! Rinse thoroughly with warm water, making sure to wash away all residue. For an extra sparkle, wipe down the fixtures with a dry microfiber cloth. And to make future cleanings easier, keep a squeegee handy and do a quick wipe-down of the walls after each shower—it’s a small habit that saves you time in the long run! Once you start cleaning your shower and tub on a regular basis, it becomes so much easier to clean
8. Clean Towels & Bathroom Rugs
In order to clean the floor, you will need to remove any bathroom rugs in your bathroom, take the time to throw all towels and rugs into the laundry to give them a good clean! I know you’re thinking, “but I don’t have time to do a load of laundry!”. Yes you do, because all you are doing is throwing a load of laundry in (2 mins), moving the clothes over to the dryer (1 min), and then walking them back to the bathroom when they are dry!. All in all, this will maybe take 4 minutes, and you have fresh smelling towels!
9. Finishing Touches
Always make sure to empty the trash can, so your entire bathroom is nice and clean. Then, check what supplies need to be refilled, does your soap need to be filled up, or your flossers, or toilet rolls refilled?

My Recommendations For Weekly Bathroom Cleaning
If you don’t have a lot of time in your day to clean your entire bathroom, then do this! Just like we did above, I want you to break all your cleaning tasks into small, manageable cleaning tasks, now all you have to do is assign a cleaning task to each day. It may look something like this:
- MONDAY: Wipe down sinks & counters
- TUESDAY: Dust & sweep the floors
- WEDNESDAY: Clean toilet bowl
- THURSDAY: Scrub the tub & shower, wash towels & rugs
- FRIDAY:Get rid of any trash
Once you break cleaning your bathroom into very small manageable tasks, you can probably knock out cleaning in less than 15 minutes! It usually takes me less than 10 minutes to clean my bathroom!
My Recommendations for Daily Bathroom Cleaning
There are certain teeny tasks you can do each day to keep a clean bathroom without even thinking about it!
- After you brush your teeth each morning, wipe down the sink and faucet.
- Every other day wipe down the toilet bowl, this keeps your toilet nice and clean.
- Keep a squeegee or cleaning spray in the shower, and take 30 seconds after each use to wipe down the walls. It’s a small effort that prevents soap scum buildup and saves you time later.
Final Thoughts
Cleaning the bathroom doesn’t have to be a long, dreaded chore. With a solid step-by-step plan and a few daily habits, you can keep this space looking fresh and clean without spending hours scrubbing. Just remember—you’re not aiming for perfection. The goal is to create a clean, functional space where you can relax and recharge.
If cleaning the bathroom is an absolute nightmare for you, I highly recommend that you take the time to declutter and organize your bathroom. You will be shocked at how much more time you have when you get rid of clutter and have a place for your stuff to go! Getting things off your bathroom counter makes a huge difference when it comes to keeping a clean bathroom!
Other Cleaning Articles You May Like:
- How to Create a Spa-Like Bathroom
- Declutter Your Bathroom
- How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom
- How To Deep Clean Your Bathroom
- How To organize your bathroom counter
- How to transform your bathroom into a spa
- How to organize under your bathroom sink
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