Professional cleaners know tricks that make bathroom cleaning faster and more effective. After cleaning thousands of bathrooms, we've learned what really works. Here are our best secrets for a spotless bathroom.
Secret #1: Let Products Do the Work
The biggest mistake people make is scrubbing immediately. Pros know to let cleaning products sit:
- Spray toilet and let sit - Apply cleaner to toilet bowl first thing. By the time you clean everything else, it's ready to scrub.
- Spray shower, then do other tasks - Let cleaner work on soap scum for 5-10 minutes before wiping.
- Soak tough spots - Lay paper towels soaked in cleaner on stubborn stains.
Secret #2: Work Top to Bottom
Always clean in this order:
- Mirrors and light fixtures (highest)
- Shower walls and doors
- Countertops and sink
- Toilet (top to bottom)
- Baseboards
- Floor (last - catches everything that fell)
This way, dust and drips fall onto surfaces you haven't cleaned yet.
Secret #3: The Right Tools Matter
Use These
- • Microfiber cloths - Don't spread dirt around
- • Old toothbrush - Perfect for grout and tight spots
- • Scrub brush with handle - Saves your hands
- • Squeegee - For streak-free glass
- • Grout brush - Stiff bristles for tile lines
Skip These
- • Paper towels on mirrors - Leave lint behind
- • Steel wool - Scratches everything
- • Same cloth for toilet and sink - Cross-contamination
- • Regular mop - Hard to get behind toilet
Secret #4: Toilet Cleaning the Pro Way
Most people miss spots on the toilet. Here's how pros do it:
- Start with the inside - Apply bowl cleaner, let it work while you do the outside
- Clean the outside top to bottom - Tank, handle, lid (top and bottom), seat (top and bottom), rim, outside of bowl, base
- Don't forget the hinges - Gunk builds up in seat hinges
- Clean behind and around the base - Where it meets the floor is often neglected
- Now scrub inside - Under the rim, then the bowl, then flush
- Use separate cloth - Never use toilet cloth on anything else
Secret #5: Shower Glass That Actually Shines
Getting shower glass truly clean takes the right approach:
For Light Buildup
Spray with vinegar and water (50/50). Wipe with microfiber cloth. Squeegee dry. Buff any spots.
For Heavy Buildup
Make paste of baking soda and dish soap. Apply with non-scratch scrubber. Let sit 15 minutes. Scrub in circles. Rinse completely. Squeegee and buff.
Pro Tip
After cleaning, apply Rain-X to shower glass. Water will bead off and glass stays cleaner longer.
Secret #6: Grout That Looks New
Dirty grout makes the whole bathroom look dingy. Pro approach:
- Make paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide
- Apply to grout lines with old toothbrush
- Let sit 10-15 minutes
- Scrub with grout brush in small sections
- Rinse thoroughly - soap residue attracts dirt
- Dry completely
For severe stains: Use oxygen bleach (like OxiClean) instead. Much safer than chlorine bleach.
Secret #7: Mirrors Without Streaks
The trick to streak-free mirrors:
- Less is more - Use minimal cleaner. Too much leaves residue.
- Spray cloth, not mirror - Prevents drips and over-application.
- Use newspaper - Old newspaper polishes glass without lint.
- Work in S-pattern - From top to bottom, overlapping each pass.
- Buff dry spots - Final pass with dry cloth catches any streaks.
Secret #8: Places Most People Miss
Often Forgotten
- • Light switches and door handles
- • Toilet paper holder
- • Towel bars and hooks
- • Exhaust fan cover
- • Under the sink (the cabinet)
- • Behind the toilet
- • Shower curtain rod
Florida Specific
- • Mold in shower corners (humidity)
- • Hard water on fixtures
- • Mildew on shower curtain
- • Grout discoloration
- • Under toilet base (mold loves moisture)
- • Exhaust fan (often moldy)
- • Window tracks if present
Keep It Clean Between Deep Cleans
Daily habits that prevent buildup:
- Squeegee shower walls after each use
- Wipe sink after brushing teeth
- Keep bathroom fan running 20 minutes after shower
- Hang towels to dry properly
- Keep a container of cleaning wipes under sink for quick touch-ups
Want Professional Results?
Our team knows all these secrets and more. Let us give your bathroom the deep clean it deserves.