How to clean your bathroom

Keeping the bathroom clean can feel like an insurmountable task. But putting it off only makes it worse, and neglecting small maintenance tasks could cause bigger problems later down the line.

Whether it's cleaning the bath mat, dealing with a blocked sink, or adopting habits that will help keep mould at bay, these bathroom maintenance tips will help you keep your space clean and functional.

Read on to learn how a little effort now can save you a lot of trouble later.

Planning a bathroom makeover? See the best and worst bathroom brands

How to get rid of mould in the bathroom

Bathrooms are very susceptible to mould. Smaller patches can usually be dealt with using household cleaners, while fast-growing mould covering large areas should be left to the professionals. 

Prevention is always better than cure. To keep mould from developing, make sure you open windows or use an extractor fan to keep it ventilated. Keep the bathroom tidy and wash towels and bath mats regularly. It can also be helpful to wipe down your shower after use, either with a cloth, squeegee or window vac, to reduce moisture and condensation.

To tackle existing mould, try using a few drops of washing-up liquid with water to scrub away mould. For more stubborn patches, spray a 1:1 solution of vinegar and warm water onto the affected area, let it sit for up to an hour and wipe away.

You can also buy dedicated mould removers from most supermarkets, such as Astonish Mould and Mildew, Cillit Bang Black Mould Remover and Mould Magic. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for use, and remember to ventilate the room well.

For more on dealing with moisture in the bathroom, read our guides on how to get rid of mould, how to stop condensation and buying the best bathroom extractor fan

How to clean bathroom tiles and grout

Grout that isn't properly cleaned and maintained can become stained, mouldy and liable to crack. Once it's cracked, water can seep into the wall and cause damage. Follow these tips to stops stains in their tracks:

• Get into the habit of drying surfaces after a shower.
• Every week or two, use a paste of water and baking soda to scrub the grout, using a grout brush or an old toothbrush, then rinse with water.
• If the problem persists, try using oxygen-powdered bleach. This will be better for your grout than liquid chloride-based bleach, and should still be strong enough to get rid of the stains.
• When stains stubbornly refuse to come out, try a specialised grout-renewal product. These work by adding a layer of protection and colour to resist further staining, so you can put off regrouting for a while longer.

If your grout is flaking and breaking, or tiles start to come off, you'll need to bite the bullet and replace it. It's best to do this as soon as possible to avoid water damage to your walls. And it doesn't have to cost the world. In fact, it's one of the bathroom updates you can do on a budget.

Be inspired to make home improvements. Sign up for our Home newsletter, it's free monthly

How to unblock a bathroom sink

Sinks and drains in the bathroom are notorious for getting clogged with hair, soap scum and other debris. Often, the issue can be dealt with easily, but can require professional help if the blockage is serious.

• Use a plunger to try and dislodge minor blockages. Make sure there’s enough water in the sink to cover the plunger’s cup and create a tight seal before plunging vigorously.
• If that doesn't work, use one of the best shower drain unblockers from our testing – one of our Best Buys took just 15 minutes to reduce the size of two large hairballs. As with any bleach-based products, make sure you always wear gloves and old clothes, and follow the instructions carefully.

If the blockage persists despite your best efforts, it could be time to call a plumber. Head to Which? Trusted Traders or use our handy tool below to find a company vetted and recommended by us.

For more tips on clearing bathroom and kitchen sinks, read our guide on how to unblock a sink

How to clean a shower

Shower screen or curtain

• Glass shower screens are often dulled by limescale and persistent water marks. Getting into the habit of using a squeegee or window vac after every shower will help the screen clearer for longer. To shift any build-up, wiping it down with a glass cleaner or a solution of vinegar and water solution is a safe bet, but our experts preferred citric acid. See our guide to cleaning a shower screen to find out why.
• Shower curtains can stain or accumulate mould over time, so we recommend machine washing them regularly to kill bacteria and keep mould at bay. Before throwing it in the washer, scrub as much grime off as you can by hand, then machine wash on a low temperature cycle with a mild detergent and no conditioner.

Bathtub or shower cubicle 

The rest of your shower unit or tub shouldn't need much more than a scrub down with a reliable bathroom cleaner. Look for one with a decent ability to shift limescale, as it will build up on your bathtub or shower cubicle, as well as on your taps, dulling their shine. 

We've tested the leading brands to discover the best bathroom cleaners. Make sure to dry damp areas off with a towel afterwards.

You'll find more advice on cleaning a bathtub further down the page.

Shower head

Shower heads can be particularly affected by limescale build-up, especially if you live in a hard-water area. Hard water is safe, but it can cause issues with your pipes and appliances over time – check out the 5 signs you might need a water softener, and if you think you do need one, read our advice on how to buy the best water softener.

To clean a crusty shower head, you'll need white vinegar or citric acid – the former works well, but the latter is stronger, and doesn't smell. Carefully remove the shower head and submerge in a solution of citric acid and warm water for about an hour. Or, if your shower head isn't removable, put the solution in a plastic bag and wrap it around the shower head. For more tips, see our guide to descaling a shower head.

If you're shopping for a new shower, make sure your next one is a Best Buy. See the best electric showers for our experts' top picks

How to clean a bath mat

Your bath mat will need cleaning around once per week to keep it fresh and prevent mould. Check the care instructions to see if it's machine washable or handwash only.

It can help to vacuum or shake off any loose dirt before washing. If it's machine washable, make sure you add it to a load with other heavy items, such as towels and robes.

If your bath mat is not machine washable, you can wash it in a bath or sink with warm water and a few drops of detergent. 

Make sure the mat is completely dry before returning it to the bathroom. If using the tumble dryer, be aware that the heat can damage any rubber backing.

We answer all your laundry questions in our dedicated guide on how to wash clothes, towels and bedding how to get soft towels

What's the best way to clean a bath?

While some may be tempted to leave the bath until it's time for a really big clean, a little-and-often approach generally works better. Aim to give your bath a wipe down every week or two to stop dust and soap from building up too much. 

For a deeper clean, follow these steps:

1. Remove any bottles and toiletries from around the edge of the bathtub or shower cubicle, then wipe any dust and debris from the bathtub with a damp cloth
2. Get your favourite bathroom cleaning spray, or use a solution of water and white vinegar to spray around the bath. For tougher spots, you may need to leave it to sit for around 15 minutes. 
3. Use a limescale remover, citric acid, or distilled vinegar on any stubborn limescale around taps and plugs. 
4. Wipe the whole bath with a damp cloth, and dry thoroughly.

Take care not to mix chemicals when cleaning, as this can release dangerous gases and damage surfaces.

Ready for your next big clean? See our spring cleaning tips and tricks to help you blitz the big clean

What's the best way to clean a toilet?

Delia Cannings, chair of the British Cleaning Council, told us that her preferred technique for cleaning a toilet is the 'Flush, Push, Brush' method:

1. Flush the water away to ensure any debris is gone before you begin cleaning. Make sure the lid is down to avoid the 'toilet plume' spray of particles into the air.
2. Push the water right back into the bowl and down the channel to reveal the tide mark – the point where the water usually rests. Apply your bleach or cleaning agent for as long as the bottle recommends.
3. Brush the inside of the toilet, making sure to reach right down the channel. Flush the toilet once more, remembering to close the lid.

For further advice and expert tips, read our full guide on how to clean your toilet

How do I stop my bathroom getting so dusty?

Dust can be a nuisance whenever you're trying to clean, sticking to damp surfaces and seemingly reappearing as soon as you're done cleaning. While it would be impossible to banish it altogether, there are some steps you can take to reduce its prevalence in your bathroom.

• Prioritise ventilation Make sure your bathroom extractor fan works well, and that you're cleaning it regularly to help it properly filter out dust. Open windows sparingly to reduce dust and pollen coming in from outdoors.
• Consider using an air purifier These can help improve air quality by trapping any particles and circulating the clean air back out. A good air purifier will be able to filter out both dust and pollen particles. Read our guide to the best air purifiers to see which models impressed in our tests.
• Clean little and often Keep on top of dusting, even if you don't clean the whole bathroom. Use a slightly damp microfibre cloth to wipe down ledges and surfaces, and try to run your vacuum cleaner around every few days. A cordless model can give you more flexibility to do a quick clean compared to a corded one – check out our pick of the best cordless vacuum cleaners to find the model for you.
• Avoid clutter Dust loves to build up in hard-to-reach areas, so make sure your bathroom is uncluttered and tidy – throw away old products and bottles, and keep anything that you don't use daily stored neatly away. See our advice on choosing the best bathroom storage and cabinets for more.

Dust and debris can accumulate in the most unlikely of places. Find out where in our guide to 7 everyday things you may be forgetting to clean.