Must-Know Info
By Jolie Kerr The Washington Post
Published January 16, 2026
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To judge from TikTok, cleaning a bathroom calls for an eye-popping array of agents and tools: Purple foaming cleaner, pink pastes and white vinegar. Dish soap and baking soda. One bottle of all-purpose spray for the sink, another for the shower and another for the toilet. Electric scrub brushes with multiple attachments. Manual scrub brushes with extendable handles. Short-handled scrub brushes. Squeegees. Smiling sponges. Spin mops.
Here in the real world, however, none of that is necessary. If you’re looking for a way to get your bathroom clean, fast, this routine is for you — it relies on just two multipurpose cleaning agents and a low-fi selection of tools that allow you to move swiftly and efficiently from task to task.
A word on expectations: If your bathroom is in dire shape (think moldy grout, a toilet with heavy mineral deposit buildup or a bathtub the color of old butter), take care of those deep-cleaning tasks with specialty cleaning agents before instituting this routine, which presumes a baseline level of bathroom maintenance.
What you’ll need
• A disinfecting multisurface cleaner, such as Windex Multi-Surface Disinfectant, that can be used on glass, countertops, the toilet seat and tank, and floor.
A foaming bathroom cleaner, such as Scrubbing Bubbles or Lysol Power Foam Bathroom Cleaner.
3-4 microfiber cloths.
A microfiber mopping tool with an extendable handle that can be used on mirrors, shower walls and doors, and the floor.
Rubber household gloves (optional but recommended).
How the routine works
Spray the sink basin, toilet bowl and bathtub and/or shower enclosure with the foaming bathroom cleaner. This product will do most of the work of lifting soap scum and other buildup if you give it the needed time. So after applying it, turn your attention to other surfaces in the bathroom.
Note: Foaming cleaners are not safe to use on all surfaces; check the package instructions, and/or test products on an inconspicuous spot before using to prevent damage.
Polish the mirror
Apply the multisurface cleaner to a clean microfiber cloth and polish the mirror and any other glass surfaces. For those with mobility issues or a short wingspan, use a long-handled microfiber tool to reach high spots.
Wipe the countertop, faucet and sink basin
Use the same microfiber cloth to wipe the area around the sink and the faucet, reapplying the multisurface cleaner as needed. Wipe items that live on the countertop, as well, such as toothbrush holders and soap dispensers. Then rinse the cloth under running water and wipe the sink basin clean.
Clean the toilet exterior and seat
Take a fresh microfiber cloth and wipe the toilet exterior, including the top of the tank and the area behind the seat, to remove dust, hair and other debris. Fold the cloth in half so that the side you used to dust is on the inside, and then apply the multisurface cleaner to the unused side. Working from the top down, wipe the top of the tank, the flusher, the front and side of the tank, the seat, the area between the seat and the bowl, the outer lip of the bowl, and finally the toilet’s skirt or base.
Brush and flush the toilet bowl
Use a toilet brush to scrub the interior of the bowl, paying particular attention to the area under the lip, where mold and mineral deposits tend to form. Flush the toilet.
Wipe out the tub/shower
Wet a fresh microfiber cloth and wipe the tub and/or shower enclosure, using running water to help rinse away the foaming cleaner, soap-scum buildup and hair. The long-handled tool can make quick work of wiping shower walls and also can be used to wipe glass shower doors. Use a fresh microfiber cloth or pad, and the multisurface cleaner, to polish glass shower doors.
Sweep or vacuum the floor, then damp mop
Use a broom or vacuum to pick up hair. (A lightweight stick or handheld vac is ideal for this job.) Then damp mop the floor using the multisurface cleaner and the long-handled tool, working from the back of the space toward the door.
The final touches
Take out the trash and put a new liner in the garbage can.
Put out fresh towels, especially clean hand towels.
Drop cleaning cloths, dirty towels and anything else that needs to be laundered in the hamper.
(COMMENT, BELOW)
A toilet brush.
A broom or vacuum.
Apply foaming bathroom cleaner
Previously:
• 12 myths about laundry
• The completely correct guide to cleaning your toilet
• The completely correct guide to cleaning your toilet
• The only 5 cleaning products you really need
• A 10-minute Sunday bedroom reset for a better week ahead
• Your washing machine can clean a lot more than clothes