Even after cleaning, you can expect your bathroom to contain mold, bacteria, stains, and bad odors.
So, it’s important to keep it clean and with the right cleaning materials.
Bleach is one of many effective cleaning products. It kills germs, removes odors, and brightens the bathroom’s surface.
After taking some necessary safety precautions, you can continue to use bleach as a great cleaner.
Here’s a complete guide on how to clean a bathroom with bleach.
Steps on How to Clean a Bathroom with Bleach
You should know that it’s safe to clean your bathroom with bleach. All you must do is dilute it and not mix it with other cleaners.
You should especially not mix it with ammonia. Doing so will create a toxic gas.
With that said, bleach is an effective disinfectant. It is recommended that you use it at least once a week to keep your bathroom clean at all times.
If many people use that bathroom, then clean it more often.
Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1. Know That You Should Not Clean Bathroom Tiles with Bleach
Bathroom tiles come in various materials. Most of these materials may not react well to a harsh cleaner such as bleach.
If you do plan to clean your tiles at the same time, then make sure to use a vinegar solution instead.
It’s safe to clean your ceramic and porcelain bathroom tiles with vinegar. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are among the most commonly used tile materials.
However, you should try to avoid using vinegar or bleach on porcelain, marble, and natural stone tiles. It may ruin the finish on the tiles.
If you’re using vinegar, use it as a diluted disinfectant and not too often.
Moreover, you should not use abrasive cloths, brushes, or sponges on tiles because they may scratch them.
Step 2. Gather the Required Cleaning Materials for the Process
It’s best to gather all the cleaning materials you need before you start cleaning the bathroom.
As a result, you’ll limit interruptions in the bathroom cleaning process.
Here are the cleaning materials you will need to clean your bathroom.
- Two spray bottles
- A broom to remove loose dirt
- Any soft sponge (make sure to pick one that won’t scratch the surface of any part of your bathroom)
- Different toilet brushes for cleaning the inside of the bowl and outside
- Bleach
- Some vinegar for cleaning the tiles
- A small bucket for mixing the solutions
- A tablespoon and a measuring cup or another cup for dilution
- Any small mop to finish cleaning the bathroom floor tiles
Step 3. Perform a Quick Sweep of the Bathroom Floor
Remove all fabric materials from your bathroom when you’re about to clean it.
After that, it helps to perform a quick sweep of the bathroom floor to ensure that there’s no loose dirt or debris. Vacuum the bathroom floor thoroughly to remove any dirt, hair, and dust.
Make sure that the entire bathroom is completely dry before sweeping it. If you don’t have enough time to let it dry, consider mopping it instead.
You should consider this step if you’re cleaning the entire bathroom. It will save your time and effort if you clean everything at once.
Cleaning your bathroom frequently also means that you don’t have to put much effort into cleaning it.
Step 4. Prepare the Bathroom for Cleaning
Bleach can be harmful to you and those around you. Therefore, it is vital that you first prepare the bathroom by making sure it’s well-ventilated.
So, open up all windows in the bathroom and turn on the exhaust fan.
At the same time, you should make sure that no one is allowed to enter the bathroom while you work. Make sure that you close the room door.
This way, your children or pet cannot get into the bathroom.
Step 5. Wear the Appropriate Safety Attire
In addition to improving the ventilation in the bathroom, it’s best that you wear a mask. The mask will prevent you from breathing in the fumes of bleach.
Bleach can damage your skin if it comes into contact with it. So, you should wear a pair of rubber gloves when cleaning the bathroom.
Wear gloves that also cover a considerable part of your forearm too.
In addition to protecting your skin, the gloves will also prevent germs from getting directly onto your hands.
You especially want to avoid letting germs from getting under your fingernails.
Additionally, wearing some form of eye protection can help prevent any accidental splashes from reaching your eyes.
Step 6. Create the Bleach Cleaning Solution
Put about a tablespoon of bleach into a bucket for every gallon of water.
You can make the solution stronger by adding half a cup or about three-quarters of a cup of bleach in a gallon of water.
You should only consider using a less diluted bleach solution if you haven’t deep-cleaned your bathroom in a while.
Mix the contents together in the bucket and fill the cleaning solution into a spray bottle.
You may need a greater amount of cleaning solution than one gallon if you have a large bathroom.
So, if you’re increasing the amount of solution in the bucket, make sure to follow one of the mixture ratios mentioned above.
You should also note that you should not prepare the diluted bleach solution beforehand.
Instead, create the solution and start using it to clean your bathroom right away.
Bleach does not have a long shelf life. Thus, it loses its potency and will not be an effective cleaning agent.
Step 7. Start Cleaning the Toilet First
The toilet is undeniably the dirtiest part of your bathroom.
So, you should clean that before anything else.
Begin with Cleaning the Bowl Outside and Then Clean the Inside
When cleaning the toilet with bleach, start by flushing it to remove any excess water and waste.
You should spray the outside bowl of your toilet first. Make sure to get enough bleach solution all over the toilet.
After that, you should spray the inside of the bowl generously. You should tilt and lower the spray bottle a bit so that you can spritz the underside of the rim of the bowl.
Once the entire toilet is drenched in the bleach solution, you should scrub it.
Use your toilet brush to scrub the inside of the bowl. Let the solution sit for about 5 minutes.
In the meantime, clean the toilet seat, using a cloth or sponge soaked in the bleach solution. Make sure to clean both the top and bottom of the seat, as well as the hinges and any crevices.
Next, start scrubbing the outside bowl with another brush. Try to get the brush to reach some of the hard-to-reach areas.
A thorough cleaning will prevent odors and harmful bacteria growth.
Step 8. Clean the Bathroom Sink
After scrubbing the toilet, you should clean the bathroom sink.
First, remove any items from the sink and countertop, such as toothbrushes, soap dispensers, and any other personal items. This will ensure a thorough cleaning, as well as protect these items from bleach exposure.
Start spritzing the sink.
Use a brush to quickly scrub the outside and inside of the sink. Remember to clean around the base of the faucet and the area where it connects to the sink, as these spots tend to collect grime.
Once the sink has been covered, move on to the countertop.
Scrub the entire surface, focusing on areas that frequently come into contact with your hands or personal items, such as the space around the soap dispenser or toothbrush holder.
Be sure to wipe the edges and corners of the countertop, as they can often be overlooked.
You can let the solution sit after that.
Step 9: Cean the Shower and Tub
Start by pre-cleaning the surfaces of your shower and tub. Wipe away any visible dirt, soap scum, and organic matter. This will ensure the bleach solution can effectively disinfect your bathroom surfaces.
Spritz your shower walls, floor, and tub. Allow the bleach solution to sit for at least 10 minutes to kill germs, mold, and mildew.
For effective cleaning of your grout, use an old toothbrush or small scrub brush to scrub the bleach solution into the grout lines. This will help remove any lingering dirt and stains.
When it comes to shower curtains, wash them with ½ cup bleach and your regular laundry detergent. Plastic shower mats can be soaked in a mixture of ⅛ cup bleach and 1 gallon of water for an hour before rinsing thoroughly.
Cleaning your showerhead can be done by soaking it in the bleach solution for a few minutes, then scrubbing the nozzles with a toothbrush to remove any buildup.
For glass shower doors, it’s best to use a glass cleaner specifically designed for showers. This will help remove soap scum and water stains without damaging the glass.
After cleaning your shower doors, it’s essential to regularly squeegee them to prevent soap scum buildup.
Step 10. Clean the Bathroom Tiles
The final step is to quickly clean your bathroom tiles. Make sure to use a dilute vinegar solution to clean bathroom tiles to prevent them from getting damaged.
All you need to do is create a solution of half a cup of white vinegar in about a quarter gallon of water.
Mix the two liquids well and put the solution in a spray bottle.
Spritz the Bathroom Tiles
Use the second spray bottle to spritz the bathroom floor tiles with the cleaning solution. After that, you simply have to mop the entire bathroom floor.
Mop your bathroom floor tiles, moving from one end of the bathroom to the other.
Move it in small circular motions on some stained tiles. Next, you have to rinse the entire bathroom.
Step 11. Rinse the Bathroom
You must rinse the entire bathroom by first starting with the toilet. Move onto rinsing the sink after that, then rinse the tub, then the floor.
You will need a bucket full of clean water for this process. Flush the toilet to clean the inside of the bowl. Use a sponge or rag for the outside.
Rinsing the floor can be tricky. You will need to clean your mop first. Next, soak it in a bucket of clean water and begin mopping the floor.
Keep soaking it in clean water as you mop the floor.
When you reach halfway through rinsing the floor, replace the water in the bucket.
Eventually, the water in the bucket won’t be clean enough to rinse the floor properly.
Step 12. Let the Bathroom Air-Dry
The final step of this process is to leave the bathroom to air-dry.
Make sure to leave the window open and the exhaust on during this time too.
It will help prevent any bleach smell from lingering in the bathroom.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you clean bathroom floor and tiles with bleach?
To clean bathroom floors and tiles with bleach, start by mixing 1/2 to 3/4 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water in a bucket.
Apply the bleach solution to the floor and tiles using a mop, brush, or sponge. Let the solution stand for 5 minutes before rinsing it off with water and leaving the area to air dry.
Remember that bathroom tiles may not react well to bleach, so it may be better to use a vinegar solution instead if you’re unsure about the material of your tiles.
Which bleach is best for bathroom cleaning?
Standard chlorine bleach, such as Clorox, works well for bathroom cleaning. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on dilution ratios, which typically suggest around 1/2 cup of bleach per gallon of water for standard cleaning purposes.
What alternatives to bleach can be used to clean a toilet?
Some bleach alternatives for cleaning toilets include white vinegar, baking soda, or commercially available toilet bowl cleaners.
Vinegar can be mixed with water and applied with a toilet brush, while baking soda can be sprinkled into the toilet bowl before scrubbing.
Can you safely shower after using bleach to clean the bathroom?
Yes, you can safely shower after cleaning your bathroom with bleach, as long as you have thoroughly rinsed and dried the area.
Be sure to ventilate the bathroom and ensure that any residues are removed to prevent any irritation or discomfort during your shower.
What’s the recommended length of time to leave bleach in the bathroom?
The recommended length of time for leaving bleach on bathroom surfaces is about 5 minutes. This allows the bleach to effectively disinfect and clean the area without causing damage to surfaces.
Can you mop a bathroom floor using a bleach solution?
Yes, you can mop a bathroom floor using a bleach solution. Combine 1/2 to 3/4 cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water in a bucket and immerse your mop into the solution.
Wring out excess liquid and proceed to mop the floor. Let the solution sit for 5 minutes before rinsing with water and letting the area air dry.
Last Few Words
While you should clean your toilet and sink at least once a week, you can clean the tiles once a month.
If you have time on your hands, try to clean it more frequently.
Furthermore, you could put your shower curtains in the wash when cleaning your bathroom.
This way, your entire bathroom will be clean and smelling fresh when you’re done cleaning.
Other articles you may also like: