How To Clean A Bathroom Fast

To clean your bathroom in 15 minutes, start with the toilet and let the cleaner work while you start wiping down the other surfaces.

The Quickest And Easiest Way To Clean A Bathroom

I first learned how to clean a bathroom like a pro from an OGT reader named Denise, who wrote in to share her secrets to cleaning bathrooms efficiently, quickly, and with very little waste. (Denise had cleaned 15-20 bathrooms a week for 20 years before she retired, and if that doesn’t make her an expert on the subject, I don’t know what would!)

I was extremely impressed by the streamlined nature of her method, and when I asked if I could share it here on my blog, she kindly agreed! Once I started using Denise’s method at home, I was able to clean my bathroom thoroughly in a fraction of the time it used to take.

In this post, you’ll learn how to clean a bathroom like a pro using Denise’s tried-and-true method. Not only is it the easiest way to clean a bathroom, but it’s quick enough to include in your daily chores as frequently as you’d like to!

Bathroom cleaning can be fast and thorough at the same time.

How To Clean A Bathroom In Under 15 Minutes

You’ll need:

Toilet brush
Cleaning spray
Microfiber cloth
3-4 paper towels
An old bath towel (optional)

Directions:

Start cleaning the bathroom by using a toilet bowl cleaner and bowl brush.

Step 1 – Apply Toilet Bowl Cleaner

Start by applying a toilet bowl cleaner or all-purpose cleaner to your toilet bowl.

I like to use my homemade toilet bowl cleaner here, because the baking soda and borax do an excellent job at breaking down hard water stains while essential oils leave it smelling fresh and clean. (But that’s just my preference — feel free to use whatever you’ve got on hand!)

After brushing the toilet bowl, leave the toilet brush over the bowl and close the seat on it so it can dry over the water.

Step 2 – Scrub The Toilet

Scrub the toilet bowl with your toilet brush, making sure to get under the rim to eliminate any grime that may have built up under there. After scrubbing, flush the toilet to rinse, then prop the brush under the toilet seat to let it dry.

(In the market for a new toilet brush? I really like this silicone toilet brush because it’s easy to clean and the upper edge gets all the way under the rim. If you’re going to splurge on a bathroom cleaning tool, this is a great one to choose!)

While your toilet cleaner works, start spraying down the other surfaces in the bathroom and dry them with a cloth or paper towel.

Step 3 – Spray Surfaces

Spray the toilet, sink, faucet, and countertop with your preferred cleaner or disinfectant and let it sit for a minute or two. Use your favorite bathroom cleaner, or consider one of these homemade options:

Lemon-scented vinegar cleaner is easy to make, super inexpensive, and makes a great natural bathroom cleaner.
My go-to homemade shower cleaner works great on tough bathroom messes like hard water stains and soap scum.

Clean your bathroom mirror and sink with a damp microfiber cloth.

Step 4 – Wipe With A Damp Cloth

While the bathroom cleaner is working its magic, dampen a clean microfiber cloth and use it to wipe down your bathroom mirror (no need for glass cleaner!) Next, use the damp cloth to wipe off the countertop, sink, and faucet.

After wiping down the bathroom surfaces with a damp cloth, use a paper towel or a fresh cloth to dry them off.

Step 5 – Dry With A Dry Cloth (Or Paper Towel)

Use a few paper towels or a clean, dry microfiber cloth to dry off the mirror, countertop, faucet, sink, and toilet, in that order. (This order goes from cleanest to dirtiest, which saves you money on paper towels).

Use a final clean towel to buff a shine on your mirror and faucet. Throw away the paper towels (or put the dirty rag in your hamper) and put the toilet brush away.

You can clean your bathroom in about 15 minutes with just two cloths and three or four paper towels.

Finishing Touches

Rinse the microfiber cloth thoroughly and wring it out one more time. Use the cleaning rag to spot-clean the floor as necessary or wipe up any hair, dust, or dirt hanging around. Don’t worry about deep-scrubbing the grout with a specialized tile cleaner. This is just a quick clean that keeps your bathroom looking fresh and presentable.

Toss the dirty rags into your hamper or washer, and you’re done!

After you've wiped down all the surfaces and dried them, toss paper towels in the trash (if you've used any).

I’m telling you — Denise has got this whole thing down to a science! I’m grateful to her for sharing her wisdom and experience with all of us! :-)

That damp cloth you used on the surfaces comes in handy to spot clean the floor as your last step in cleaning the bathroom.

What About The Tub And Shower?

This quick and easy bathroom cleaning method doesn’t solve cleaning the bathtub or shower, so here are some quick tips to help you keep those clean too!
Keep an old towel in your bathroom and use it to dry your shower walls after each use. It only takes a minute, and it will help keep water spots and soap scum at bay.
Alternatively, you can spray this homemade daily shower cleaner on your glass shower doors after each use (no need to wipe it down!)

How long does it typically take you to clean your bathroom?