Bathroom cleaning checklist: daily, weekly and monthly tasks

The short answer: a bathroom cleaning checklist turns the room nobody wants to clean into a short routine. This one splits 31 tasks into daily, weekly, monthly and every-few-months lists.

• Daily: 5 minutes, like wiping the sink and squeegeeing the shower
• Weekly: 20 to 30 minutes for the toilet, tub, mirror and towels
• Order: top first, mirror, sink, tub, toilet, floor
• Don't forget the fan, and don't use the same cloth everywhere
• Next step: Get the free bathroom cleaning checklist (we email it to you); want more? The Cleaning Schedule is $4.49.

A bathroom cleaning checklist turns the room nobody wants to clean into a short, predictable routine. This one splits 31 tasks into daily, weekly, monthly and every-few-months lists, and the free printable adds a bathroom cleaning schedule so you can track the week. Get the free download and print one for each bathroom.

Our Cleaning Schedule printable puts the bathroom into a whole-home routine, with daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal lists, room-by-room checklists and a family chore chart.

Daily bathroom cleaning (5 minutes)

Small daily habits keep soap scum and mildew from building up, which makes the weekly clean much faster. If black spots have already set in, follow our shower mold removal steps.

• Hang towels to dry
• Squeegee or wipe the shower walls
• Wipe the sink and counter
• Put away products and clutter
• Give the toilet bowl a quick swish
• Run the fan during and after showers

Weekly bathroom cleaning checklist (20 to 30 minutes)

If the lines between your tiles are dark, see our guide on how to clean grout for a deeper clean than the weekly wipe.

• Clean the toilet bowl, seat, lid and base
• Scrub the tub and shower
• Clean the sink, faucet and drain
• Clean the mirror
• Wipe the counter and cabinet fronts
• Empty the trash and replace the liner
• Wash towels and bath mats
• Sweep or vacuum, then mop the floor
• Refill toilet paper, soap and tissues

Monthly bathroom tasks

If the spray is weak or uneven, see how to clean a shower head to soak away mineral buildup.

• Scrub the grout lines
• Descale the showerhead and faucets
• Wash the shower curtain and liner
• Clean the exhaust fan cover
• Wipe light fixtures and switches
• Dust the baseboards and the door
• Clear hair from the drains
• Clean the toothbrush holder and soap dish

Every few months

• Declutter the vanity and medicine cabinet
• Toss expired medicine safely
• Replace the toilet brush if it is worn
• Check caulk and grout for cracks or mold
• Wash the bath mat backing and rug
• Clean behind and under the toilet
• Wipe spots on the walls and ceiling
• Check under the sink for leaks

Step-by-step: how to clean a bathroom fast

1. Clear and spray. Remove clutter, towels and mats. Spray the tub, shower and inside the toilet so the cleaner can sit for a few minutes.
2. Top first. Dust the exhaust fan cover, light and the top of the mirror.
3. Mirror and glass. Clean the mirror and any glass shower door.
4. Sink and counter. Scrub the sink, faucet and handles, then wipe the counter and cabinet fronts.
5. Tub and shower. Scrub the walls, tub and fixtures, then rinse.
6. Toilet. Scrub the bowl, then wipe the handle, lid, seat, rim, outside and base, in that order.
7. Floor. Sweep or vacuum, then mop toward the door.
8. Reset. Put out clean towels and a mat, empty the trash and restock supplies.

Bathroom cleaning schedule

Page 2 of the printable is a bathroom cleaning schedule with a box for each day of the week. It tracks 11 tasks:

Below the weekly grid is a table for monthly tasks with columns for weeks 1 to 4, so you can spread grout, fixtures and the fan cover over the month instead of doing them all at once. For a whole-home routine, see our cleaning schedule template.

Keep mold and mildew away

Bathrooms are the most humid room in most homes. The EPA says the key to mold control is moisture control: fix leaks, dry wet areas quickly and clean mold off hard surfaces with detergent and water, then dry them completely. In practice that means running the fan, squeegeeing the shower and checking caulk and grout every few months. Both habits are on the checklist above.

For doors and screens, our guide on how to clean shower glass covers hard water spots, soap scum and a daily squeegee habit.

Cleaning vs disinfecting the bathroom

For most weekly cleaning, soap or a bathroom cleaner and water remove dirt and most germs. The CDC suggests saving disinfecting for times when someone in the home is sick or at higher risk, and focusing on high-touch surfaces like handles, faucets and the toilet flush lever. Follow the product label for how long the surface must stay wet, and never mix bleach with ammonia or other cleaners.

Bathroom cleaning supplies

Keeping humidity in check helps prevent mold. If you use a humidifier, our guide on how to clean a humidifier explains how to keep it clean.

Store cleaners in their original containers and up high or locked away from kids; the CPSC's poison prevention center has more tips.

Common bathroom cleaning mistakes

• Wiping cleaner off too soon. Most cleaners and descalers need a few minutes on the surface to work. Spray first, then clean something else while you wait.
• Using the same cloth everywhere. Keep one cloth for the toilet and a different color for the sink and mirror so you never spread germs from one to the other.
• Forgetting the fan. A dusty exhaust fan cover moves less air, which leaves the room damp. Clean it monthly.
• Skipping the base of the toilet. The floor and base around the toilet collect the most grime. Wipe them every week, not just the bowl.
• Letting hair build up in drains. A monthly drain clear stops slow drains before they need a plumber.
• Storing wet sponges. Rinse and dry sponges and brushes, and replace them when they look worn.

Sharing the bathroom: roommates and families

A shared bathroom stays cleaner when everyone knows their job. Post the weekly schedule inside a cabinet door and assign tasks by name: one person takes the toilet and floor, another the sink, mirror and tub. Kids can hang towels, wipe the counter and refill toilet paper. Rotate jobs each week so nobody is always stuck with the toilet.

More cleaning checklists

The bathroom is one room. For the rest of the house, see our cleaning checklist, our kitchen cleaning checklist and our deep cleaning checklist for the twice-a-year jobs.

If you'd rather have the whole house on paper, the Cleaning Schedule printable is a 9-page PDF with a daily checklist, a weekly cleaning schedule, a monthly checklist, a seasonal deep clean page, room-by-room checklists, a family chore chart and a cleaning supplies list. The Household Binder includes a weekly cleaning page together with family info, calendars, meal planning and bills.

When you get to the shower, don't skip the drain: our step-by-step guide on how to clean a shower drain shows how to pull out hair, scrub the slime and stop musty smells.

Want the full method behind this checklist? Our step-by-step guide on how to clean a bathroom covers the order, tools and deep-clean steps.