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Your Bathroom Isn't Truly Clean if You Miss These 8 Things

Your Bathroom Isn't Truly Clean if You Miss These 8 Things

CNET21-07-2025
Summer is in full swing. Between vacations, pool and beach trips, keeping your bathroom clean can feel like an impossible task. It's a room that's used every day, but knowing where to start can be a chore in itself.
Cleaning may not be the most exciting thing for everyone to do, but your bathroom is one of the rooms you should regularly spruce up. This will help eliminate and limit the amount of germs and bacteria from festering in your home.
It doesn't matter if your powder room is long overdue for a deep clean or if you're just curious about a cleaning cadence; we will provide you with insight. Whether scrubbing your toilet or degunking your shower head, this guide makes freshening up your restroom easy and simple.
Read more: 15 Filthy Spots That Survived Your Spring Cleaning Rampage, According to an Expert
8 bathroom items you should clean regularly
Bathroom rug
Once a week, toss the bathroom rug in the washer. Wash it on the gentle cycle in warm water and let it air dry (especially if it has a no-slip grip on the back) before putting it back in place. If you're unsure, always follow the washing instructions on the tag.
Toilet
David Watsky/CNET
If you live alone, you can probably get by cleaning the toilet every few days. If you have kids, the rules change. The outside, handle and seat should get a once-a-day wipedown with an antibacterial cleaner or wipe.
Most families can get by with cleaning the bowl once a week, particularly if you use this toilet tank tip. If you have tough stains or gunk in your toilet bowl, we advise pouring Coke (yes, the soda) into a spray bottle and then saturating the stain with the drink. Let it sit for a few hours. You can then easily scrub away the stain with a toilet brush.
Shower curtain
Once a month, you should take down your fabric or plastic shower curtain and throw it in the wash. Here are five tips for cleaning your shower curtain in the washing machine.
Shower and tub
You only need to clean your shower and tub once a week, but if you have a glass shower door, it needs a little more attention. To prevent the build-up of soap scum and keep the glass looking spotless, use a squeegee to wipe away water after every shower. These few seconds can save you from scrubbing at the end of the week.
Bath towels
Josh Miller/CNET
My family has had this debate for years. How often should you wash bath towels? Well, it depends. Every three to four uses is a good rule of thumb, but there are some conditions where a towel should be washed after one use. Here's how to know when to wash your towels.
Sink
The germs from your hands collect on the sink knobs and in the sink bowl when you wash your hands. So, even if you live alone, the sink needs a good wipe down every day with an all-purpose cleaner or antibacterial cleaning wipe.
Mirror
Like the sink, the mirror needs a daily wipe down to remove lint, dust and toothpaste specks. Simply wipe it down with a microfiber cloth after you step out of the bath or shower.
Hair dryer
Yes, even your hair dryer needs a proper cleaning schedule to prevent it from overheating. Here's a simple way to clean a hair dryer in just a few minutes.
More cleaning tips and tricks
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