Here’s How to Get Your Bathroom Cleaner Than It’s Ever Been

Showers and tubs are the great equalizer. If you have a big shower with gorgeous intricate tile, and a bathtub the size of a Buick—well, you’ve got quite the chore ahead of you when it comes time to clean. Meanwhile, those builder-grade all-in-ones which few look upon with envy—those suddenly become the belle of the ball on cleaning day.

No matter what kind of features your bathroom is outfitted with, today’s the day we’re scrubbing the shower and tub to a picture perfect shine. You probably already give these areas a spruce up in your regular cleaning routine, but spring cleaning is the motivation you need to do a really deep clean: the kind where you’re eyeing the caulk with a magnifying glass (literally or figuratively) and wielding a toothpick like a surgeon wields a scalpel to exorcise every last crevice of bathroom grime.

Grab some supplies and head to the bathroom ready to deep clean your shower, tub, or both, if you have them (and have the extra energy).

You’ll want to grab a scrub brush, some kind of bathroom or tub and tile cleaner, and a squeegee (if you have glass in your shower). A grout brush or detail brush is great for a second-pass, if you have one (an old toothbrush works too), but you can also just drape a cloth over a toothpick or chopstick to detail-clean. If you don’t have a special tub and tile cleaner, try a mix of half white vinegar and half water; you can also add some dish soap to your half and half vinegar mixture for extra scum-busting power. If your grout needs some extra love, instead of tub cleaner, try a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide.

Here’s what to do:

• If you’d like, before you start in on the scrubbing, take your shower curtain and liner down and give them a spin in the laundry. (Yep, even many plastic shower curtain liners can go through the wash.)
• Spray your tub, and shower walls and floor with your cleaner, then let it sit for up to 5 minutes.
• After a little while of letting the spray work its magic, go in with your brush and scrub at every inch of the walls.
• Then, go in with your detail brush and inspect your grout, caulk, the areas around the fixtures, and any other small details in your shower and tub situation.
• If any stubborn grime or dirt remains on your grout, rinse the walls well to remove all of the cleaner you applied, then follow it up with a second cleaner: a paste made from baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit, then use your scrub brush to get at the grout again.
• If you have a glass shower door, use glass cleaner and a squeegee to clean it, working from the top down.
• If you cleaned your shower curtain and liner, replace them. Then you’re done!

Scrubbing the shower and tub is not the easiest cleaning task to accomplish, but it sure is one of the most satisfying!

• You can visit the 2020 Spring Cleaning page if you miss any assignments
• Download and save or print the Spring Cleaning Calendar
• Share your progress on Instagram or Twitter: #ATSpringCleaning
• Join the The Apartment Therapist Facebook group and catch up with fellow cleaners