Shopping·12 min read

Our Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Your Bathroom

bathroom-cleaning
Design: the Skimm | Photos: Coming Soon, Public Goods
April 3, 2024

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Cleaning your bathroom is a drag, and having the wrong tools just makes the job 10 times more miserable. That’s why we’ve set you up for success with products that work really well, so you can get in and out of there quickly. From handy shower drains to medicine cabinet organizers — and even something that won't make you hate cleaning the toilet so much — scroll on to shop our go-to bathroom cleaning products.

Apotheke

A diffuser to keep your bathroom smelling fresh…

One of our editors keeps this in her bathroom and she’s raved about how nice the fragrance is. This Charcoal Rouge fragrance from Apotheke has notes of rose, geranium, lemon, and burning birch for that smoky yet clean scent. It’ll provide a continuous scent for up to four months. Once the four months have passed, you can flip the reeds to the other side for a refresh. ($60, Apotheke)

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Walmart

A luxe hand soap that’s a dupe for more expensive options…

Because who wants to splash out $30 on hand soap? Not us. This luxe fragrance from Method has notes of vetiver and amber, but smells like “the real thing.” An added perk: You can buy refills, so you don’t have to toss its aluminum vessel. ($13.99, Walmart)

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Force of Nature

A toxin-free multipurpose cleaner that’s actually effective…

It’s easy to ignore the fact that a lot of cleaning products are actually bad for us. But this year, we decided to do something about that. Enter: our latest obsession from Force of Nature. In this starter kit, you’ll get five recyclable activator tablets that are filled with water, salt, and vinegar. To create and activate your multipurpose solution, you’ll fill the brand’s Electrolyzer (which is essentially just a mixer) with tap water and add one tablet. You can then pour the solution into the corresponding spray bottle. It’s a medical-grade disinfectant that’s 99.9% effective, EPA-approved, and cuts through dirt, grease, and grime. So…it’s a miracle. Psst…use code START40 for 40% off and free shipping on bundles. ($70, Force of Nature)

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container to hold all your hair styling tools like your blow dryer and curling iron
Amazon

A style station to hold all your hair tools…

This caddy will hold your blow dryer, curling iron, straightener, and hairbrush. Plus, it’ll also act as a safe home for hot tools that are cooling down. We love that the entire unit can be mounted to the wall to help clear even more clutter. ($29.99, Amazon)

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electric scrubbing brush with four heads to help clean tough stains
Amazon

An electric scrubbing brush for those really intense stains…

Sometimes you can’t get rid of a stain with elbow grease alone. This electric brush does the hard work for you. It has four heads, with a corner brush that can really get in the nooks and crannies. You can use it anywhere in the bathroom, even on walls and ceilings. Trust us, we’ve tried it, and it gets the job done effortlessly. ($32.99+, Amazon)

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dusting glove
Amazon

A glove to help you reach those dust bunnies underneath the vanity…

This glove hits those hard-to-reach places that vacuums can’t conquer. Just wet with water to get started. It’s ideal for dusty blinds and any fragile ceramics. ($11.68+, Amazon)

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shower drain stopper to prevent hair clogs
Amazon

A tiny gadget that’ll prevent your hair from clogging the shower drain…

Forget murky shower water. The TubShroom sits inside the drain and catches all the hair you seem to lose while washing. Plus, it’s designed to not block water flow. ($12.95+, Amazon)

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tiny plastic compartments to help organize your medicine cabinet
The Container Store

A tray that’ll help you (finally) organize your medicine cabinet…

You’ll finally get a designated spot for makeup, prescription bottles, cotton balls, and other essentials. Pro tip: group together similar items for easy access. ($9.99, The Container Store)

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versatile powdered cleaner for your bathroom and kitchen
Amazon

A powdered cleaner that really does it all…

Bar Keepers Friend is a cleaning must-have. It can be used in the bathroom, in the kitchen, and on cookware to remove stains and restore shine. It’ll also work its magic on stainless steel, porcelain, brass, copper, glass, ceramic, chrome, and aluminum. (So literally everything.) Just sprinkle it onto a wet surface, rub to activate, and let it sit for a minute or so. Then wash off. ($2.49, Amazon)

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scrubbing brush with extendable arm to reach high-up areas
Amazon

A tile scrubber that can reach high-up areas…

Now you can finally clean the part of your shower tile your arm can’t reach. This tool extends, so you don’t have to get on a chair or balance on your tippy toes. The head pivots to hit corners, too. ($15.95, Amazon)

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grout scrubbing brush
Amazon

A grout brush to help you clear gunk from the bathroom floor…

That brown grout? Yeah, it’s supposed to be white. Now you can restore it back to its original color. You can also get into door and window tracks with ease. ($7.99, Amazon)

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mold and mildew remover
Amazon

A powerful mold and mildew remover…

Just apply it to the desired area and let it sit for up to eight hours. You can wipe it away for extra shine. The concentrated gel formula clings to tiles, so it’ll really get in there and prevent mildew from growing. ($14.99, Amazon)

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shower head descaler
Amazon

A descaler for shower heads that are clogged from mineral buildup…

Vinegar descales very slowly, but this formula works quickly to get rid of limescale and calcium buildup. All you have to do is soak your shower head and then wipe clean. Bubbles are a good sign; it means the formula is working. ($13.95+, Amazon)

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shower squeegee to wipe away excess water
Amazon

A shower squeegee to remove excess water from surfaces…

Use this to minimize hard water stains or soap scum. Once you’re done in the shower, you can wipe away any excess water. Plus, the squeegee comes with an adhesive hook so you can hang it nearby. ($11.59+, Amazon)

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pumice stone for toilet bowl rings
Walmart

A pumice stone that’ll make your toilet sparkle…

Unsightly marks on your toilet bowl? Not with this pumice stone. It’s abrasive so it can gently scrub away rust and mineral buildup. Since it has a handle, you won’t have to actually touch the bowl either. ($11.80, Walmart)

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mr. clean magic eraser sponges
Amazon

A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser that can get rid of annoying wall scuffs…

All it takes is water. No harsh chemicals necessary. It can wipe away marks on light switches, floors, and bathtubs too. It’s the adult eraser that younger you would love to play with. ($4.98/6-pack, Amazon)

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plant-based-cleaner
Public Goods

A plant-powered cleaner that’s also good for the environment…

Made without any harmful chemicals, this cleaner will take on shower scum and germs with all-natural ingredients like rosemary oil, lemon oil, and citric acid. It’s biodegradable, so you’ll be cleaning more sustainably. ($5.95, Public Goods)

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showerhead
Amazon

A showerhead that’ll help you clean less often…

Who doesn’t love the sound of that? This showerhead will remove chlorine and harmful chemicals from your water, while the internal filters add in vitamins that are beneficial for your skin and hair (like vitamin C and E). Not to mention, it’ll keep dirt from passing through, which means a cleaner water stream. ($49.95, Amazon)

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clear-organizer
Wayfair

A clear organizer to keep all your cosmetics in check…

What makes a counter frustrating to clean are the makeup brushes, serums, and blushes strewn about. Save time and energy by organizing everything you need in this handy little carousel with various sections for different everyday items. Customers also say it’s easy to set up. ($28.93, Wayfair)

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plunger
Coming Soon

A chic toilet plunger (yup, that’s right)…

You know what motivates us to clean the bathroom? Seeing this fun plunger smile back at us. The elevated drip tray will increase airflow and ensure it’ll dry quicker after use. No more murky water sitting at the bottom. Phew. ($35, Coming Soon)

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