Creating & maintaining a clean & hygienic bathroom

We all want to spend more time enjoying our bathrooms than cleaning them. So, here are our top tips for creating and maintaining a clean and hygienic space.

As we all know, bathrooms, by their very nature, require plenty of cleaning and maintenance. And, unless you employ a cleaner, the hard work inevitably falls to you.

Despite this, there are plenty of ingenious ways to help cut the amount of time you spend cleaning your bathroom. From your choice of products to clever homecare hacks, we’ll show you how to create and maintain your very own easy-clean bathroom.

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A. Creating a bathroom that’s easy to clean and maintain

Prevention is always better than cure, which is why it pays to think carefully and plan out your new bathroom, so it comes complete with easy-clean features.

The products you choose, not to mention your bathroom layout, will all go towards creating a bathroom that is much quicker and simpler to maintain.

Below, we’ve identified just some of the differences you can make to achieve this. And while it may mean splashing out a little more on certain products, they are designed to save you time and effort in the long run, which—let’s face it—is worth the extra expense.

1. Back to wall or wall hung toilets v close coupled toilet

Hard-to-reach nooks and crannies are definitely worth avoiding when planning your bathroom. And, one of the worst places for grime, dirt and bacteria accumulation is the gap at the back of your toilet. This area is usually very difficult to reach, let alone clean, leaving your walls and floors both unsightly and unhygienic.

There is, of course, an easy solution, in the form of the back to wall or wall hung toilet. First, let’s take a look at the back to wall solution.

With the Elsdon stone grey back to wall toilet and unit from Orchard Bathrooms, there are no hard-to-clean nooks and crannies

Back to wall toilets present you with a range of options when designing your bathroom.

If, for example, you have a partition wall, you could potentially integrate a concealed cistern into its construction, allowing your toilet to sit flush (if you pardon the pun!) to the wall. However, if you wish to position your toilet against a masonry wall, why not consider combining with a back to wall unit (as pictured above). If you have bathroom furniture, pick one from the same furniture range for a cohesive, coordinated look.

If you simply don’t have the room or budget to spend on this option, you could also consider what is known as a “fully shrouded” close coupled toilet (pictured below), which also sits flush to the wall.

Sitting flush to the wall, the Derwent round shrouded close coupled rimless toilet comes with plenty of hygienic, easy clean features

If you can afford to push the boat out a little and have a wall that can support it, wall hung toilets produce a sleek, designer look that is hard to beat.

So, how do all these toilet options help you maintain a clean and hygienic bathroom?

There is no gap between the toilet and wall, meaning no hard-to-reach dust and grime traps
Fiddly elements like plumbing are concealed
They make cleaning your whole floor quicker and easier

Other things to look out for:

Choose a toilet seat with a lift off design for quick and easy cleaning
Rimless toilets are more hygienic, giving bacteria fewer places to breed

2. Vanity unit v standalone basin

Vanity units are fast replacing traditional pedestal designs as the basin of choice for British bathrooms. And it’s easy to see why, especially when planning an easy-to-clean, hygienic bathroom.

You can store bathroom essentials like toiletries and cleaning products in your vanity unit, which would otherwise clutter surfaces
Vanity units sit flush to the wall, unlike pedestal basins, where there is potentially a hard-to-reach gap to the rear
Tricky-to-clean elements like plumbing and bottle traps are concealed within the vanity unit itself

With plenty of storage space beneath the basin, the Eden vanity unit from Orchard Bathrooms, will help rid your bathroom of clutter, making cleaning easier

If you have a load-bearing wall (always get a builder to check this, rather than make your own assumption) you could choose a wall hung vanity unit which leaves your floor space free and easy to clean.

3. Easy clean glass

If you already have a shower enclosure or bath screen and live in a hardwater area, you’ll know how the glass can become streaked with limescale over time. This not only looks unsightly, but, if left untreated, can prove almost impossible to clean.

For clarity and convenience, opt for shower screens or enclosures with easy-clean glass. This type of glass is pre-treated with a special coating that resists soap, scum and limescale, making it easy to maintain and clean.

All Mode Bathrooms shower enclosures and bath shower screens come with easy clean glass as standard

If your glass doesn’t come pre-treated, you can always buy a product like the Showerguard easy clean bathroom coating kit. One application to your glass offers years of protection from soap and limescale deposits, making cleaning much easier.

4. Bath shower mixer tap

Even if you don’t feel you need one, it’s always worth installing a bath shower mixer tap to your bath, so you can rinse right around the tub. This makes cleaning a much quicker and easier affair.

A shower attachment isn’t just handy for washing yourself, it’s also great for cleaning your bath

5. Shower wall panels v tiles

If scrubbing at the grout lines between your tiles sounds like your idea of hell, there is an alternative that could save your aching muscles.

In splash zones, like the interior walls of your shower enclosure or around your bath, why not consider shower wall panels? Made from durable, watertight materials and available in a variety of stylish colours and designs, these modern wall coverings are much easier to clean when compared to tiles. Plus, with no grout lines, there’s nowhere for mould to develop, meaning less maintenance and a more pleasant appearance.

Quicker installation, more cost-effective than tiles and easier to clean; what's not to like about these shower wall panels from Orchard Bathrooms?

Now we’ve looked at labour-saving bathroom products, let’s turn our attention to the cleaning itself…

B. Cleaning and maintaining your bathroom

To keep your bathroom looking and smelling fresh, not to mention hygienic, you will need to put a regular cleaning routine in space.

How often you clean your bathroom will completely depend on your usage—for example, a shared, family bathroom will require more cleaning than an ensuite bathroom used by one person. However, for an average family bathroom, we’d recommend a deep clean once a week. This will leave everything hygienic and pleasant, ready for use.

1. Cleaning your toilet

Out of all your bathroom fixtures, your toilet is the one which requires the most care and attention. This is due to the harmful bacteria that can grow and spread if you don’t stay on top of your cleaning routine.

Use a household bleach (remembering to wear rubber gloves to avoid any skin irritation) and coat the bowl. Allow 30 minutes for this work, before scrubbing with a toilet brush and flushing.

For full step-by-step instructions, read our guide on how to clean a toilet. However, if you notice a build-up of limescale, check out our tips on removing limescale from toilets. And, to keep your toilet looking and smelling fresh in between cleans, why not check out our crafting guide to making your own fizzy toilet bombs?

One thing to always remember when you use your toilet is to lower the toilet seat—including the lid—AFTER you use it but BEFORE you flush. That way, you reduce the amount of bacterial microbes that are released into the air, which then settle on towels, mats and other surfaces. Don’t believe us? Find out more about leaving the toilet seat up or down.

2. Cleaning your basin

After cleaning your toilet, everything else should seem like a breeze! So, let’s start with the other main fixture which makes up your bathroom suite: the basin.

Simply spray with some everyday household cleaner (do not use harsh chemicals), allow 10 minutes or so, then wipe clean with a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge. If there are any stubborn marks or stains, scrub with your cloth or sponge. Rinse with clean, cold water and wipe down to a dry finish.

Cleaning with a reusable bathroom wipe

Trying to reduce the amount of waste you produce from bathroom cleaning? Read our step-by-step guide to making eco-friendly reusable bathroom wipes.

Read on for tap and shower cleaning tips.

3. Cleaning your bath

Your bath is where you go to relax, so you certainly won’t want to be stressing about dirt and grime as you lay back and unwind. Again, cleaning your bath really shouldn’t take too long.

While you can use everyday household cleaner, here at Victoria Plum we swear by simple ingredients from your local supermarket or store cupboard. White vinegar and baking soda combine to create a winning formula for sparkling clean baths.

Make your own solution by adding equal parts white vinegar and water into a spray bottle, spray all over your bath and leave to work for 15 minutes. Wipe away with a soft, non-abrasive cloth or sponge.

Then sprinkle baking powder around your bath. Spray on the white vinegar solution and allow to bubble. Scrub with a soft sponge until a paste forms. Leave it to do its magic for 15 minutes before wiping away and rinsing clean.

For more in-depth advice, as well as tips on unclogging your drain, see our guide to cleaning your bath.

4. Cleaning your shower head and taps

To keep your shower, taps, plus any other brassware clean and free from limescale, we’d highly recommend using white vinegar.

For shower heads, you can detach and place inside a ziplock bag containing white vinegar solution. Allow to soak for an hour, before removing and rinsing with fresh water. Any remaining limescale deposits can be scrubbed away with a toothbrush.

Watch the video below and read our step-by-step guide to cleaning your shower head.

For taps and other metallic accessories (like towel rails, toilet roll holders, etc.) that can’t be detached, we’d recommend spraying with a white vinegar/water solution and wiping with a soft sponge or cloth.

5. Cleaning your glass surfaces

To keep glass surfaces like shower screens or shower enclosures sparkling and free from limescale, it’s best to give these a regular clean.

Simply spray on a standard shower cleaning product and scrub with a damp sponge. Rinse with cold water and use a squeegee to remove excess water and ensure it dries to a clear finish.

Here’s a little tip… Leave a squeegee in your shower and encourage family members to use it on the glass after they shower.

For more top tips like this, check out our guide to cleaning your shower screen. And, if you haven’t done so already, find out more about protecting your glass with Showerguard.

6. Cleaning your tiles or shower wall panels

Your walls and floors are also areas which require attention.

With bathroom tiles, you will need to focus on the grout lines, as this is where mould can develop. Wall tiles can be cleaned using a soft sponge and household cleaner (or even a solution of baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice and water).

Meanwhile, for cleaning floor tiles, it’s better to use a mop and bucket.

If your grout is still looking a little grubby or mould is beginning to form, check out our guide to cleaning your bathroom tiles for more top tips.

You can clean shower wall panels in a similar way to wall tiles, however you should NEVER use a harsh or abrasive cleaner, as they may damage the surface and void any product guarantees. We’d recommend using soapy water. However, if you would like to try a white vinegar solution, test on a small patch first.

For more care advice, see our guide to cleaning shower wall panels.

7. Cleaning your bath mat

While some people feel that bath mats are unhygienic, this will only be an issue if you don’t wash them regularly.

With average use, we’d recommend washing your bath mat about once a week. And, as most bath mats are machine washable, you can simply add them to your laundry pile. Keep an eye out for a care symbol, like the one below:

To find out how to wash your bath mat using a washing machine or by hand, read our guide on how to wash your bath mat. This also contains full instructions on how to dry your bath mat correctly.

For further advice on maintaining those smaller items in your bathroom, see our guide to cleaning bathroom accessories.

C. Want your easy-clean bathroom designed for you?

If you want a bathroom that’s simple to maintain, why not let us design it for you? Simply supply us with some photos and rough sketch of your bathroom. Our experienced team will listen to your requirements and provide you with:

Ultra-realistic 3D images
A 2D top-down layout
Bespoke shopping list for you to pass on to your bathroom fitter

Simply click below to book your professional bathroom design consultation.

D. More cleaning tips for your bathroom

To help you keep your bathroom clean and looking like new, head to our Switches and Fixes hub. You’ll find plenty of handy advice from the experts Victoria Plum.