Cleaning Bathroom with Bleach: Safe Practices and Techniques

To restore the smell and clean all the mold, you need bleach. That is because cleaning bathroom with bleach removes the bad odor and makes the bathroom environment tolerable.  I’m sure you can find one among your cleaning detergents. If not, it’s readily available at the shop.

In my years of experience with bleach, I have realized it provides three undeniably benefits to your washroom.

But wait… do you know that the kitchen sponge could be dirtier than the average toilet seat? A study reveals.

   ➜ RELATED: Need to Find the Best Vacuum Cleaner? Now You Can Get the One!

A. 3 Sure Benefits of Cleaning Bathroom with Bleach

When you use it correctly, bleach guarantees the following benefits:

1. Disinfects

Unlike ordinary cleaners, bleach has a superior disinfecting effect. When you use it to clean your washroom, it eliminates even the notorious viruses like norovirus.

2. Removes Bad odor

Owing to the damp condition of the bathroom, bad bacteria find it easier to breed in there. A good example is underneath the bathroom mat. Bleach kills the bad odor-causing bacteria, mildew, and mold. It then replaces the bad smell with its natural odor which repels bugs.

3. Brightens and whitens

A newly-built bathroom has a shiny and appealing look. But over time it loses that attractive appearance. You can use bleach to restore the brand-new look of such surfaces like a porcelain sink. That will boost your bathroom’s look before your visitors; check the photo below:

A clean sink is not only hygienic but adds to the appeal of your bathroom

Although bleach is readily available at home or in the shops, many people are hesitant to use it. All you have to do is learn how to use it correctly, and that’s the purpose of this guide. But before you rush to pick up a cleaning agent, there are certain precautions to exercise.

B. Precautions When Using Bleach

For best results in your cleaning and your safety, keep the following in mind. Do not rush to cleaning your bathroom with bleach without getting conversant with the following:

1. Mix the bleach in a well-ventilated area

To dilute concentrated bleach, carry out the operation in a well-ventilated region. Ideally, do the mixing in the open air. Otherwise if it is in your bathroom then open the doors, windows and even switch on the exhaust fan. All this will protect you from becoming dizzy. 

   ➜ RELATED: Lemon Juice for Cleaning: 16 Ways to Use Lemons to Clean Your House

2. Wear protective clothing

Put on protective clothing to shield your skin, eyes, and nose from its effect. For example, wear the following:

A. Rubber gloves

These gloves will protect your hands from bleach

B. Masks

Wearing a respiratory mask like the woman above protects you from inhaling bleachy fumes

C. Long pants 

Ways To Cleaning Bathroom

3. Keep off kids and pets from your work area

While doing your mixing and cleaning ensure that you keep children and pets far away. Such company may easily mess up your job.

4. Never drain bleach into pipes

After cleaning, you might be tempted to drain off the remaining chemicals into pipes or septic systems. Doing so will surely damage the pipes and the smooth operation of the septic system.

5. No mixing of bleach with other chemicals

Perhaps you own a variety of cleaning detergents. However, you or your kids shouldn’t mix the bleach with other detergents since it is dangerous. For example, mixing bleach with ammonia produces a toxic gas.

6. Don’t mix hot water with bleach

When preparing diluted bleach use cold water. When you dilute the chemical with hot water it will emit more dangerous fumes.

7. Use diluted bleach within 24 hours

After diluting bleach for cleaning do not let it sit more than 24 hours. When you let it sit for a longer period it decomposes thus reducing its efficiency. At the same time, keep the undiluted chemical in a cool shade away from direct sunlight.

C. Do You Know the Dirtiest Part of the Bathroom?

The washroom harbors many germs right from the walls, toilet, floor, and even the curtains. A recent study indicates that the bathroom floor has the highest number of germs. That’s contrary to the popular belief that the toilet seat or bathtub is the dirtiest. In fact according to the BBC report, a kitchen sponge could be 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat!

   ➜ RELATED: How to Clean Tile Floors With Vinegar, Baking Soda, and Lemon?

That’s hard to believe, isn’t it?

You should, therefore, learn the best way of how to clean the bathroom with bleach. With that said here are eight ways or parts that you should clean with the bleach:

D. Top 8 Places to Bleach in Your Bathroom

• Bathmat
• Bathtub
• Eliminating molds and mildew
• Countertops and sinks
• Toilet bowl
• Sterilizing bath toys
• Disinfecting trash cans
• Shower curtains

E. Step-by-Step Cleaning of a Bathroom with Bleach

1. Shower curtains

Before you begin cleaning the shower with bleach, bring down the curtain and the liner first. Fortunately, cleaning them doesn’t have to be difficult as you can do it with a machine wash.

A dirty shower curtain that needs cleaning

• Put all the curtains and the liner in the washing machine. 
• To keep the curtains from forming wrinkles in the machine add few towels to the same machine
• Put in your usual laundry detergent
• Measure half a cup of bleach and pour into the washing machine
• Run the cycle to the end
• Remove the curtains, liner and air dry. 

2. Bathroom mat [rubber]

Over time, oily substances from the soap and mildew develop on the bathmat. If not cleaned, it harbors germs and produces a bad smell. Besides, stepping in or out of an oily bathmat may easily cause an accident.

Anti-slip bathmat makes the tub less slippery even for babies.

Here’s what you need and how to eliminate the problem.

What you need:

• Measuring cup or tablespoon
• 1 to 2 gallons of water
• Cleaning brush
• Deep sink
• Washing machine (optional)

Steps

1. 1. For ordinary cleaning bathroom with bleach, mix one teaspoon of bleach to every gallon of water. Otherwise for deep cleaning, mix one cup of bleach to five gallons of water. Then transfer the resulting mixture into the deep sink.

2. 2. For a quick cleaning exercise, soak the bath mat in the solution for about ten minutes. That helps to loosen the deep-seated stains.

3. 3. For heavy cleaning (removing mildew and mold) soak the bathmat for about four hours.

4. 4. Next, take the cleaning brush and scrub the mat to get rid of the dirt and debris.

5. 5. After several rounds of scrubbing, take out the mat from the sink or bathtub. 

6. 6. Spread the bathmat to dry out in the sun and do not use a dryer.

7. 7. Rinse the sink to get rid of the scum and other accumulated dirt from the cleaning.

Tip: If removing the rubber mat from the bathtub is proving to be difficult, either add baby oil or scoop it out with a credit card.

   ➜ RELATED: Best Dirt Devil Vacuum Reviews And Buying Guide

Cleaning the mat through a machine wash

Alternatively, you can do it in a washing a machine – here is how:

1. 1. Put in the rubber mat in the washing machine.

2. 2. Also add other clothes which can’t be damaged by bleach like a white towel.

3. 3. Add half a cup of bleach to the wash cycle.

4. 4. Set the machine to run in the gentle cycle using either warm or cold water.

5. 5. Switch off the machine, take out the mat and dry out in the clothing line.

3. Bathtub

Does your bathtub look like the photo below? Then you need the help of bleach!

A dirty bathtub is not only disgusting but brings shame to the family. Don’t be a victim!

To restore the look and sanitize the tub, bleach can be of serious help.

Here is what you need to go through the cleaning process successfully:

• Two sizable sponges
• Dry towel
• One part of baking soda
• Measuring cup

   ➜ RELATED: Baking Soda for Cleaning - The Accessible and Effective Household Cleaner

If you lack the time to go through the steps here is the visual instruction, it will only take about a minute of your time:

Steps

1. 1. Here is a sure way to clean a regular tub with bleach.

2. 2. Empty the tub. Remove everything else like soaps, conditioner or lotions etc. that are in the tub. Keep them aside where they are safe. You will still need them after cleaning the bathtub with bleach.

3. 3. Wet a sponge with hot water. Switch on the hot water and let it wet the sponge for some seconds. Then, use the sponge to wipe the entire surface of the tub. That helps to loosen scum, in preparation for bleaching.

4. 4. Dilute the bleach and combine half a cup of bleach to one gallon of water to make a solution. Soak the sponge in the bleach solution. Then use the foam to wet the bathtub surface once more. Wait for five minutes for the solution to weaken the stains on the bathtub.

5. 5. Rinse with cold water and wet another sponge with cold water. Then use the foam to wipe the tub by gently rubbing the surface in a circular motion.

6. 6. Dry it out next, and pick up a dry towel, and wipe out the tub to dry completely.

7. 7. Are there still some stubborn stains? Don’t worry! Here is the solution:

8. 8. Make a paste to remove the extra stubborn stains. Prepare a paste of one part baking soda to one part bleach. Smear the paste onto the stubborn stains then wait for about 15 minutes.

9. 9. Next sprinkle water on the paste then use a damp loofah to clear away the paste. Preferably let your hands follow a circular motion.

Finally, dry with a towel.

Look at your bathtub! Does it sparkle resplendently? I hope you have mastered how to bleach a bathtub.

Here is an alternative method for the deeply stained tub

Empty all objects from the tub then clean out the usual way.

Switch it on the water and let it run until it gets as hot as possible. Ensure that the whole tub is filled up (but not overflowing) with steaming water. 

Hint: If it doesn’t get very hot (about 60°C), why not boil water in a separate container and add it to the tub?

Depending on the capacity of your tub, add the correct amount of bleach to the hot water. Use the ratio of half a cup of bleach to one gallon of water.

Allow the solution to soak for about 15 minutes. That should give the bleach enough time to work on the deep-seated stains.

After the required time has elapsed, drain out the water completely.

By now, your tub should be sparkling. If not, mix one part of bleach to one part of water in a spray can. Then, spray the solution to the stained spots directly.

Finally, rinse out the entire tub with hot water. Give it a thorough rinse to remove all the traces of the bleach.

Have you realized the process of how to clean a tub with bleach is easy to follow? Having learned how to clean a bathtub with bleach, you don’t have to wait until the grime accumulates badly. Act before it is too late!

Now that your bathtub is clean, let’s see how to deal with the toilet.

4. Toilet

To many people, cleaning a toilet is an unpleasant task. As unfriendly as it may seem, a toilet should be cleaned and sanitized weekly. Cleaning a toilet with bleach completes both tasks at the same time.

It is not safe to clean some bidets with bleach. So, before you embark on the task, consult the manufacturer if it is safe to do so.

If you don’t clean it over time, it’s going to look like the one below:

Why let your toilet look like this when you have bleach in your house?

Surely, you don’t want it to reach that state. That’s why I wish to help.

First, here is a run-down of what you will require when cleaning a toilet with bleach

• Bleach
• Toilet brush

Use this to reach the underside of the rim easily

• General-purpose cleaner
• A sponge

Removing rust residue

Before applying bleach, check if your bidet is rusty. If it is, do not add bleach to it until you remove the corrosion. Otherwise, the rust will only harden.

Measure half a cup of baking soda, and apply it on the rusty parts. Then sprinkle a little bit of vinegar on the same spot.

Allow the setup to rest for half an hour.

Rinse by flushing out the baking soda and vinegar.

That should remove the rust.

Cleaning with bleach

A. Preparing and sanitizing the toilet’s interior

Measure half a cup of bleach, remove the lid and pour in the bidet or toilet bowl. Wipe up any traces of the liquid that spills on the floor.

Take the toilet brush and scrub the interior of the toilet. Make sure to clean, under the rim, around the waterline and even down the chute.

Scrubbing the toilet’s interior

Position the brush to be under the rim such a way that clean water can flow through it when you flush.

Flush the toilet to rinse the brush too. Shake the brush a little and put it back into its holder.

It’s good to start a thorough cleaning on a clean surface. Your toilet is all set for cleaning now.

B. Cleaning built-up or stubborn stains

Before thinking of cleaning bathroom with bleach, agree on the right time to carry out the task.

Bleach can effectively eliminate stubborn stains from the bidet or toilet, but it has to be applied and left to idle for some hours.

So, discuss it with your family or roommates to pick the best time to do the cleaning.

Here are the steps for cleaning up built-up or stubborn stains:

• Measure ¼ cup of bleach.
• Carefully lift the lid and pour in gently the bleach into the bowl then return the lid into its position. Close the door and keep everyone from using the bathroom.
• Let it rest for about ten hours. You can either let it stay overnight or throughout the day.
• After the pre-set time, open the bathroom door, flush the toilet and lift the lid to check on the improvement.

If still there are traces of some stains on the toilet or bidet, then repeat the procedure. Only this time, let it rest for a little more time than before.

   ➜ RELATED: How to Clean With Vinegar - Amazing Remedies and Cleaning Hacks for Homeowners

c. Sanitizing the exterior

Begin by preparing the right concentration to use. So, measure five tablespoons of bleach and combine it to a gallon of water. Mix thoroughly.

To prepare a lesser capacity, use the ratio of 1 ¼ tablespoons of bleach to 950 ml of water.

Transfer the solution into a spray container.

Do you now that urine contains ammonium salts which shouldn’t combine with bleach?

So before spraying the bleach solution, use a mild cleanser to clear out the urine traces from the toilet.

Pay attention to the following areas:

• Rim
• Both the top and bottom of the seat
• Outer bowl
• Lid: front and back
• Stand

Having cleared urine traces, spray the entire toilet’s surface with the bleach solution prepared earlier.

If you are in a hurry to use the toilet, leave the setup for about a minute then wipe dry with a clean towel.

Otherwise for ultimate sanitizing, allow the liquid to dry on the toilet's surface.

I hope your toilet now looks like this:

How your toilet should look after scrubbing and cleaning with diluted bleach

5. Mold and mildew on tiles

However thoroughly you clean the bathroom mat, it won’t look attractive if there is mold or mildew on the floor or grout. Have you ever wondered what the black stains on the shower floor are?

In most cases, the mold becomes rampant during the cold season.

If you don’t have time to go through the reading then here is a quick video clip demonstration on how to go about it:

You don’t have to fret – here is how to clean your shower with bleach and remove the mold:

What you need:

• Bleach
• Water
• Spray container
• Coarse brush or toothbrush

Steps

• Combine one part of bleach to two parts of water, and then mix thoroughly.
• Transfer the mixture into the spray bottle and cork.
• Spray on the affected parts and non-porous surfaces.

Have a look at the photo below:

Removing mold and mildew from tiles enhances their look

Or even better with this one:

A small brush wetted with diluted bleach clears grout easily to look bright

If you don’t have the spray container, you can use a rag to apply the solution to the mold affected areas.

Allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.

After which take the coarse brush and scrub the areas.

For tiny plug holes, use a toothbrush.

Rinse the surfaces and there you are done with cleaning.

   ➜ RELATED: Best Hoover Vacuum Cleaners for Different Cleaning Needs

6. Countertops and sinks

First, begin by cleaning the mess from the sink and countertops.

Next, plug the sink and run hot into it until it’s about halfway full. Measure half a cup of bleach and add to the sink. Fill it up with hot water.

Allow the bleach solution to sit in the sink for a few minutes till it returns to room temperature. That should provide enough duration for the smell and other bacterial infections to loosen up.

After putting on your dish gloves remove the plug and let the water out. Fill the sink again with clean cold water and drain again. That should remove any traces of bleach that might be lingering on the surface of the sink.

Scrub lightly with a sponge or green scouring pad. Just make sure you use a scouring material that is friendly to your sink.

To clean water or soap spots on the sink, and pat dry with a dishtowel.

   ➜ RELATED: How to Shine Laminate Floors: The Best Practical Way

7. Sterilizing bath toys

Bath toys provide good breeding grounds for bacteria. However, sterilizing them isn’t difficult.

Bath toys too need to be sterilized.

Below are the steps to sterilize bath toys:

• Collect your bath toys into a bin or tub.
• Measure ¾ cups of bleach and add to the bin or tub.
• Add a gallon of water to the same bin.
• Let them stay in the bin overnight.
• The next morning, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
• Air-dry the toys.

8. Trash cans

Trash cans harbor germs too. Spray them with diluted bleach

Here are the simple steps on how to thoroughly clean your trash can:

• Add one tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of water.
• Add the mixture into a spray bottle.
• Spar both the interior and exterior of the cans with the solution.
• Allow them to idle for around 15 minutes.
• Then wipe dry with a soft cloth.

Conclusion

So, as you have realized there are many things that you have to clean in the bathroom. You don’t have to get tired of cleaning bathroom with bleach because it sanitizes and refreshes even the environment.

Moreover, when you master the right way of how to clean the bathroom with bleach, your bathroom environment with ever remain sparkling and smell-free.

From the curtain to the toilet bowls, to mildew and mold on the grout, bleach is an effective cleaner. All you have to do is to dilute it in the right ratio and use it before it decomposes.

But don’t forget to wear protective clothing!

So, what have we left out in the list of bathroom items? Why not share your best tips on how to clean with bleach down here? We’d like to hear from you!