Let’s face it, cleaning the bathroom is no one's favourite chore. It’s tedious, a little gross and all too easy to rush through. But the truth is, you should probably be taking a little more care with the way you clean your bathroom, as it could be far dirtier than you think.
Even if you consider yourself a diligent cleaner (emphasis on think), bathrooms are full of hidden nooks and crannies where grime, bacteria and mould can quietly build up. These are the spots you use every day but rarely think to clean, simply because they’re out of sight or easy to overlook.
To help you stay one step ahead, we’ve rounded up the most commonly forgotten bathroom cleaning jobs. From bacteria-covered everyday items to hidden corners where mould loves to grow, these are the overlooked spots worth tackling today – plus the best way to clean each one.
Sink overflow hole
If you don’t immediately know what I mean when I say the overflow hole, that’s already a sign you’re not cleaning it enough. It’s easy to forget it’s even there, but the small overflow hole beneath your bathroom tap is one of the grimiest spots in the room.
Because it’s dark, damp and rarely flushed through, it’s the perfect environment for bacteria, mould and slimy biofilm to build up over time. If you’ve ever noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your sink despite it looking spotless, the overflow hole could well be the culprit.
To clean it, pour a small amount of disinfectant or a solution of white vinegar into the overflow opening and leave it to work for around 10 minutes. Then use a narrow bottle brush, pipe cleaner or cotton bud to loosen any hidden grime before flushing it through with hot water. Making this part of your monthly bathroom cleaning routine will help keep lingering odours and hidden bacteria at bay.
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Loo-roll holder
This might be the least often cleaned item in the bathroom. It might not look particularly dirty, but your toilet roll holder is one of the most frequently touched surfaces in the bathroom. It’s handled multiple times a day, often before or after using the toilet, yet it’s a spot that's easily skipped during a quick clean. Over time, it can accumulate bacteria, fingerprints, dust and splashes without you even noticing.
Fortunately, it’s one of the quickest jobs to tackle. Simply wipe the holder over with a disinfectant spray or antibacterial wipe, paying particular attention to the spindle, arm and any grooves where dust and grime can collect. If it’s removable, take the opportunity to clean behind it, too, as this often becomes a hidden trap for dust and toilet paper fluff.
Toilet base
We all clean our toilets, right? But are you cleaning all of your toilet? Most of us give the bowl and seat a regular scrub, but the area where the toilet meets the floor is often forgotten. Dust, hair and splashes of you-know-what can quickly collect around the base, particularly at the back where it’s awkward to reach. If left unchecked, this hidden grime can become a breeding ground for bacteria and unpleasant odours.
When cleaning your toilet, don’t stop at the bowl. Spray a disinfectant cleaner all the way around the base and leave it to sit for a few minutes before wiping it away with a microfibre cloth. For tight gaps behind the toilet or around the pipework, an old toothbrush or small detailing brush can help lift away stubborn dirt that a standard cloth can’t reach.
Toilet-brush holder
This is possibly the dirtiest thing in your bathroom, and yet it probably doesn’t get the TLC (tender loving cleaning) it deserves. Every time you scrub the bowl, the brush picks up bacteria and debris, while the holder often collects drips of dirty water that can sit stagnant between uses. Left untouched, it’s a recipe for nasty germs – and a toilet that’s not really getting cleaned.
Thankfully, there’s an easy way to clean it as part of your normal toilet-cleaning routine. Once you’ve applied your toilet cleaner to the bowl, leave the brush resting in the cleaner while it works its magic to help disinfect the bristles. After flushing, rinse the brush in the clean water, then wedge the handle under the toilet seat so the head hangs over the bowl and can drip-dry completely before putting it back in its holder. Don’t forget to wash and disinfect the holder regularly, too, as this is where bacteria, limescale and unpleasant odours are most likely to build up.
Shower caddy
Your shower caddy might look fairly harmless, but it’s constantly exposed to warm water, humidity and leaky shampoo bottles – the perfect recipe for grime. Over time, soap scum, product residue and even mould can build up on the shelves and underneath bottles, leaving behind a surprisingly slimy mess that most of us never notice because it's hidden in plain sight.
Every few weeks, empty your shower caddy completely and give it a thorough clean with warm, soapy water or a bathroom cleaner. Pay particular attention to the corners, drainage holes and the bottoms of your shampoo and shower gel bottles, which are often coated in sticky residue. Before putting everything back, wipe each bottle clean, too – otherwise you’ll just be putting the grime straight back where it came from.
Bathroom bin
Changing the bin liner is one thing, but when was the last time you actually cleaned the bin itself? Bathroom bins are often used to dispose of tissues, cotton pads, plasters and other personal hygiene waste, making them a surprisingly dirty item. Over time, spills, dust and bacteria can build up on the inside, while the lid, rim and foot pedal become high-touch surfaces that are rarely wiped down.
Every couple of weeks, empty the bin completely and wash the inside with hot, soapy water before spraying it with a disinfectant. Don’t forget to wipe down the outside, too, paying particular attention to the lid and foot pedal. Let the bin dry fully before replacing the liner to help prevent lingering odours and moisture from building up.
Toothbrush holder
Your toothbrush does a great job of keeping your teeth clean, but the holder it sits in is a whole other story. Every day it catches drips of toothpaste, water and saliva, creating a damp environment where bacteria, mould and limescale can quickly build up. Because most of the grime collects at the bottom or inside the holder, it’s easy to miss until it becomes unpleasantly obviously slimy.
Aim to clean your toothbrush holder at least once a week. Empty it completely, wash it in hot, soapy water and use a small bottle brush or better yet old toothbrush to scrub away any hidden residue inside. If it’s dishwasher-safe, popping it in on a hot cycle can make the job even easier. Just be sure it’s completely dry before putting your toothbrushes back to help keep bacteria at bay.
Extractor fan
Out of sight really is out of mind when it comes to the bathroom extractor fan. Sitting high up on the wall or ceiling, it’s easy to forget about entirely. Meanwhile, it quietly collects dust, lint and moisture every day. Over time, this build-up can reduce the fan’s efficiency, making it less effective at removing steam. That extra humidity can then linger in your bathroom, creating the ideal conditions for mould and mildew to thrive.
To keep it working properly, switch off the power first, then carefully remove or wipe down the cover with warm, soapy water. Use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment or a microfibre cloth to remove any dust from the vents before replacing the cover once it’s completely dry. Giving your extractor fan a clean every 2-3 months will help it run more efficiently and keep excess moisture under control.
Shower curtain
Considering how often it’s soaked with warm water, you’d be forgiven for thinking your shower curtain can’t be that dirty. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Soap scum, body oils and hard water stains quickly build up on the surface, while the damp conditions make the bottom of the curtain the perfect breeding ground for mould and mildew.
The good news is that most shower curtains don’t need replacing when they start looking grubby. If the care label allows, simply pop it in the washing machine on a gentle cycle with your normal detergent and a couple of bath towels. The towels help scrub away built-up grime while cushioning the curtain during the wash. Once the cycle has finished, rehang it to air dry rather than putting it in the tumble dryer. To help prevent mould from returning, keep the curtain fully extended after every shower so it can dry properly between uses.
