How to Clean a Bathroom Floor

Bathroom floors pick up hair, dust, splashes and soap residue quickly. Here's how to clean a bathroom floor so the tiles and grout come up clean without leaving a film behind.

What order should you clean the bathroom in?

Clean from the top down and leave the floor until last. Wipe the basin, vanity, shower and toilet first, so anything that drips or falls lands on a floor you haven't cleaned yet.

How do you clean a bathroom floor?

1. Let the mop pick up hair and dust. No need to sweep or vacuum first. A wide flat microfibre mop picks them up as you go, including behind the toilet and along the edges.
2. Mix a mild cleaner. Use a small amount of a cleaner that suits your tiles, diluted as the label says.
3. Mop with a damp pad. Work from the far side of the room towards the door.
4. Tackle the grout. For soap scum on tiles and grout, make a paste of bicarb soda, a little dishwashing liquid and water. Spread it on, leave it for a few minutes, scrub with a small brush, then rinse.
5. Rinse. Go over the floor with clean water to lift any leftover cleaner.
6. Dry it. Buff with a dry microfibre pad. Run the exhaust fan to help the room dry out.

What should you avoid?

• Mixing cleaning products. Never combine bleach with ammonia-based or acidic cleaners.
• Acidic cleaners on natural stone. Vinegar and citrus can etch marble and limestone.
• Too much product. It leaves a slippery or sticky film.

How often should you mop the bathroom floor?

A weekly mop, with a quick sweep for hair in between, is a common routine.

Tools that make it easier

A flat mop with a swivel head gets around the toilet base and into corners. The Cleanmatic 8-in-1 flat mop and bucket set has a 360° swivel head, a squeegee edge for clearing water, and a bucket that wrings the pad for you, so your hands stay on the handle.

For more on tiles, read how to mop tiles without leaving streaks.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my bathroom floor slippery after mopping?

Usually too much cleaner, which leaves a film. Mop over with plain warm water and a clean pad, then buff dry. Next time, use less product.

Can you use bleach on bathroom floor tiles?

On glazed ceramic and porcelain, diluted as the label says and rinsed off, yes. Don't use it on natural stone, keep the room ventilated, and never mix bleach with other cleaners.

How do you stop mould in bathroom grout?

Keep the room dry. Run the exhaust fan during and after showers, squeegee or wipe standing water off the floor, and clean the grout regularly so soap scum doesn't build up.

Related guides: How to mop tiles without streaks · Best mop for tiles · What to put in mop water

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