Looking for ways to save time on bathroom cleaning without sacrificing thoroughness? Aren’t we all!

Although bathroom cleaning can be cumbersome, it is essential for maintaining a healthy home and preventing more serious problems, such as mold or bacterial buildup, down the road.

Here, we share some of our favorite natural bathroom cleaning hacks to save time, save money, and keep your bathroom sparkling clean.

How Often Should You Clean Your Bathroom? 

How often to clean your bathroom depends on how many people are using it and how frequently it is used.

For individuals or couples, a once-a-week deep clean is often sufficient, with spot cleaning as needed.

For larger families, you may need to perform a general wipe-down daily (or more frequently if you have young boys!) and conduct a deep clean two or three times a week.

The good news is that, with a bit of preparation, daily maintenance, and the right tools and techniques, bathroom cleaning can be quick and efficient.

The Importance of Natural Bathroom Cleaning 

Between soap scum, hair, dust, grooming byproducts, and dirty toilets, bathrooms can become gross fast

This is why most people reach for harsh chemical bathroom cleaners to blast away germs.

Although this is understandable, it’s also very risky to downright dangerous.

The reason is that bathroom cleaners contain some of the most toxic household chemicals, including:

• Ammonia
• Chlorine bleach
• Ethanol
• Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives
• Antibacterial chemicals like Quats
• Fragrances
• And harmful surfactants

Many of these can cause allergic reactions, hormone disruption, lung and organ damage, immune dysfunction, significant environmental damage, and even cancer.

The good news is you do not need harsh chemicals to clean your bathroom and get rid of germs.

A high-quality human-safe, low-tox, plant- and mineral-based bathroom cleaner, like Branch Basics Bathroom plus Oxygen Boost and Branch Basics Streak-Free, is all you need to remove germs effectively.

Pair this with a biodegradable, low-tox disinfectant, like hydrogen peroxide or dry steam, and you have everything you need to clean your bathroom safely and without harsh chemicals.

Simple household items, such as vinegar, baking soda, castile soap, peroxide, and salt, are all excellent DIY bathroom cleaning solutions.

Related reading: How To Clean Your Bathroom Naturally With Branch Basics 

Branch Basics Bathroom Solution

Branch Basics Bathroom solution is made using our signature all-in-one Concentrate plus water.

Just add the Concentrate and water to the designated line of the glass or plastic spray bottle, shake, and you’re ready to clean your tub, shower, toilet, sink, and countertops.

Branch Basics Streak-Free is made using (get ready) just 1 drop (!) of Branch Basics Concentrate plus enough water to fill the spray bottle.

This will clean your mirrors, chrome, and shower doors to shiny, streak-free perfection.

Oxygen Boost, a two-ingredient mineral-based natural scouring agent and bleach alternative, can be used with Bathroom Solution for deep cleaning tubs, toilets, and tile grout.

Related: How To Use Branch Basics Bathroom Solution: Complete Guide 

12 Time-Saving Bathroom Cleaning Hacks 

Now that you have the tools, let’s get cleaning!

Here are twelve hacks we use to save time cleaning bathrooms.

1. Soak Shower Heads and Faucets in Vinegar

Vinegar is a highly versatile DIY cleaner for bathrooms. The magic comes from its natural acetic acid, which gently dissolves dirt, grime, soap scum, and scale.

This hack uses plain old white or cleaning vinegar in a plastic bag diluted 50:50 with water and affixed to faucets or shower heads.

Once attached, the vinegar will naturally dissolve and remove soap scum, water spots, and mineral deposits with zero effort.

You can affix these in the morning and remove them when you get home from work, or leave them on overnight.

Either way, you’ll have sparkling clean fixtures, faucets, and shower heads in about 6-12 hours.

For more tips, see: How To Clean Your Shower Naturally, 6 Tips

2. Use a Pumice Stone on Toilet Bowl Rings

Toilet bowl rings happen to everyone and can be common in homes with hard water.

The safest and most natural way to remove them is with a simple pumice stone.

Just don a pair of rubber gloves, clean the toilet with Branch Basics Bathroom and Oxygen Boost, and use the pumice stone to scrub away the rings.

For more tips like this, see: 4 Best Natural (And Effective) Toilet Bowl Cleaners 

3. Unclog Drains Naturally with Baking Soda, Vinegar, & Hot Water

Next time your bathroom sink gets clogged, bypass the ultra-toxic drain cleaner for a simple flush of baking soda, vinegar, & hot water.

To use:

1. Remove as much debris as possible using a drain cleaning tool or a coat hanger.
   
2. Pour about half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half to one cup of vinegar. The combination will create a natural expansion and fizzing action that will force out clogs.
   
3. After a few minutes, chase this with a couple of cups of very hot water.
   
4. Repeat until the clog is gone.

Pro tip: Use this combo on your drains every week or two to prevent buildup that leads to clogs.

4. Use These Natural Deodorizers To Keep Your Bathroom Smelling Fresh

Bathrooms can smell unpleasant, even if they are clean.

A simple dish of baking soda (kept out of the reach of children or pets) will help absorb odors naturally, with zero hormone-disruptive synthetic fragrance.

Discover more natural deodorizers in: 7 Non-Toxic Air Fresheners & How To Remove Odors Naturally

5. Shower Squeegees Are a Must

Shower squeegees are one of the best tools for cutting down on bathroom cleaning and preventing the buildup of mold, soap scum, and water spots.

We keep one in all our baths and showers and teach our kids to squeegee the shower and shower doors clean after every use.

Just be sure to hang these to dry to prevent mold.

6. Utilize a Dry Steam Cleaner for Grout and Tiles

Grout and tile are excellent non-toxic building materials for bathrooms, but they’re also soap scum and mold/mildew magnets.

A dry steam cleaner, such as the Ladybug Dry Steam Cleaner, is excellent for mechanical disinfecting and cleaning without any toxic products.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, but generally here’s how it works:

• Wipe down the area to remove any dust or visible dirt
  
• Aim the dry steam cleaner directly at the grout and tile, and blast away the funk
  
• Scrub with a scrub brush or electronic scrub brush to remove any remaining grime
  
• Wipe clean

A dry steam cleaner can also be used in between deep cleanings to blast away loose dirt, mildew, soap scrum, etc., and works great on glass and mirrors too.

7. Chopsticks or Toothbrushes Can Get Those Tight Spaces 

Bathroom fixtures create tight spaces that are tricky to clean with a scrub brush or sponge.

For this, we use chopsticks with a microfiber cloth or rag.

Spray the area with Branch Basics Bathroom and use a cloth-wrapped chopstick to remove the dirt, grime, soap scum, etc.

It’s quick, it’s simple, and now it’s done.

8. Turn Your Hydrogen Peroxide Bottle Into A Spray Bottle

Simply using soap and water, or a soap-based product like Branch Basics to remove germs, dirt, and grime is enough to get the job done. 

However, as discussed in multiple articles, for disinfecting, we love using 3% hydrogen peroxide (brown bottle) on frequently used surfaces after removing the dirt and grime with soap and water.

Keep a bottle in your bathrooms and the kitchen with a trigger sprayer attached.

It's essential to store hydrogen peroxide in the original bottle because it's light-sensitive and will break down if transferred to a regular glass or plastic spray bottle.

A quick online search of “trigger sprayer for hydrogen peroxide” will yield several options.

Affixing a trigger sprayer is cheap, effective, and makes using hydrogen peroxide in the bathroom super simple.

Related reading: Hydrogen Peroxide Vs Rubbing Alcohol: Which is Safest?

9. Keep A Soap Dispensing Dish Brush In The Shower With Branch Basics Bathroom

Cleaning shower tile and grout while you shower is a fantastic time-saver (and a great excuse to spend a few more minutes in the shower!).

To make this easy, we keep a soap-dispensing dish brush loaded up with Branch Basics Bathroom solution in our shower.

But be safe! Remember, any soap or cleaner can get slippery, which is why we only do the wall tile and grout while showering (you can blitz the whole shower or tub when you’re done).

Related reading: Essential Cleaning Tools for a Happy & Healthy Home

10. Wash Your Shower Curtain Liners Bi-Monthly To Prevent Mold & Mildew

As discussed in The Best Non-Toxic Shower Curtain Liners, natural and low-tox shower curtains and liners require special care, including regular washing.

This will prevent mold and mildew from forming, which can be challenging and time-consuming to remove naturally once it takes hold.

For most people, monthly or bi-monthly washing is all that’s needed to keep shower curtains and liners fresh and clean.

Pro tip: Spray hydrogen peroxide on your shower curtain liner a few times a week to prevent mold and mildew growth.

11. Dust Countertops, Mirrors, and Toilet Seats Before You Clean

Running a duster or microfiber cloth over bathroom surfaces before cleaning saves time by removing dust, which can clump once sprayed.

12. Keep Microfiber Clothes Under The Sink

We love using microfiber cloths for cleaning, as they trap more dirt, dust, and grime than regular rags.

They’re also great for quick wipe-downs of the bathroom to prevent water spots and countertop stains.

Use Branch Basics for Natural, Human-Safe Bathroom Cleaning 

Bathroom cleaning may not be at the top of your fun-and-exciting list, but you can get it done much faster using these hacks & the best natural cleaners.

Branch Basics refillable all-in-one cleaning system was created with busy, toxin-conscious, and eco-aware people in mind.

Just one Concentrate is all you need to replace every harsh chemical cleaner in your home.

Branch Basics cleaning products are all human-safe, plant- and mineral-based, biodegradable, MADE Safe Certified, pet-safe, baby-safe, and safe for the most sensitive individuals.

Curious about how it all works? 

Check out our Starter Kits, available in plastic or glass, which have everything you need to clean your bathroom and entire home.

More of a visual learner? Check out How To Get Started With Your Branch Basics Kit for a full written and video tutorial.