Essential Bathroom Cleaning Supplies That Everyone Needs

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Cleaning the bathroom is one of those things we all gotta do, but that we often don’t want to do. Alas, it has to be done, so might as well make it as thorough and as easy as possible while we’re at it - not to mention fun! Because if you’re anything like us, cleaning is truly exciting when you’re using products that really put the magic into cleaning - especially even the toughest of stains and grime. 

It seems like almost every month there is some new ‘essential’ bathroom cleaning supply on the market that promises to make cleaning your bathroom extremely convenient. So, it begs the question, which bathroom cleaners deserve a coveted place in your bathroom cleaning supply closet, and which ones don’t? To answer this question, let’s go over a roster of some of the best tried and true toilet cleaning supplies on the market today. 

Stamp-In Gel 

Make toilet bowl scrubbing a thing of the past with this handy stamp-in gel product.

This is an unusual new product you might not even have heard of, but it’s a pretty cool solution to a common problem - namely keeping your commode clean. This bathroom cleaner, when applied, looks kind of like the blue capsules you stick in your toilet’s water tank, but they’re stamped onto the inside of the toilet bowl. 

All you gotta do is stamp in the gel, and it will do the rest, making for a perfect bathroom cleaner for those that want to cut down on all the manual labor. This gel slowly washes away as you flush, removing any stains in the process so that you don’t have to constantly scrub the bowl after each use. Also, we’re not going to lie, it’s pretty fun to use - it’s reminiscent of arts and crafts gels we used to play with as kids. Plus, they come in a collection of colors to make stamping your toilet even a little bit…cute?

Rubber Gloves and an N95 Mask 

Don’t underestimate the importance of protecting your skin and your airways when cleaning the bathroom.

These aren’t bathroom cleaning supplies per se, but they are items you should keep handy for your next bathroom spring cleaning. Unsurprisingly, bathrooms are filled with all sorts of loathsome stuff and so it’s better to stay safe and protect your skin and airways from any contaminants and bacteria. 

Evidence suggests that toilets may be a vector for various airborne viruses, so keeping yourself protected is a good idea. Beyond that, you are going to be working in an area with harsh bath cleaners, such as bleach, and you do not want those types of things to get on your skin. This is true even if you work with homemade cleaning products since baking soda and other products can also irritate skin and eyes.  

Plenty of Drain Snakes 

A drain snake can defeat even the most stubborn blockages and is the most effective method of clearing pipes.

It’s an unfortunate fact that drains in your bathroom clog regularly, especially your shower and sink drains. Sometimes this is due to construction defects, but more often than not it’s because a bunch of gunk and hair has gotten stuck down there. Fortunately, there is a tried and true solution that can help you defeat most blockages: drain snakes. 

These long devices stretch far down into any drain, dislodging anything blocking your pipes with sharp barbs. It makes for a very satisfying cleanse once you pull it out and see the grime that was out of sight - but definitely not out of mind as it was probably affecting your drainage . Once you're done with the drain snake, be sure to avoid touching it with bare hands and throw it away immediately, as it is a hub for bacteria and other mysterious growths - yikes! 

Gel Mold and Mildew Cleaner 

Mold and mildew just love to congregate in moist, humid, and dark places like your shower, especially if you leave your shower curtain open, which is a bathroom cleaning habit you should try to unlearn. There are a bunch of bathroom cleaning supplies that can help you get rid of these unpleasant-looking spots, such as bleach. But sometimes you might have trouble getting mold or mildew dislodged, especially if it makes its way into grout or caulk. 

In these cases, one of the best bathroom cleaners to have on hand is a product such as a gel mold and mildew cleaner. This product is designed to adhere to grout and caulk, allowing it to stay in place while the chemicals within it destroy any mold or mildew in sight. This is a game changer for ensuring that every corner of your bathroom is in pristine condition.

Pumice Stone Scrubber 

Hard water stains in commodes are a common problem, especially if you have an older toilet that’s been in service for more than ten years. When hard water stains have so much time to set in, they become really hard to scrub out with just your garden-variety toilet brush. 

For this kind of job, you’re gonna have to bring out the big guns, by which we mean to get a pumice stone scrubber product. This powerful bathroom cleaner uses the abrasive power of tiny pumice stones to dislodge hard water stains, giving your toilet a like-new sheen. You’ll need a bit of elbow grease to take full advantage of this bathroom cleaner’s stain-removing power, but you should see effective results almost immediately.   

A Hardy Bleach-Based Cleaner 

Bleach-based cleaners are powerful and reliable bathroom cleaning supplies.

One of the best bathroom cleaners out there is a product you’ve undoubtedly used before, but it should not be understated. Bleach-based toilet cleaners are quite popular and for good reason. They are quite serviceable and reliable solutions for virtually any stain you might find in your toilet bowl, shower, and sink alike - and the product is pretty simple to use. 

Most stubborn hard water or rust stains will come right out with this bathroom cleaner, and all you have to do is let it sit for ten minutes in the bowl before scrubbing it away. Popular brands for this product include Clorox and Lysol, but there are also more affordable store-brand options on offer. Just be sure to use gloves and, if possible, keep a window open for well-ventilation.

A Good Set of Microfiber Rags 

Microfiber rags are the eco-friendly choice when it comes to bathroom clean up are they are absorbent and reusable.

Microfiber rags are a superior bathroom cleaning choice for a few reasons. Unlike cotton rags, microfiber rags won’t leave behind traces when you use them. Microfiber rags are also soft, absorbent, and non-abrasive, making them good for removing dust without leaving behind scratches.

This means you can use them on your bathroom mirrors or a glass shower door without fear of scratching them up. Plus, once you’re done, you can machine wash the cloth rags and set them aside for reuse instead of throwing them away.  

Magic Erasers 

Magic erasers are named aptly as they are magical at removing stuff-to-remove stains, marks, and traces.

Nobody likes the sight of a tub with gross water stains in it, but cleaning a tub is also quite a time-consuming task. That’s why magic erasers are some of the best bathroom cleaners to keep on hand. Magic erasers are infused with water-activated products that are designed to remove water and soap stains quickly and easily. 

While they won’t work if you stick them in your toilet, magic erasers have a lot of practical uses. Magic erasers are specifically designed for scrubbing white surfaces such as your bathtub or your sink, and they can potentially cut your cleaning time in half thanks to how quickly and efficiently they work. However, feel free to use them on any tough surface, as they are very multi-purposed.

Bleach-Free Wipes

While not exclusively part of your bathroom cleaning supplies, bleach-free wipes are an extremely useful product to keep on hand. High-quality versions of these wipes can be used multiple times and are very effective at stripping away stains all while leaving behind a delightful lemon scent. 

These wipes are especially handy for wiping off awkwardly-shaped and hard-to-clean objects such as faucets, towel racks, and wall-mounted magnifying mirrors. Because they are bleach-free, these wipes also work fine on a variety of surfaces, such as sealed granite, stainless steel, or finished hardwood. Clorox claims that its wipes will get rid of 99.9% of germs, making these wipes an essential part of your bathroom cleaning supplies.  

Hot Tub Jet Cleaner 

Keep your bathtub water jets clean with this innovative product.

A hot tub or a bathtub with water jets are both great luxuries to have in your bathroom, especially if you suffer from aching joints and need something to soothe the pain. Unfortunately, water jets need pipes to deliver their comfortable water therapy massages, and those pipes do get dirty. 

The good news is someone has come up with a pretty straightforward way of getting around this problem with this super-practical bathroom cleaner. Jetted tub cleaner is a simple bath cleaner to use; just fill the tub with water, pour in the product, and run your water jets. The cleaner does the rest, cleaning out all the grime that builds up in your jet pipes and keeping your jet tub clean and hygienic.  

The Squeegee Routine

The oh-so satisfying squeegee produces a clean that is so pristine, you might actually have fun while cleaning.

One smart bath cleaner hack is to remove water and soap scum from your shower door and tiles with the help of a squeegee. After each shower, take the extra minute to wipe down the walls and door with the satisfying squeegee. While this seems like a small thing, it can make quite the difference. 

Because doing this process removes a lot of soap scum buildup, you’ll save more time cleaning the bathroom later since the tiles and shower door won’t get excessively dirty or leave stubborn water marks. Therefore, the humble squeegee is one of the most important bathroom cleaning supplies to have.