The phrase DIY bathroom cleaning does not exactly scream “good time.” Like, I’m not throwing on a feather boa and yelling “LET’S DO THIS” every time I pull out the toilet brush.

But also?
I crave a relaxing bathroom. Like, desperately. A calm, peaceful, spa-scented bathroom where I don’t have to play “what’s that smell?” like it’s a twisted reality show.

And I’m not about to drop $200 on a cleaning service and another $80 on minimalist bath décor just so I can pretend I’m at a fancy resort when really I’m sitting on the floor in an old hoodie, surrounded by vinegar and regrets.

So I did the thing.
I figured out how to clean my bathroom my way.
Messy. Cheap. Kind of weird. But honestly? Relaxing.

The Turning Point about DIY bathroom cleaning

There was this one week—I won’t lie—I let the bathroom go.
Like… really go.
Towels everywhere, toothpaste blobs hardened into modern art, that suspicious ring in the toilet that no one in my house claimed.

And in the shower?
Mold.
Not a cute speck. Not something I could name and pretend was a pet.
No. A full ecosystem.

I stared at it for days like it was gonna apologize.

Spoiler: It didn’t.

That’s when I decided this couldn’t be a once-a-month panic-clean anymore. I needed a system. Something that didn’t make me hate my life every Saturday.

Step 1: Vibe First, Scrub Second

Okay, hear me out.
You can’t just walk into the bathroom with a sponge and vibes of doom. That’s how people end up rage-cleaning and yelling at their soap dish.

Nope. You need cleaning ambiance.

Light a candle.
Put on music—preferably something ridiculous like early 2000s pop or lo-fi beats that make you feel like you’re the main character of a very clean movie.

And open the window. I don’t care if it’s freezing. You do not want to pass out from vinegar fumes in the name of self-care.

Step 2: Gather Your Arsenal of Weird Natural Stuff

No, I didn’t go full Pinterest witch.
But I did start using natural stuff because commercial cleaners smell like a chemical factory that’s judging you.

Here’s what’s in my battle kit:

  • Baking soda – the hero we don’t deserve
  • White vinegar – smells like feet, works like magic
  • Lemon juice – for ✨vibes✨ and shine
  • Dish soap – I use the blue one, don’t ask why
  • Old toothbrushes – I now have a toothbrush army
  • Spray bottle labeled “Not Wine” – because I’m a professional, obviously

And yes, you can add essential oils if you’re feeling bougie. A few drops of lavender or eucalyptus and suddenly you’re cleaning in a forest. Kinda.

Step 3: The Battle of the Toilet

Look, it’s gross. It’s never not gross.
But once I figured out the secret combo—baking soda + vinegar + patience—it became… manageable. Kind of.

Here’s what I do:

  • Pour 1/2 cup baking soda into the bowl. Let it hang out.
  • Add a good splash of vinegar (it’ll fizz like a witch’s potion).
  • Close the lid. Walk away. Blast Britney Spears.
  • Come back in 10 minutes with a toilet brush like it’s a magic wand and you’re about to banish evil spirits.

Boom. Clean toilet.
No bleach, No drama and No crying in the shower afterward (I mean, probably).

Step 4: The Shower Situation (a.k.a. War)

Shower grime is like that one ex who won’t leave you alone—clingy and hard to scrub off.

So I mix this gloop:

  • 1 part dish soap
  • 1 part warm vinegar
  • Shake it in a bottle until it looks suspicious

Spray it everywhere.
Then I walk away dramatically and let it do its thing.

Come back later with a scrub brush and rage-clean the walls. Sing something empowering. Let it out.
It’s therapy, but cheaper.

Bonus tip: Use a broom to scrub the floor so you don’t have to kneel like a medieval peasant. You’re welcome.

Step 5: The Sink, aka The Scene of the Toothpaste Crime

Why is there always toothpaste crust?
Do I brush my teeth with my eyes closed? Who’s to say.

Anyway. Sprinkle baking soda on the sink. Drizzle vinegar. Watch the fizz like it’s a science fair. Then scrub with an old toothbrush (you now have twelve).

Rinse with hot water. Dry with a towel you didn’t know you owned. Boom. The sink sparkles like it’s auditioning for a cleaning ad.

Optional Chaos: Clean Out the Drawer of Doom

You know the one.
Where empty floss containers go to die.

Take everything out.
Throw away the expired acne cream and mysterious cotton swab.
Wipe it down.
Then—this is important—only put back things you actually use.

I once found three nail clippers. I don’t even clip my nails, I chew them like a goblin.

Step 6: Make It Pretty (Even If It’s Just for You)

This is where the relaxing bathroom vibes come in.

  • Hang a clean towel that doesn’t have weird stains.
  • Light a candle that smells like “calm ocean forest” or whatever.
  • Put one plant in the corner. Just one.
  • Throw down a bath mat that feels like heaven under your feet.

And here’s the big one: shower while it’s clean.
Take five minutes.
Let the water run.
Pretend you’re at a 5-star resort and not in your 1-bedroom rental with questionable plumbing.

Real Talk: It’s Not Gonna Be Perfect

Sometimes the floor stays a little sticky. Sometimes you miss a spot behind the toilet and find it three days later and scream like you saw a ghost.

That’s fine.
This isn’t about perfection.
It’s about turning your bathroom from a horror show into a space where you can breathe (and maybe poop in peace).

One Last Thought about DIY bathroom cleaning

DIY bathroom cleaning is one of those things that feels overwhelming until you just… start.
Like most adult tasks, honestly. Taxes. Oil changes. Group chats.

But once you get past the vinegar stank and the occasional surprise hairball, you realize—
This space is yours.
You can make it calm. Clean-ish. Even beautiful.

And when someone visits and says, “Wow, your bathroom smells amazing,”
you can smile, real smug, and say,

“Thanks. I cleaned it myself.”
Like a legend.

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