You're cleaning your bathroom floor wrong, experts warn – here's how to get it right

There is nothing worse than stepping out of the bath or shower and your feet meeting with a dusty bathroom floor. 

If you religiously clean a bathroom and sweep the floor but are still met with dust, hair and debris then you could be cleaning your bathroom floor wrong, experts warn. And it is a more common mistake than you might think. 

Luckily, the pros have revealed the biggest bathroom floor cleaning mistakes and shared their top tips for how to clean a bathroom floor the right way, no matter the material. 

Bathroom floor cleaning mistakes

Professional cleaners explain that the best way to clean a bathroom floor will depend on what it is made out of and how often you use the space. This is how to tackle the most common bathroom flooring quickly and effectively without scrubbing down on your hands and knees.  

1. Tiled floors

Floor tile ideas are considered one of the most durable options for a bathroom. Still, many of us are cleaning them wrong, using too harsh a product, and damaging the grout and surface of the tile while simultaneously leaving the floor dirtier than it was before, warns Ryan Knoll, cleaning expert and owner of Carpet Monkey, floor cleaning specialists:

‘When cleaning tile floors, some of the most common mistakes people make with tile is using excessive water and highly acidic cleaners. Most floors need a lot less water than people think to clean.

‘In terms of cleaning products, look for a pH-neutral cleaner. My go-to is Simple Green, available from Walmart. This is safe for most floors and will help get grime up. For stubborn grout stains, an alkaline cleaner can be used sparingly,’ he advises.  

2. Stone floors

There are several stone flooring types that people might have in the bathroom, and they are another common surface people are not cleaning efficiently, continues Eliana Coca, professional cleaner and owner of E.C. House Cleaning. Much like tiles, the most common cleaning mistake people make is using too harsh a cleaner, creating a residue that leaves your floors sticky or ruins their shine, she explains. 

‘A common error I see with stone floors is the application of generic cleaning products. Stone surfaces like marble or granite are particularly sensitive to acidic substances. A gentle, pH-neutral cleaner is essential to avoid etching or dulling the finish. 

‘For instance, when dealing with granite floors, I advise against the common practice of cleaning with vinegar solutions, which, despite their popularity as eco-friendly cleaning solutions, can damage the stone’s surface. Instead, diluted dish soap with warm water can be safe and effective, provided you dry the floor afterward to prevent water spots.’

3. Vinyl and LVP floors

Of all the bathroom flooring types, vinyl bathroom flooring ideas are some of the most common as they are quick to clean without much risk of damage. That being said, people make a few slip-ups that leave these hardy floors dull and tacky. 

Most commercial floor cleaners leave behind a residue that damages the flooring and makes them less than satisfying to walk on when you’re fresh out of the shower, says Delah Gomasi, Managing Director and cleaning expert at MaidForYou. As a result, they have found that a two-bucket mopping method is best for both vinyl and luxury vinyl planks: 

‘You'll need to fill two buckets with water and a minimal amount of dish soap (we use around one tablespoon). Use one bucket for only clean water and one for dirty water. Then mop as you normally would albeit you'll need to rinse the mop off a lot more than if you were using only one bucket of water. This method prevents cleaning product residue from being left on your vinyl plank flooring.’  

FAQs

Why does my bathroom floor get so dirty?  

A bathroom floor gets dirty very quickly as it is subjected to lots of dust and moisture. The humidity of a shower and splashes from washing means that dust and hair are more likely to stick to the surface and dry as the water evaporates. Cleaning regularly and wiping up spills as they happen is a great way to keep your flooring hygienic.  

What is the easiest bathroom flooring to keep clean?  

The easiest bathroom flooring type to keep clean is tiles. Tiled flooring is water resistant, meaning that spills are easy to mop up and debris slides right off. For a super simple clean, use large format tiles with minimal grout lines to avoid the need to scrub or treat grout lines for mold or debris.  

Another common bathroom floor cleaning mistake is not cleaning it regularly enough. To keep your bathroom floor clean and comfortable to walk on it is best to clean it at least once per week, mopping up any spills or puddles from washing as and when needed to prevent damaging your floors or mold growth.