You may be hosting an event or have family and friends over during the festive period, and want to make sure that your guest bathroom makes your guests feel welcome and at home. We’ve put together a useful cleaning checklist and styling tips to transform your guest bathroom into a sparkling and welcoming space.


We’ve all been there and waited until the very last moment to clean the bathroom that your guests will use during their visit. However, cleaning your bathroom shouldn’t feel daunting and staying on top of smaller cleaning tasks will give you the best and easiest results. This useful checklist will help you get ready for your guests to arrive and leave your bathroom sparkling clean and tidy.

1. Declutter and Dust
Start off by decluttering your space. It is best to have some dedicated (hidden) storage space for your personal bathroom items and put everything back after each use to keep your bathroom tidy and clutter free. Once you’ve decluttered the room, it is time to dust and vacuum everywhere so you can get rid of any loose dirt and dust to avoid mixing this in with your cleaning solution. Make sure you don’t forget about your skirting boards and extractor fan.

2. Disinfect and Sanitise
When you’ve cleared your clutter and dust, move on to disinfecting your toilet and sanitising your basin. Make sure that you open any windows first and it is advised that you use gloves. To remove soap scum and break down grime, it is recommended to let your cleaning products sit for a little bit before you rinse, scrub or flush them.

3. Scrub the Shower
Clear your shower space and/or bathtub of any soaps and shampoo bottles before cleaning this area. Again, you’ll want to let your cleaning solution sit for approx. 5 minutes before you start scrubbing. 

Tip: Instead of using an ammonia-based cleaner, we’d recommend creating your own solution with equal parts vinegar & dish soap or vinegar, water & lemon and putting this in a reusable spray bottle. You can add a splash of concentrated disinfectant for extra hygiene and fragrance.

4. Wipe Down Surfaces
Use warm soapy water to wipe down your bathroom surfaces and wipe off any remaining water with a dry cloth. Make sure you don’t forget about your skirting boards, light switches, door handles, the inside of your drawers and cabinets, and even if your shelves look pretty good, you might still want to give them a quick wipe down.

5. Polish the Mirror(s)
Use your preferred cleaning solution and a microfiber cloth to clean your mirror. For a smear-free result, you can finish off by buffing it with a little white vinegar and a dry cloth. A clean and shiny mirror is extremely satisfying, but unfortunately often easily ruined by fingerprints and water splashes. To avoid this (to some extent) we recommend a mirror with a demister pad as this will evaporate any water droplets, leaving no marks behind. It also prevents the mirror from fogging up.

6. Wash your Towels
Gather any used towels, including hand towels and face cloths, along with your bath mat or rug and put them in the wash. Even if your bath mat or rug doesn’t seem dirty, it is important to shake out any hair and dust and give them a wash on a weekly basis.

7. Mop the Floor
Save the best for last, mop the floor with soapy water. Depending on whether any additional dust and hairs have fallen on the floor, you might want to give this another quick vacuum before you mop.

And finally, don’t forget to empty the bathroom bin and give this a quick clean.

Now that your bathroom is sparkling clean, it is time to make it cosy and comfortable for your guests. Even if you don’t have a dedicated guest bathroom, it is important to prepare the bathroom that your guests will use during their visit.

1. Remove Personal Items
Make sure that you remove all your personal items, such as any used towels, your hairbrush, and your lotions etc. This will make the bathroom feel tidier, leave room for your guests’ items, and shows your guests that you want them to feel comfortable with using that space during their visit.

2. Fresh Towels
Always make sure that you leave fresh towels, a clean hand towel, a clean bath mat and perhaps even a couple of face cloths out for your guests to use. Fold them neatly and leave them in a place that is clearly visible so they’ll know which ones to use and can easily find them.

3. Lighting
Add some lighting features to your guest bathroom to not only create a cosy and inviting ambience but also to make the room functional. Your guests may want bright task lighting in the morning and mood lighting at nighttime. Make sure that you show your guests how to turn each of these lights on as they may not be familiar with where the light switches are, particularly if they are staying over.

Tip: If you are completely re-designing a guest bathroom, include a mirror or mirror cabinet with temperature changing LED lighting to make this more versatile.

4. Accessories
Choosing the right accessories for your guest bathroom completes the look and can make your guests feel more at home. Make sure that you leave out some bathroom essentials for your guests to use during their visit, such as hand soap, toothpaste, shampoo and body wash. It’s also important to give your guests some storage space to put their personal items in, for example a small shelf, basket or drawer. Other bathroom accessories to consider include a toilet brush for cleaning, air freshener, robe hooks, a toothbrush holder, and a nice fluffy bath mat.

5. It’s the Small Things
Finally, it’s the small things that your guests will notice, so leave out an extra toilet roll (or two), add some small plants, and light a scented candle to make the room smell as beautiful as it looks!


If you would like some help re-designing your guest bathroom or any other type of bathroom, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can book a free VR design consultation via the link here.