You just finished remodeling or renovating your bathroom. It looks absolutely stunning! From the gleaming new bathtub refinishing job to the lush tile flooring and high-end fixtures, you can't wait to enjoy all those luxurious self-care routines in your spa-like retreat. But keeping this beautiful space pristine will take a bit of mindfulness. With some smart habits and routine care, you can prevent dirt and grime from setting in and ruining the serene vibe you worked so hard to create. Here are 13 ways to ensure your newly updated bathroom stays clean.

1. Start With the Bathtub Refinishing

The first thing that will get dirty is often the bathtub or shower. If it's an older surface, consider having it refinished by a local bathtub refinishing business. This new surface is nonporous, so water, soap scum, and grime can't seep in over time. The bathtub refinishing business will transform it like new with very little ongoing maintenance. It's an affordable way to really make cleaning much easier down the road.

2. Install Glass Shower Doors or Curtains

Nothing tracks in more dirt and moisture than an open shower curtain. Installing a glass shower door or upgrading to a fabric liner cuts way down on what ends up on your floor. A good bathtub refinishing business can often install shower doors as part of a full bathroom renovation. If that's not in the budget, a waterproof liner or tighter-fitting curtain is a worthy investment too.

3. Use Water-Resistant Flooring

Whatever flooring you choose, look for options rated for high moisture areas. Tile, stone, solid vinyl, and waterproof laminate are great picks that won't harbor mold or mildew over time. Carpet is to be avoided at all costs unless you want constant cleaning. A tile, stone, or waterproof floor installed by a professional will serve you well for years with minimal cleaning requirements compared to porous materials.

4. Add Some Storage

Without proper storage, all your toiletries, towels, and supplies end up cluttering the counter, around the sink, and on the floor. Mount cabinets, add floating shelves, or install an over-the-toilet storage unit to corral everything neatly away. That way, counters and floors stay clear for easy cleaning. Plus, some storage like cabinets above the toilet camouflage plumbing features much better than exposed pipes.

5. Open a Window Regularly

Even with an excellent ventilation fan, lingering odors can take hold if fresh air isn't circulated regularly. Crack a window after steamy showers to release humidity. On nice days, open it fully for a few minutes daily. The circulating fresh breeze will keep mildew away and make the space smell fresh with very little effort. Along with good ventilation, this is key for any bathtub refinishing to last.

6. Use Baking Soda to Clean

Baking soda is a scrub-free way to disinfect all nonporous surfaces and deodorize organically. Sprinkle some on the sink and let it sit overnight before rinsing. To keep your bathtub or shower sparkling between deep cleans by a professional, wet the surface and sprinkle generously before rinsing away with water. It cuts through soap scum and hard water deposits with no harsh chemicals needed.

7. Wipe Up Spills Quickly

Even with the best water-resistant flooring, water gradually degrades surfaces over time if allowed to pool. Quickly soak up drips, drops, and splashes with a cloth or towel to prevent unsightly rings or mold from setting up shop. Then spot clean with a mix of vinegar and water as needed to keep floors lush and new looking without scrubbing. Regular upkeep is the secret to your updates keeping their showroom sheen for years to come.

8. Choose the Right Cleaners

Stick with moisture-safe, odorless, and non-toxic cleaners. Ammonia and bleach both create vapors that degrade grout, caulk, and even a bathtub refinishing job if over-used for cleaning. Safer choices are microfiber cloths, white vinegar, baking soda pastes, and pH-neutral cleaners. They cut germs and grime just as well, without hazardous fumes or residue buildup that ding finishes and require deep cleaning over time. Your updates will stay in tip-top shape for much longer.

9. Dry it Completely

Damp, humid conditions are like an all-you-can-eat buffet for mold and mildew wanting to take hold. After showering, wipe surfaces fully dry. Crack the window or run the fan 15 minutes afterward as well to remove moisture from the air. Keep your new linens fluffy by hanging them instead of folding damp towels. With consistent drying, you'll avoid smelly black spots lurking in hard-to-see grout lines or behind fixtures down the line. One extra step saves scrubbing later.

10. Scrub Fixtures Monthly

A quick clean monthly keeps rings, soap scum, and hard water at bay. Pour a little vinegar or cleaner onto a soft cloth or sponge and wipe down faucets, shower knobs and other fixtures. Rinse fully, so you don't wake up to spotting. An occasional scrub keeps them gleaming like the day that bathtub refinishing business or bathroom renovation was completed. The five minutes it takes is worth not deep cleaning or descaling calcium buildup year after year.

11. Wipe Down Walls Quarterly

While you're brightening fixtures monthly, take five more minutes to quickly wipe tile and other washable wall areas as well. Dilute a little cleaner in a spray bottle of water if needed. This light quarterly wipe removes fingerprints, spray mist, and other inevitable splatters that can oxidize over seasons if ignored. Along with your fixtures, keeping walls fresh means your whole bathroom stays showing like new without a total deep scrub down the line.

12. Replace Caulk and Grout As Needed

Silicone caulk around tubs, showers, and sinks eventually dries out, developing hairline cracks that dirt lodges in over time. Grout also degrades, going from tight to crumbling. Both harbor yuck if not replaced preemptively every few years. A professional bathtub refinishing business or contractor can tackle large projects, but small fixes are DIY. Just be sure to use bath-safe products made for humidity to protect updates long term.

13. Refinish the Tub as Needed

Over many years of use, the protective layer on a bathtub can begin to wear down, making it harder to keep clean. When you start to notice dulling or water no longer sheeting off easily, it may be time for a new refinishing job. Reach out to a reputable local bathtub refinishing business to restore the tub's surface like new. They'll completely strip and refinish with a fresh, slick enamel or acrylic finish that's easy to wipe clean and maintains a renovated look.

The trick to keeping your re-done bathroom always looking great is not deep cleaning, but regular light maintenance. Take those little 5 to 10-minute steps after each use like wiping, drying, scrubbing, and airing out. Do quick spot cleans and deep cleans monthly and annually. With the right materials, products, and habits, your new oasis stays spa-like with very little work. According to HGTV, you can get an ROI of up to 102% by updating your bathroom. If you're ready to update your bathroom, reach out to us at Bath Magic to get started designing it today. We look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the near future!