Cleaning Bathroom Vanities for Daily Care and Maintenance

How often do you clean your bathroom vanities? Think about how frequently you and other members of your household use the bathroom. All the water splashing, soap scum, chemicals, and hard water spots can severely damage your bathroom vanity, especially if it has wood material.

In this article, we offer tips and advice to care for and maintain your bathroom vanities to extend their lifespan. 

Why Daily Bathroom Vanity Cleaning Matters

Bathroom vanity cleaning should not be considered a monthly or weekly chore. Instead, you should establish a simple daily care routine to clean your bathroom vanities and remove any residue before it wears them down. 

The risk to bathroom vanities rises whenever someone uses the shower, takes a bath, or washes their hands in the sink. You might expect that most people would clean up after themselves, but not everyone does. 

Allowing water and grime to sit on a vanity for more than a day can cause long-term damage, such as swelling, staining, and mould. If you see any of these signs, you’ll know that you took too long to clean your vanities. 

How NOT to Clean Your Bathroom Vanities

Before we go over how to clean your bathroom vanities, let’s discuss what you should avoid when cleaning them. 

• Avoid Using Harsh Chemicals – You may feel tempted to use extra-strength bleach or other harsh cleaning chemicals to clean your vanities. However, it is better to avoid harsh chemicals and acidic cleaners, as they could damage cabinet finishes or stone countertop sealants. Mild dish soap and warm water are better. 
• Avoid Rough Wipe Cloths – Some people will recommend using steel wool to scrub the grime from your sink and countertop. The problem is that steel wool is too rough and will scratch up your bathroom sink over time. Choose a soft microfibre cloth as a suitable, safe alternative. 
• Never Leave Water Behind – Water is the worst enemy of a bathroom vanity. Never leave water in your sink or on your countertop after washing your hands or brushing your teeth. It can seep into the inner joints of the vanity and work its way up the wood beneath the sink. Always dry the sink and countertop after using the faucet. 

Which Cleaning Tools and Supplies Are Needed?

Bathroom vanities typically include a sink, countertop, and storage cabinet. They are not always made of the same types of materials either. 

• Common cabinet materials include solid wood, plywood, MDF (medium-density fibreboard), and particleboard. 
• Common countertop materials include quartz, granite, marble, and laminate.
• Most bathroom sinks are made of porcelain, but some may be made of stainless steel or copper. 

The best cleaning tools and supplies depend on the materials in your bathroom vanity. Here are the tools and supplies that are typically needed:

For Stone Materials

• Mild dish soap
• Warm water
• Soft microfibre cloth
• Towel
• pH-neutral stone cleaner
• Stone sealer

For Wood/Timber Materials

• Soft cloths
• Towel
• Warm water
• Wax sticks
• Wood polish

For Porcelain/Ceramic Materials

• Non-abrasive spray cleaner
• Soft sponge
• Soft cloth
• Vinegar

How Do You Clean a Bathroom Vanity (Step-by-Step)?

Once you have gathered all the necessary cleaning tools and supplies, the next step is to learn how to use them correctly. Even though you already know the best supplies to use for each specific type of material, you need to know the proper techniques for each. 

Cleaning Stone Countertops

Most vanity tops are stone. This material makes vanities look more luxurious and attractive. Keep in mind they are also porous, which means they can trap liquids if you aren’t careful. 

Daily Cleaning Steps

1. Remove all items from the countertop (e.g., toothbrushes, beauty products, soap bars)
2. Mix mild dish soap in a bowl of warm water. 
3. Soak the microfibre cloth in the water.
4. Gently wipe the countertop with the damp cloth.
5. Dry it off with a fresh, clean, dry towel to prevent leaving any water spots.

Stain Cleaning Steps

Let’s say you spill some chemicals from a self-care beauty product, such as hair dye or makeup, onto your vanity top. You must remove the product solution right away.

1. Use a soft cloth to wipe up the spilled product solution. 
2. Use a pH-neutral cleanser to remove stubborn chemicals that cause stains on the stone. 

Long-Term Protection Tips

1.Use a sealer to reseal the natural stone countertop at least once per year to maximize protection. 

Cleaning Wood Cabinets

Most bathroom storage revolves around wood cabinets. Home builders and bathroom renovators choose wood for vanity cabinets because it creates a warm, homely appearance that contrasts with the modernistic patterns and colours of the other parts of the vanity. 

Daily Cleaning Steps

Dryness is key, as water can easily discolour wood and strip the sealant. 

1. Use a soft cloth or towel to wipe away all splashed water from your wood cabinets. 
2. Do you see dust or anything other than water on your wood cabinets? Dampen a soft cloth with warm water, but don’t soak it. 
3. Gently wipe away the dust or other debris from the wood. 
4. Dry with a towel immediately.

Scratch Removal Steps

The wood cabinets are bound to suffer small scratches sooner or later. Here is how to remove them: 

1. Lightly sand and re-oil the scratched wood material to restore its appearance. It applies only to unlaminated wood areas. 
2. Do you have laminated wood anywhere? It will require wax sticks to fill the cuts or gaps left by the scratches. 

Long-Term Protection Tips

1.Use a timber polish on the wood every few months to keep it water-resistant and looking shiny and attractive. 

Cleaning Ceramic Sinks

Ceramic sinks require the most rigorous daily cleaning. After all, they are exposed to more dirt, debris, and grime from people washing their hands and rinsing off objects in them. 

Daily Cleaning Steps

1. Run warm water from the sink to rinse the basin. It should wash away hair, toothpaste foam, shaving cream, and other common loose debris that gets into the sink daily.
2. Apply some non-abrasive, all-purpose spray cleaner to a soft sponge. 
3. Wipe the entire sink basin with the sponge, including the faucet and handles. 
4. Rinse the basin one more time.
5. Dry the basin and handles with a towel.

Hard Water Spot Removal Steps

Do you have hard water running out of your faucet? If so, you will likely have to deal with hard water spots on the ceramic. 

1. Soak a soft cloth in vinegar.
2. Apply the vinegar-soaked cloth to the hard water spots. Leave it on there for 10 minutes.
3. Rinse the sink and wipe with a damp cloth.

Conclusion

Cleaning bathroom vanities is not complicated. All you need to remember is to avoid harsh cleaning solutions and stick with water, mild soap, and all-purpose cleaners. You shouldn’t have to scrub anything either. Continue to follow the daily cleaning steps and periodically execute the long-term cleaning steps as needed. If you do that, your bathroom vanity should stay beautiful and viable for a long time to come.