Did you know that your bathroom can harbor hide-and-seek champions that laugh in the face of your regular cleaning routine? Yes, indeed! Between the shining tiles and sparkling mirrors, some less obvious spots in your bathroom are often overlooked, becoming unintentional sanctuaries for dirt and grime. As you wield your mop and brandish your scrub brush, take a moment to strategize your cleaning mission.
If you’ve been underestimating the stealthy dust bunny or the crafty mold spore, it’s time to level up your cleaning game and tackle those forgotten nooks and crannies. In case you’re not sure where they are, here are some of the most common places you forget to clean in your bathroom. If reading this list gives you the creepy-crawlies about cleaning them, reach out to us here at Summit Maids and we can help.
1. Behind the Toilet
It doesn’t come as a surprise that the space behind the toilet is one of the places you forget to clean in the bathroom. The area behind the toilet is often neglected during regular cleaning routines because it’s challenging to reach. And let’s not forget that the areas that aren’t in direct sight are easily overlooked. Consequently, dust, dirt, and even cobwebs can accumulate in this tight space.
2. Light Fixtures & Light Switches
The cleaning situation of light switches is quite paradoxical. They are frequently touched but rarely cleaned. Naturally, these tend to gather dust and fingerprints over time. Light fixtures have it even worse as heat is involved in the equation.
3. The Shower Curtain & Liner
Let’s be honest. Whenever you clean the bathroom, you give all your attention to the bathtub or shower. And, as by magic, the Shower curtain and liner – which are right there – become invisible. This neglect leads to soap scum, mold, and mildew to build up in these areas. The constant moisture doesn’t help either.
4. The Shower Curtain Rod
If the shower curtain and liner are neglected, then the shower curtain rod is basically nonexistent Over time, dust and grime can accumulate on its surface, particularly if it’s not regularly wiped down. But the worst that can happen is that it can get rusty. The constant moisture in the bathroom is a breeding ground for rust.
5. Shelves, Drawers & Other Storage
Another case of if I don’t see it, I don’t clean it. The insides of medicine cabinet shelves, drawers, and other storage areas are often forgotten. So these areas can become cluttered and messy very quickly. These spaces can accumulate dust, spills, but even worse, sometimes they can accumulate expired medications.
6. The Toilet Paper Holder & Towel Bars
Toilet paper holders and towel bars hold one of the first spots among the places you forget to clean in your bathroom. These items get dirty very quickly because they’re frequently touched and neglected during cleaning. Naturally, they accumulate dirt, fingerprints, and even water stains.

7. Outside of the Toilet Bowl & Tank
While cleaning the inside of the toilet bowl is common practice, the outer surface of the toilet bowl and tank don’t share the same luck. It may have to do with the fact that we rarely kneel and see up close. But if you do, you’ll notice right away these areas gather dust, splashes, and stains galore.
8. The Toothbrush Holder
There’s really no excuse to forget to clean your toothbrush holder. You use it every day, you see it every day. Yet they still end up on the list of places you forget to clean in the bathroom.
Toothbrush holders provide a breeding ground for bacteria and mold due to the constant moisture and toothpaste residue. Also, a clean holder is essential to ensure good oral hygiene.
9. Soap Dish
Same as the toothbrush holder, soap dishes are breeding grounds for bacteria and grime due to the accumulated soap scum and residue. And we rarely give them a regular scrub to ensure proper hygiene in our bathrooms.

10. Faucet Handles and Door Knobs
Faucet handles and door knobs are high-touch areas – often with dirty hands – that most homeowners miss during regular cleaning. It’s ironic considering we open faucets precisely to wash our hands!
11. Drain Plugholes
Drain plugholes are terribly overlooked during cleaning sessions. The thing is, hair, soap residue, and other debris can accumulate in plugholes. While health safety is always a major concern when cleaning, keeping your plughole in good condition also prevents clogs and keeps the drainage system functioning properly.
Hopefully, with this list of places you forget to clean in your bathroom, you’ll never have your relaxation ruined by opening the toilet seat to a nasty ring or grabbing an item off a dusty shelf. But just in case you do, Summit Maids is here to help. Our team of cleaning services in Cleveland, OH is ready and waiting to lend a hand.