Bathrooms are one of the most used rooms in the house and if not cleaned regularly, can become host to bacteria and mold. Cleaning products can help prevent this from happening, but they can be expensive and harsh on the environment. If you’re looking for alternative ways to keep your bathroom clean, read on to learn about bathroom cleaning hacks using regular household items.
1. Mirrors
Your mirrors are prone to splash stains from brushing teeth and washing hands. After a shower, your mirror will also fog from the humidity and moisture. An easy fix to this is shaving cream. Shaving cream contains glycerin which will create a barrier preventing moisture from collecting on your mirror — leaving you with a steam free mirror for up to two weeks. In addition, shaving cream contains active ingredients that will help to break down any grime on the surface to leave your mirrors shining and stain free.
2. Shower Curtain
With constant water splashing and moisture in the air, over time your shower curtain can become stained from mildew, also leaving a smell behind. If you notice any mildew stains on your curtain, a simple mix of vinegar and baking soda will clean them right off. After a scrub of the affected areas and a light rinse, your shower curtain will be looking brand new.
3. Toilet
The toilet can become dirty fast and needs to be cleaned regularly in order to keep the room smelling fresh. Instead of using harsh chemicals in your bowl, try adding baking soda and vinegar from time to time and let sit for 15 minutes. After sitting, scrub the bowl with your toilet brush and flush. Your bowl will be left sparkling and odour free.
4. Toilet Brush
To clean your toilet brush, position the brush under the freshwater when you flush the toilet and then sandwich the brush in between the seat and the seat lid to dry before placing it back in the holder. Tip: leave a little bit of baking soda or bleach in your brush holder to keep the brush clean for the next use and to eliminate any odours.
5. Unclog Drains
Bathroom drains, both sink and shower can become clogged with hair and other debris such as soap, toothpaste, and shaving cream over time. If you notice that your drains are draining slowly or not at all, then this is a good sign of a block. To unblock the drains, you can put a couple indigestion tablets down the drain, with some vinegar and allow to sit for 15 minutes. After they have sat, pour a pot of boiling water down to help break up the debris.
6. Showerhead
Showerheads can become backed up from hard water or other particles running through the line. If you notice that your shower head is spraying in different directions, or isn’t spraying out of all holes, then it is most likely blocked. To unblock the opening, you can take a bag of vinegar (optional to add baking soda as well) and attach it to the showerhead for it to soak in. After an hour or so, the showerhead should be cleared and the pressure should be back to normal.
7. Shower Tiles and Grout
Over time, grime and soap scum can collect on your showers tiles and grout lines. Leaving a magic eraser or scrubbing brush in the shower to clean from time to time can prevent a constant build up. Scrubbing right after a shower, when the moisture and humidity levels are high will allow particles to come off easier. To get into the hard to reach grout lines, use a toothbrush with some baking soda to scrub the grime off.
8. Garbage Bin
Garbage bins can become a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive. If you use a garbage bin in your bathroom, ensure that you are using a garbage bag. Using scented bags can help to eliminate odours, but as an alternative, you can pour a little baking soda into the bottom of the bin to get rid of any unwanted owners. Tip: if your bag is not staying in your bin, attach command hooks to help keep it in place.
9. Bathtub
Just like your tiles and grout, your bathtub can become lined with soap scum and grime over time. An effective way to get rid of this buildup is to use cooking spray. Non-stick cooking spray is great at breaking down lime deposits and can assist in scrubbing off soap scum. Be sure to thoroughly rinse your tub with soap and water afterwards to prevent any slipping.
10. Shower Glass
Your shower glass is exposed to all kinds of body soap, shampoo and conditioner. Without regular cleaning, a build-up of products will leave stains over time. Using a squeegee after each shower will eliminate any product that splashed onto the glass surface and prevent it from drying and causing a stain.
11. Increase Airflow
Bathroom fans are great for decreasing moisture in the bathroom, however, without proper airflow, the effectiveness can be lost. Instead of keeping your shower curtain closed, or pushed to a designated side, keeping it in the middle of the rod will increase airflow circulation. It’s important to have proper circulation to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Your shower or bathtub is already a damp spot, so keeping the air flowing will allow it to dry out faster, decreasing the chance for mold growth.
All of these cleaning hacks are easy to perform as they involve using regular products found around the house. They are also a great alternative to using cleaning products that contain harsh chemicals for the environment. Your bathroom requires regular and thorough cleaning to prevent the buildup of bacteria or even mold over time. Give these bathroom cleaning hacks a try when it’s time to clean your bathroom next. Or, if you’d prefer to have someone else clean it for you, simply click on the banner below to find a cleaning company near you.
