Cleaning the bathroom is probably one of the worst things on your to-do list. Apart from having to use chemicals that aren’t exactly cheap, the bathroom isn’t always the easiest place to deep clean due to the tight quarters. There’s a few ways you can get more out of your bathroom cleaning experience though. If you’re pregnant, trying to keep a frugal budget, or simply want to be kind to Mother Nature, you may find some of these chemical free tips to be right up your alley. With a few simple and easy to follow steps your bathroom will look like it was professionally cleaned without forcing you to use several different cleaners.
1. Mop the Walls
One of things that makes the bathroom look and smell not as clean as it should is the walls. Most people don’t think to clean them, but with all of the moisture in the room it could be one of your best options if you really want to create a clean effect. If you have a Swiffer or similar product then this will be easier than ever. Simply place a clean pad or cloth on the device and begin to clean the wall just like you would the floor. Feel free to even use a cleaning solution to help ensure any build up will be removed as you clean. You shouldn’t have to do this as often as you would other cleaning jobs, but if you keep up with it then your bathroom should maintain a whole new level of clean that you’ll be proud of.
2. Clean the Fans
Another item that often gets overlooked when cleaning the bathroom is the fan. This is a crucial item when it comes to the bathroom, especially since it is often your bathroom’s defense against mildew and other foul odors. However, the fan can gain so much build up that it won’t function properly, which is a major problem. Every once in a while, you should take apart the fan with a basic screw driver to clean it. Once you’ve removed the component then use canned air to get rid of all of the dust and particles that are attached. When you have everything cleaned out, then place the fan back in the wall and screw it back in. In order to reduce the amount of buildup you may want to use a special wax to go over the frame of the fan. This will help prevent as much build up over time your fan will work wonders for years to come.
3. Grout
If you have a lot of grout in your bathroom, then you probably know the headache that is cleaning it. Grout can be a pain in the neck to keep free of mold and is an eye sore in the bathroom when it isn’t clean. You can probably spend hours on end scrubbing the grout too, which often comes to no solution whatsoever. Of course, there is one simple way to ditch the bold that builds up on your grout. That is, to soak a cotton ball in bleach and place them around the moldy or strained areas of your grout. Then, turn the bathroom fan on and walk away for several hours. When you come back, remove the cotton balls and rinse away the mold. Your bathroom should look sparkly and cleaner than you’ve seen it in quite some time. Another option for this is to use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to leave the grout nice and clean with items commonly found around the house.
4. Glass
There’s no doubt about it, cleaning glass can be pretty frustrating, especially when you can’t manage to get it streak free. Lots of cleaners on the marker don’t really help with this matter and can leave you scratching your head as to how to get your glass clean without all of the chemicals. One way to do this naturally is to make your own by adding vinegar and lemon oil to a spray bottle. The vinegar will cut through any grime on the mirror while disinfecting it, while the lemon oil leaves that fresh scent that makes everyone feel clean. Of course, if you want to get the streak free look then skip the rag or paper towel. Instead, use a piece of newspaper to do the job. It may sound odd, but you won’t want to use any other method when you see how striking the glass looks. After you’ve cleaned off your glass you may want to consider using a product like Rain-x for shower doors. This will help prevent mildew build up, so you’ll be able to enjoy that streak free shine for much longer.
5. Toilets
The toilet can be the stuff of nightmares, especially when you’re not in the mood to clean. There are a couple of ways to make the task go by a little faster so you won’t have to face the toilet for very long. For starters, vinegar and baking soda will quickly become your best friend when cleaning your toilet. Simply add this like you would a cleaner and let the mixture work its magic. It will get rid of stains in the toilet bowl quickly while disinfecting. Make sure you use a toilet brush to help with the process though, especially when it comes to beneath the rim where the mixture is unlikely to reach on its own. If you have stains in the tank of your toilet, use dental tablets to take care of the problem with ease. Of course, nothing will beat taking the toilet seat off of the hinges so you can clean all of the crevices that often get missed. You can even use a screw driver and a cloth to clean the crease between the seat and the tank. This should leave you with a sparkling clean toilet that you won’t have to think twice about guests using it.
6. Drains
One of the biggest headaches is the bathroom often is the drains. It doesn’t matter if it’s the sink or the bathtub, there always seems to be a clog coming up. This can cost you a small fortune when it comes down to getting your pipes cleared out by a professional plumber. There are a few ways you can stop clogs in their tracks though. If you start to feel a clog coming on, or you simply want to avoid one coming along altogether, then you may want to place white vinegar or baking soda down the drain while running hot water. This should wipe out everything in the way. If you have a close that is giving you problems, then you might want to invest in a drain snake. This will allow you to take care of the problem on your own, so you’ll never have to worry about calling in a plumber again.
7. Fabrics
Your fabrics need to be cleaned well too, which can lead to an overall better smell when it comes to your bathroom. All towels used in the bathroom should be washed every three to four days because they can begin to smell like mildew and aren’t clean enough to dry your skin or wipe your hands on any more. You should never wash your towels with fabric softener though as this will prevent your towels from being absorbent. These items, including any other fabrics you use in the bathroom should be washed on the hottest setting to support cleanliness. This even includes cloth shower curtains even though they don’t come in contact with the shower. Rugs should be washed occasionally, but it may be best to hang them over the shower or bath edge in order to dry after every use.
8. Steam Clean
The bathroom floor is not as germ free as you’d like it to be, even when it comes to regular sweeping and mopping. The best way to truly disinfect the floor is to pull out your steam cleaner. Whether you rent or own your own steam cleaner, the device should be used at least once a quarter to help get rid of buildup on your floor while truly knocking out the germs that linger. Sweeping and mopping prior to doing this will help considerably, so don’t think twice about doing this prior to the steam clean. Once you finish running the steam cleaner over your floors everything should smell a bit better and will look absolutely incredible.
9. Metal
One of the biggest eyesores in the bathroom is often dirty metal, which seems to steal the focal point. The best way to get rid of this is to clean it up with some vinegar. From the water spots on the metal to mildew that builds up around the corners of the faucet, you should be able to get rid of any problems within seconds. Even the tough stains can be cleared up by soaking paper towels in vinegar and leaving it overnight. If you’re missing the shine of the metal, then use some baby oil to buff it and then top the metal off with some mineral wax to make sure the shine lasts for quite some time. Apart from the aesthetic view of the metal, you can also clear blocked faucets and shower heads by using a sandwich or other plastic bag filled with vinegar. Simply tie it to the item that needs to be unclogged and let the vinegar soak in for a few hours. This will make you feel like your showerhead or faucet is brand new, which will certainly add to the cleanliness of your bathroom.
10. Air Freshener
If you really want to add to the finishing touches of your bathroom, then adding some fragrance to the air is the perfect touch. One easy way to do this while also cleaning is to heat up lemon halves in water. This can be done in a matter of minutes in the microwave, so it won’t take up a lot of time. This mixture can coat the tub, shower, sink or even the toilet to add a refreshing scent after you’ve done all of your cleaning. If you’d love a scent that lasts longer then there are many great ways to create your own DIY air freshener. Some of these recipes even include using baking powder which is sure to soak up some of the bad odors too. Other options include burning incense or heating up wax to help keep the room smelling like a million bucks.
Keeping your bathroom fresh and clean is important, but you don’t have to spend a fortune on chemicals to do so. These ten bathroom tips will make all of your guests envious of how clean your bathroom is, which is sure to make you happy. Although cleaning the bathroom isn’t a fun job, you can easily find joy in how it looks, feels and smells when you utilize these tips.
