The bathroom takes up the most amount of weekly cleaning time in most houses, due to the amount of surfaces to clean and the regular frequency of it being used. It’s the room that most people like cleaning the least, often due to exposure of harsh and environmentally damaging chemicals. By making your own natural cleaning product, you can have a clean and hygienic bathroom, whilst being environmentally friendly and not having to worry about harsh chemicals.
Mirrors, windows and glass
Mirrors, windows and any other bathroom glass can be cleaned through using a 50/50 solution of distilled white vinegar and warm water. Simply put the mixture into a spray bottle and apply to the glass. Then wipe with either an old rag from an old t-shirt or newspaper. Don’t use paper towels, as they’ll leave a lot of residue.
If you want to clean with nothing apart from water, you can use a pair of microfiber cloths. Use one wet on the mirror, then wipe with a dry cloth.
Showers, bath tubs, tiles and counters
As with glass, microfiber cloths can effectively clean all these surfaces, even removing soap scum. If you don’t, there are various other natural cleaning solutions you can use on these areas of the bathroom:
- The water-vinegar solution used to clean mirrors and glass also works really well to clean tiles, counters, cabinet fronts and soap scum in bath tubs and shower trays.
- If you have gunk stuck to your bath or shower, make a paste from baking soda and water to remove it. If it’s really difficult to remove, make the paste of baking soda and distilled white vinegar.
- To clean the grouting in your bathroom, try mixing equal parts borax and distilled white vinegar to make a paste. Scrub with a sponge or brush before rinsing with water. If your grouting has stubborn mould or mildew, let it sit for an hour or so before rinsing with water.
Toilets and sinks
A weekly routine of sprinkling baking soda and possibly around the outside of the toilet, before pouring a cup of undiluted distilled white vinegar into it, or wiping around it, will remove any lingering smells of urine.
To remove calcium or chrome deposits from bathroom chrome, soak a towel in distilled white vinegar and wrap it round, or sit it on, the taps for a couple of hours . For tougher jobs, leave it there overnight.
To clean your drains, pour ½ cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a cup of distilled white vinegar. After allowing it to fizz for fifteen minutes or so, follow it with boiling water. You may need to repeat this or let the baking soda and vinegar stay in overnight.
