Carpets & Flooring
CRI Articles
IEHA Articles
The Clean Trust Articles
Features
Over the years I have found that there is one room that generates question after question - the bathroom. The bathroom is also the room that most guests see and have the most private time to observe. I have tried virtually every cleaning product on the market and developed many of my own "Queen's Concoctions" - what follows are some of the best and easiest bathroom cleaning tips I can offer.
Cleaning Porcelain Tubs
To clean and polish a porcelain tub and remove stains, make a paste of powdered alum (available in drugstores) and water. Rub well, as if using cleanser. For stains, make a paste of powdered alum and lemon juice; apply and let dry, then moisten with more lemon juice and rub well. Rinse thoroughly.
Borax and water is also a great cleaner for porcelain. Make a paste and rub well, then rinse.
Cleaning Fiberglass Showers and Tubs
Heat white vinegar until it is hot, but not too hot to pour into a spray bottle and work with. Spray it on the shower and tub heavily. Wait 10-15 minutes and then moisten a scrubbing-type sponge with more of the vinegar and scrub down the shower, using additional heated vinegar as necessary. Rinse well and dry.
Keeping Showers Clean
To make shower upkeep simple, apply a coat of car wax. Do not use this on the floor of the tub or shower. After showering, use a squeegee to wipe down the shower door and walls, and your shower will stay clean and you'll have fewer problems with mildew.
Keeping Tile and Grout Clean
Make a paste of baking soda and chlorine bleach and apply to the grout. Let dry and then rinse. Do this in a well-ventilated area, using care near carpet or fabric. Even the fumes of chlorine bleach can remove color from towels left hanging in the tub area.
Tile and Grout Cleaner
Combine two parts baking soda, one part borax, and one part hot water, adding additional water as necessary to form a thick paste. Apply to the tile and grout, and scrub with a soft brush. Rinse well.
This is a handy spray-on grout cleaner for frequent use, good for removing soap scum and cleaning tile counters:
1/2 cup of baking soda
1/3 cup of ammonia
1/4 cup of white vinegar
7 cups of water
Combine all the ingredients in a labeled spray bottle and shake well to mix. D0 not use this in conjunction with chlorine bleach or where chlorine bleach has been used. Simply spray it on and then wipe with a damp sponge or cloth. No rinsing required.
Removing Soap Scum and Mildew from Glass Shower Doors
Removing soap and scum buildup on glass shower doors is always tedious. Lemon oil or even plain old mineral oil will remove it quickly and easily, and will help to keep it from coming back. Apply the oil to a rough cloth, such as an old washcloth, and rub it across the dirty shower door surface. Next buff with a soft cloth or paper towels to provide a haze-free shine. The oil provides a protective coating that keeps the water beading and the soap scum from adhering. Never put oil or allow it to drip on the floor of the shower; this will prevent good traction in the shower and may cause someone to fall.
Cleaning Soap Scum and Mildew Off Plastic Shower Curtains
Put the shower curtain in the washing machine with 1 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 to 1/2 cup of your favorite liquid laundry detergent, and several old, light-colored towels. Fill the washer with warm water and run through a complete wash and rinse cycle. Remove from the washer and hang on the shower rod immediately.
Cleaning Mineral Deposits from the Showerhead
Fill a plastic sandwich bag with undiluted white vinegar. Tie this around the showerhead and leave overnight. In the morning, remove the bag, scrub the head with a brush, and it's ready to use.
Put 1/2 cup of baking soda down the bathroom drain and follow with the vinegar from the plastic bag - great drain opener! Wait 30 minutes, then flush with water.
Cleaning Chrome Faucets
Use white vinegar on a cloth or sponge to remove water spots and soap scum. Dry and buff with a soft cloth. Or apply some lemon juice to chrome fixtures and buff with a soft cloth to a brilliant shine.
Cleaning Shower Door Tracks
Plug the drain holes in the door track with a little bit of paper towel made into a ball. Pour in undiluted white vinegar. Let this soak for 30 minutes, unplug the holes, rinse the track with a spray bottle of water, and run a rag down it. This will flush the accumulated buildup out of the track.
Toilet Tip - Tang Tune-up
To keep your toilet clean and your dog happy, put several tablespoons of Tang Breakfast Drink in the toilet before you leave for work or at bedtime. Let it soak, use your toilet brush to swish around under the rim, and flush. The great thing about this is you don't have to worry if the kids get into the toilet bowl cleaner.
Toilet Tip - Removing Hard-Water Rings
Shut off the water at the toilet tank and flush. Spray undiluted white vinegar around the inside of the toilet, then sprinkle borax onto the vinegar. Let soak about 30 minutes and then scrub with a piece of moistened fine drywall sandpaper (looks like window screen - available at hardware stores and hone centers). If you have an old hard-water ring, you may need to repeat this several times.
Toilet Tip - Clean, Sanitize
To clean and sanitize a toilet bowl, first shut off the water at the tank and flush the toilet to remove as much water as possible. Combine in a bucket:
1 tablespoon ammonia
1 cup of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide (drugstore variety)
1.5 quarts water
Pour the solution in the toilet bowl and use a brush to apply it to the sides of the bowl. Let stand at least 30 minutes, then scrub the inside of the bowl with a scrub brush. Allow to remain in the toilet for up to several hours, reapplying the solution to the sides of the bowl frequently as needed. Do not use this with chlorine bleach or products that contain chlorine bleach.
The Housekeeping Channel (HC), a for-profit educational LLC, provides the information on HousekeepingChannel.com as a free service to the public. The intent is to disseminate accurate, verified and science-based information on cleaning and housekeeping.
While an effort is made to ensure the quality of the content and credibility of sources listed on this site, HC provides no warranty - expressed or implied - and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, product or process disclosed on or in conjunction with the site. The views and opinions of the authors or originators expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of HC: its principals, executives, Board members, advisors or affiliates.
