You don’t need a duck to clean your bathrooms

Cleaning your bathroom is something that happens every day but is it really getting clean?  And what about the cleaning soaps we use, are those that get the stains out, that good? House Cleaning Check list

What did they use before the ducks and the gels? How did you get a bathroom really clean?

Do you have a carpet in front of your toilet? How often does this get washed?

Bathroom schedule

I have previously looked at cleaning bathrooms using cleaning schedules.  Cutting down on heavy chemicals and cleaning products can still keep your bathrooms and the rest of your home clean without poisoning the evironment.

Bathroom cleaning takes a long time and, if like me, you haven’t been monitoring it regularly, you have probably got a little mould in the showers and a little black around the taps.

When I started the blog I took a look at my house and started to get it clean, if not actually, tidy. I have made small changes along the way and it is starting to be as clean as I want it.

Let’s start with the mirror and glass shower doors if you have those instead of curtains.

I am lucky to have a full-time domestic to do a lot of the jobs I hate, but for my post I must, obviously, be able to talk from experience.

So what I did was this experiment.  She cleaned the mirrors in one bathroom with a chemical cleaner and I did the other with a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle using microfiber cloths (my new favourite cloth for everything).

Vinegar vs chemical

The result was that both came out clean and shiny. The difference came later after the bathrooms had been used for showers and baths.  The steam, which normally leaves marks, wasn’t on the bathroom mirror that I had cleaned.

Another tip I learned:- to prevent your mirrors from steaming up, rub a little shaving foam over and then buff.  You will need to repeat this every time you clean the mirrors with which ever product you choose.

In between chemical cleans, just use a wet microfiber cloth and then dry with a dry cloth.

This 50/50 vinegar and water solution works well on regular cleaning of the counters and cabinets as well as any soap residue in the basin, bath or shower.

Black rings

For slightly tougher stains, use bicarbonate of soda (bicarb)and water or vinegar.  I tried this with that black scum ring around the taps and drains that often builds up over time, and it was so easy to get off.  The vinegar mix works well on the black ring that forms around the drains. It is also great for preventing drains from blocking.

For cleaning the grout between the tiles, you sprinkle a little Bicarb onto the floor tiles, spray with hydrogen peroxide or vinegar.  I haven’t done this as we have a steam cleaner.

For the wall tiles, painted doors, and the outside of the toilet I tried a homemade all purpose cleaner.

For the really yucky job of cleaning the toilet inside and out, sprinkle some bicarb into the bowl and around the top to coat the inside, then pour white vinegar into the water, scrub lightly with a toilet brush to mix the bicarb and vinegar.

This removed the stains well.  If you are potty training boys (and even if you are not) there is always a little residue on the outside of the toilet and you can use the same mixture around the base and floor of the toilet. Then give a good wipe down of the toilet seat and the hinges under the seat.

There is no longer any need to buy expensive, toxic cleaners. Cheap white vinegar and any brand of Bicarbonate of Soda work wonders. It is also a good way to recycle old toothbrushes.

What cleaning tips do you have?