Cleaning the bathroom is no one’s idea of fun, but it is a necessity to kill germs. When you can’t hire a maid service the next best option is to clean the bathroom yourself. You can spend lots of money on store bought cleaners, but many of those contain harsh chemicals, smell like chemicals, or are only minimally effective. The solution can be to make your own cleaners that work just as well, are safer to use, and either smell good, or not at all. Below is a handful of bathroom cleaner recipes that can be mixed together with everyday household ingredients.
Bathtub and Shower
White Vinegar
Liquid Dish Soap
Soap scum is a pain to clean, but it is rarely impossible to remove. A simple solution of equal parts white vinegar and liquid dish soap can make a shower stall or bathtub look new. The secret is to heat the vinegar before mixing the solution. Make sure the vinegar is hot, but not boiling, and pour into a spray bottle before adding the dish soap of your choice. Spray the shower or tub and let sit for 15-20 minutes before wiping clean.
Drains
Baking Soda
White Vinegar
A tried-and-true recipe of vinegar and baking soda can clean almost anything. Sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda down the tub or shower drain. Pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain and allow the magic bubbles to do their work. Give the mixture about 15 minutes to work before rinsing thoroughly. This same method can be used to clean dishwashers and washing machines. Just add the ingredients and run through the normal cycles!
Toilet
Baking Soda
White Vinegar or Liquid Dish Soap
The most dread of household chores would have to be cleaning the toilet. A routine cleaning should require nothing more than 1 cup baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. Pour both into the toilet bowl and let sit for 20-30 minutes, depending on how stained the bowl is. When time is up, scrub with a toilet brush. For serious stains, forget the vinegar. Simply squirt some dish soap into a container and add baking soda until a thick paste is formed. Use a scrubber and the paste to work off the stains.
Sink and Counter
Warm Water
Lemon Juice
Mix together equal parts water in a spray bottle. Use to clean the counter and sink. For tough stains in the sink, use the baking soda and dish soap paste described above. Be sure that the lemon juice is suitably diluted or it can cause a bleaching effect on some surfaces or materials
Mirror
2 1/2 Cups of Water
1/4 cup White Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Cornstarch
1/2 Teaspoon Liquid Dish Soap
Mirrors have a reputation for streaking no matter how thorough the cleaner. There are two ways that you can approach the bathroom mirror. First, mix together the above recipe, clean the mirror with a lint-free cloth, and hope for the best. The cornstarch is meant to prevent streaking, but sometimes it happens anyway. Another way is to forgo the cornstarch and dish soap entirely and using the old-fashioned water and vinegar solution. On top of those omissions, change out the lint-free cloths for balled up newspaper. This can give the mirror a streak-free appearance.
Floors
1 Gallon of Warm Water
1 Cup White Vinegar
The floor area of a bathroom is fairly small, so if you’d like to save leftover cleaning solution for future use, don’t pour into a bucket. Instead, fill a spray bottle and store the rest. The best way to clean around the base of the toilet or hard-to-reach spots is to get down and wipe with a cloth. For larger areas, a mop works well. Just spray as needed. The solution will dry quickly without a residue.
Don’t be fooled into thinking a bathroom is only clean when it smells like a chemical plant. All natural, less abrasive ingredients can clean even the most difficult messes just as effectively. As a plus, using the cleaner recipes listed above won’t damage your skin or lungs because there are no harsh ingredients or fumes.
Information provided by Maid Brigade Cleaning Services.