Nobody, apart from Monica in Friends, enjoys cleaning the bathroom, but According to Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, the bathroom is a pretty nasty area of your home. In this post, we're going to share some of the best hacks to help you clean your bathroom cleaner, better and quicker than ever.
1. Maintenance is better than cure
Gross as it may seem, it's better to maintain order in a bathroom than to wait for it to get out of hand before you clean it. Stay on top of tidiness by keeping your a dustbin and cleaning products on hand, and by wiping down the bath and fittings daily.
2. Forget about miracle cleaners
Instead of using expensive miracle cleaning agents (which invariably contain all sorts of toxins) hit up the pantry for some amazingly effective ingredients:
- lemons - perfect for cleaning mildew off windows, faucets and other dull surfaces.
- 3 tablespoons baking soda, 1/2 cup household ammonia and 2 cups warm water. Mix it up and wipe bathroom surfaces using a rag or a sponge.
3. Clean the toilet in two ticks
Probably the least enjoyable task, but also probably the most important, is the toilet. Here are some tips:
- Flush, and then pour a cup of bleach into the bowl before brushing inside the bowl. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the rest of the toilet. Let the bleach sit while you clean the rest of the bathroom.
- Bad stains? Empty a can of cola into your toilet bowl and let it sit for an hour. After scrubbing and flushing, your toilet will be sparkling clean.
- Kill germs with mouthwash. Simply pour 1/4 cup of mouthwash into the bowl and leave it for 30 minutes. Afterwards, scrub the bowl using a toilet brush and then flush.
- Remove packed on grime by dropping 2 antacid tablets or 1 denture tablet, or a vitamin C tablet into the bowl. Let it dissolve for about 20 minutes before giving it a good scrub.
- Still see stains? Use a damp pumice stone to gently scrub stains without damaging surfaces.
4. Clean one of the messiest places in the home - the bathroom sink
Did you know that the sink drain has the most bacteria in your entire bathroom - even more so than the toilet seat?
- Flush your sink drain with baking soda and vinegar once a week.
- Use disposable disinfecting wipes to reduce bacteria on the faucets.
- Floss the base of the faucet where it meets the sink.
Bonus tip: Instead of hand soap, use liquid soap as it won't become slimy on the soap dish, thus also preventing your family from simply displacing germs.
5. Keep your towels and bathmats dry
If you can't hang towels outside, spread them out on a drying rack (far away from the toilet) with plenty air circulation, rather than on a hook where it will form folds. Switch to new towels every three to four days, because the bar will also collect bacteria.
If you've just moved into an older house with a bathroom in desperate need of TLC, get in touch with Anta Plumbing to give you a free estimate on a remodel. We can also provide some good suggestions on how to design a cleaning-friendly bathroom, so get in touch!