We all know that nobody likes cleaning the bathroom. Between the icky germs we know are lurking and the harsh chemicals we use to get rid of them, it might easily be the least desirable chore in the house. Today, though, I have some tips to at least mitigate half of that problem: There are hundreds of natural bathroom cleaning solutions, so that you don’t have to use those chemical products, and many of them are probably things you already have in your home!
1. For Hard Water Stains
One of the worst things about cleaning the bathroom is obviously the toilet. It may seem unavoidable that to get rid of nasty hard water stains, you have to use some kind of chemically-engineered blue sludge, but there’s actually a way simpler option. Scrubbing at those stains with a pumice stone will actually get rid of them even faster than a toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner, and it won’t leave any scratches.
2. For Other Hard Surface Stains
If you have stains in other places, like the counter or inside your tub, there’s a very easy, no-scrubbing solution to that too. Simply soak some paper towels in vinegar and let them sit on the surface for a couple of hours. Remove the towels and find that…poof! Like magic, the stains are gone.
(Note: This trick does work in toilets also, but you have to remove all the water from the bowl first.)
3. For Lingering Odors
This one is especially important for men or anyone who lives with them. (Sorry guys, but sometimes your aim isn’t as great as you think!)
Make a paste of lemon juice and baking soda, about the consistency of cake batter. Spread this paste on any areas where you believe some backsplash may have occurred. Let that sit for a few minutes, and then dip a toothbrush in some white vinegar and scrub it off. After you do this, your bathroom should smell fresh again.
4. For the Shower Drain
Since the last tip was one for the guys, let’s go with one for the girls next: Cleaning the shower drain. It may seem inevitable that you’ll just have to call the plumber eventually to save your drain from all the shed hair, but you actually can fix this problem yourself too.
First, you need to take a pair of pliers or a wire hanger (try the pliers first) and fish out the dreaded hairball. Once that’s taken care of, all you have to do is pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain and add vinegar until you see foam start to bubble out. Let that sit for a few minutes, then rinse with hot water. That’s it!
5. For Faucets and Shower Heads
That mineral deposit buildup on your shower head is probably one of the most annoying things to clean normally, but I have another no-scrub trick for you. All you need to do to get rid of that crusty stuff is fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and affix it to the spigot with a rubber band. After you let it sit for an hour or so, that buildup should come right off.
BONUS: Other Natural Bathroom Cleaning Solutions
A grapefruit or a lemonwith some salt on it is all you need to use to get rid of soap scum and water spots on any surface.
Non-stick cooking spray will help keep soap scum from building up on your shower walls.
Baby oil works great to polish chrome fixtures in any room.
Black tea contains tannins that will adhere to any organic material that creates grime, so you can use it to clean any surfaces that won’t stain, including mirrors and windows.
Thanks for checking out this week’s blog post! I hope you’ll now be able to take some steps towards a more natural bathroom cleaning routine.
f you liked this one, be sure to check out my post on tips to keep your whole home clean. And, if you want to learn how to make some more natural bathroom cleaners that are a little more complex, take a look at this post on ApartmentTherapy.com. See you next week!
