Make Light Work of Your Bathroom Spring Cleaning

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rsz bathroom cleaning hacks

Oct 2, 2019

Make Light Work of Your Bathroom Spring Cleaning

It's the one task that everyone dreads when it comes to spring cleaning their homes, perhaps because a lot of people find the job a little... gross, or perhaps simply because of its of the time-consuming nature. Whatever the reason, cleaning the bathroom is often nudged to the very bottom of to-do lists.

Unfortunately, there's no doubt that a deep-clean of your bathroom is something that needs to happen regularly. In fact, you might be surprised to read some of these bathroom related facts:

  • The most germ-ridden spot in your bathroom is actually your toothbrush holder, where 27% of toothbrush holder contained coliform (an indicator of potential fecal contamination).
  • An aerosol effect that happens when you flush a toilet with the lid up, bacteria can land on damp, dark places and thrive.
  • An NSF study, faucet handles were the second-dirtiest spot in the bathroom. 27% of faucet handles tested positive for yeast and mold, 9% for coliform and 5% for staph.

But don't worry!

You can fight these facts and cheat the system with a few of these brilliant cleaning hacks. Battle the bacteria, and lessen the elbow grease required to get your bathroom clean.

Enjoy!

1.  How to Remove Limescale from Your Bathroom

You might know it as hard water stains, lime scale or mineral deposits - whatever the name, it's that tough to remove white/green powdery residue that builds up around your faucets and often shower head.

Limescale is caused by water evaporating from taps and faucets, leaving behind deposits of calcium and magnesium that solidify quickly. Once it's in solid form, it can be really tough to remove, especially in tricky, hard-to-reach spaces.

Luckily, there's a sneaky trick we've come across that'll help you effectively remove grime, without scrubbing anything.

What you need:

  • Cleaning cloths
  • White vinegar

The technique:

Begin by soaking a few cleaning cloths in a bowl of white vinegar, until they're completely soaked. Then, wrap the wet rags around any faucets, taps or bathroom areas that are showing signs of mineral deposits. Leave them to soak for an hour or more, and add extra vinegar if you find the cloths are drying out. When the deposits have loosened or dissolved, you can remove the cloths and wipe down the area - job done!

2.  How to Get Rid of the Ring Around Your Bathtub with a Power Drill

You know what we're talking about: that brown-tinged ring around the bathtub that you just can't seem to completely get rid of. It's made of a mixture of skin cells, body grease, oils and soap, that together is particularly persistent at sticking to your tub.

Luckily, there is a really awesome way that you can scrub your bathtub and get the friction you need to remove limescale and grime - without breaking a sweat.

What you need:

  • A power drill
  • A small cleaning brush
  • Baby oil
  • Spray bottle

The technique:

Begin by attaching your small scrubbing brush head (even the top of a dish washing brush will do) to a drill-bit. If you don't want to do the DIY aspect of this, you can buy brush drill heads like this one for a pretty low cost. Next, mix one part baby oil and four parts water together, and pour into a spray bottle. Spray your solution on to the ring of soap scum, and give it a few minutes to loosen the grime. Then, take to it with your new drill bush! Any remnants of your soap ring will be removed in seconds, with little to no elbow grease required.

3.  How to Clear your Shower Drain with Baking Soda & Vinegar

We've all had that unfortunate experience of turning on the shower, only to find that the shower floor turns quickly into a bit of a pool, with little-to-no water draining down the plug hole. This can happen for a number of reasons; a build up of sticky shower gunk and soap residue, long hair, body oils and fats, and hardened minerals.

When this happens, you'll probably be a little reluctant to put your hands anywhere near the buildup that's blocking your drain, or to foot the expensive plumbers bill. Luckily, there's a chemical reaction you can create using household items that'll do the job for you.

What you need:

  • Vinegar
  • Baking Soda

The technique:

Remember when you were a child and you made a small erupting volcano out of adding vinegar and baking soda to the top of a mountain of sand? This is essentially the same chemical reaction, occurring inside your drain pipe. All you need to do, is pour baking soda down the drain (a decent portion of this is probably needed), and follow with a cup of white vinegar.

Next, quickly (if your shower is fitted with this), put a plug in the drain hold to contain the reaction. Inside your drain, the bubbling of the vinegar and baking soda will dislodge any grimy remnants, clearing your drain with zero scrubbing. Easy as that!

Want a Healthy Home Outside of the Bathroom?

If you want to ensure a healthy home in rooms beyond the bathroom, download our FREE home maintenance guide to keep your home in tip-top condition all year round.

 

Gina Gibbs

Author: Gina Gibbs

Gina is the Business Manager at Rug Doctor NZ. With over 20 years at Rug Doctor, she's dedicated to helping New Zealanders keep their homes clean and healthy. Outside of work, Gina enjoys hiking, reading, and enjoying Vietnamese and Asian fusion cuisine. Oh, and let's not forget her expertise in cleaning up after everyone, especially her two kids!