Two of the most expensive rooms in the house to renovate are the kitchen and bathroom. Although there are some DIY’s you might not be able to tackle such as appliance repair, you can still save lots of money in the long run simply by keeping those areas rooms sparkling clean.
While the thought of cleaning the bathroom probably makes you sigh with dread, the idea of the savings loads of money simply by using some elbow grease might help you grin and bear it. To keep your bathroom looking fresh and devoid of nasties, there are multiple key areas to attack. Use some powerful green cleaners that will cut into all of the soap scum and grime that may have built up. Read on for tips on how to give your bathroom a thorough clean.
Tub, Shower, and Drain
The tub, shower, and drains beneath them can get very grimy and typically need considerable work. Used daily, these parts of a bathroom become the dirtiest looking, from the buildup of soap scum, bath oils, shampoo, conditioner, etc. The deposits harden over time, too.
To combat this, buy or make shower and tub spray cleaners that you leave on surfaces for some time to loosen up the build up. Use an abrasive scrubbing pad to help lift off the grime and grease, and get into small areas with an old toothbrush. Rinse the area afterward with your detachable shower head, a clean cloth, or a bucket of water. If your shower head is dirty, too, try soaking it in a vinegar solution overnight and then rinse.
Another common problem in showers and bathtubs is mold. This is usually worst in wet areas because of the heat, moisture, and lack of ventilation. You may have mold around faucets and other fixtures, in the grout of the tiles, around the corners of tubs and showers, and in the rims of bathtubs. You must not only remove what you can see, but also kill the spores. Leave products to soak for a while to make removal easier. Open windows frequently in your bathroom, as fresh air can help stop mold from reoccurring.
If you have standing water as you shower because your drain is clogged up, address this situation ASAP. You can search online for many detailed tips on how to unclog a shower drain such as the obvious act of removing hair that may be clogging it, then pouring baking soda down the drain, followed by an equal amount of vinegar. Once the solution is bubbling and foaming, pour a full kettle of hot water down the drain. Of course this same method will work for kitchen drains.
Shower Curtains or Glass Doors
Once you’ve addressed the tiles or other surface in your shower or tub, it’s time to look at your shower curtain or glass doors. These areas can also accumulate significant build up. Fabric shower curtains can usually be placed in the washing machine with some vinegar or baking soda, and then air dried on the line or gentle cycle in the dryer.
When it comes to shower doors, treat these with a bit more care. You don’t want to clean fiberglass or glass doors with anything too abrasive. Instead, use a damp cloth and something effective yet mild like baking soda and vinegar, pine oil, or a non-toxic store-bought bathroom or glass cleaner.
Grout
Keeping grout clean is probably the the trickiest part of maintaining a clean bathroom. To make the cleaning job easier, use a specialized grout brush plus a bleach cleaner. Alternatively, make a paste out of ingredients like baking soda and water, followed by a spritz of vinegar. Always rinse surfaces afterward with water to get rid of remaining residue.
Make your life easier in the future by also sealing the grout. This job can be done every six months with a special grout sealant that helps prevent moisture, bacteria, and grime from getting in. You can also use a special grout paint pen to repaint the grout and make it look brand new. If you don’t stay on top of keeping grout clean you may end up having to do a costly replacement altogether, so it’s better to make grout cleaning part of your routine kitchen or bathroom cleaning.
Floors and Walls
If your bathroom has painted walls, remove oil-based stains and dirt by wiping areas with a sponge dipped in diluted dish washing liquid or vinegar. As for tiled walls and floors, make these areas shine by spraying them with a non-abrasive, all-purpose cleaner. Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes before wiping. Another trick is to turn on your shower to its hottest setting and close the door. Leave the water running for a few minutes so that steam builds up in the bathroom, then turn off the shower and leave the door shut again for 20 minutes. After this time, the product should have done its job, and you can wipe the walls with a clean cloth and mop the floors.
Lastly, don’t forget to keep the scents. pleasant in your kitchen and bathroom. You can make your own room sprays using essential oils that purify the air while making it smell good at the same time.
Giving your bathroom a deep clean likely isn’t on your list of favorite things to do, but keeping on top of routine cleaning can help save money and repairs in the future. Be sure to check out all of the above sources in this post for more great bathroom or kitchen cleaning tips too.
Thanks for visiting today! Happy cleaning!
Amber
No Comments