Nothing can make you feel more prepared for the year ahead than starting your day in a sparkling, clean, fresh bathroom. Cleaning your bathroom on a regular basis is necessary whether you like it or loathe it. It is one of the most utilised rooms in the house, and without a regular bathroom cleaning regimen, germs, limescale, soap scum build-up, and mould may become a major issue.
Creating a regular cleaning schedule will not only keep the area sanitary but will also help guarantee that your fixtures and fittings remain in good condition for years to come, as well as improve the quality of your time in the bathroom.
Bathroom expert Kerry Hale from Mira Showers shares five top tips on how to keep your bathroom clean with maximum effect and little cost:
- Cleaning the bath and shower
“It might sound like stating the obvious but cleaning every part of your bath or shower is important but doesn’t always get the attention needed due to it generally being the most difficult and time-consuming task.
“Baths and showers must be cleaned on a weekly basis to prevent the accumulation of unsanitary scum or soap residue. The best method is to wipe down your bath or shower with a gentle cloth and a bathroom cleanser. Get it out of the way first and remember to consider the texture of the water – if you live somewhere with hard water, you may also need to use a limescale-fighting bathroom cleaning.”
- Make that mirror extra shiny
“Whilst there are many efficient window and mirror cleaning sprays available in supermarkets, a cheaper and equally effective solution is a simple mixture of white vinegar and water. One-part white vinegar to four parts waters will do the trick, but if you have particularly hard water we’d recommend using distilled water to make up the solution in order to keep your mirror streak free.
“For best results use a microfibre cloth. Kitchen towels disintegrate during the cleaning process so will leave fibres on the surface – and whilst newspaper was once said to be the best way to clean mirrors, the ink runs too readily these days, and the residue will lead to streaks.
“Depending on how dirty your mirror is, you may need to use rubbing alcohol to remove any stubborn dirt. Spot clean tricky areas with the rubbing alcohol using cotton pads or a cotton cloth.
“Finally, if your mirror is prone to steaming up after baths or showers, before cleaning your mirrors cover them in shaving foam (make sure to use foam and not gel!) then wipe away and shine using a microfibre cloth to reveal a perfectly polished mirror!”
- Get rid of the unwanted mildew
“Nobody wants to deal with a build-up of mould and mildew in the bathroom, so it’s worth taking some precautionary measures to prevent it getting out of control. This is very simple and easy to do though – and all you need to do is spray down the bathroom with a mixture of water and distilled white vinegar regularly, and keeping the bathroom well ventilated.”
- Clean your shower curtain
“Cleaning a shower curtain doesn’t have to be a time-consuming task – all you need are a couple of basic household products, and your shower curtain will be looking as good as new!
“For best results dampen a clean microfibre cloth and sprinkle a layer of baking soda over it, then use the cloth to scrub down the curtain focusing on removing most of the grime and dirt. Leave the baking soda to set-in the stains, then after a couple of minutes take a warm damp cloth and use it to scrub away all the baking soda and water. You may need to rinse the cloth and repeat to ensure that no traces of baking soda remain.
“Alternatively, some shower curtains can be cleaned in the washing machine. Simply put the curtain in the machine and add one or two bath towels – these will help to scrub off the dirt and prevent the shower curtain from wrinkling and tearing. As well as adding the usual amount of laundry detergent, include one cup of baking soda to remove tough stains and wash on a gentle warm setting. When the washing machine switches to the rinse cycle, pour in a half cup to one cup of distilled white vinegar to ensure all the baking soda is removed.”
- Descale the faucets
“Descale your showerhead once a month. This does not have to be part of your weekly routine – but if you live in a hard-water location where limescale is an issue, there are some showers that can help combat it so you don’t have to.”