There’s nothing more satisfying than having a squeaky clean bathroom! Here’s my top tips…
1. Bathroom tiles
If the sealant and grout in your bathroom is stained or mouldy, before scraping it all out and regrouting, try cleaning it instead using a strong ‘mould spray’ for grout from your local DIY store. After spraying the grout open a window if you can, shut the door and leave it to work for half an hour, as the fumes can be quite strong. The bleaching action should make the grout look as good as new and any stubborn spots can be gone over with a grout pen afterwards. Any sealant that is still stained will need to be scraped out and replaced though.
2. Shower curtain
If mould spots appear on your shower curtain, soak it in a weak bleach solution for a couple of hours and then rinse it well. I’ve found that the best way to prevent it getting mouldy in the first place is to put it through the washing machine with a towel every once in a while. Make sure to take it out before the spin cycle and hang it back up, so it doesn’t crease.
3. Shower head
If you notice your shower isn’t as powerful as it once was, or if it’s squirting water jets in odd directions, it may be clogged up with limescale deposits. To dissolve the limescale, unscrew the shower head and soak it for a few hours in white vinegar mixed with equal parts water. Give it a good rinse and screw back in place.
4. Toilet
A neat trick for cleaning limescale marks from your loo that I learnt in my student days is to use Alka Selzer tablets, which we always kept in the cupboard for hangovers. You put 3 or 4 Alka Selzer tablets into the toilet bowl. Leave it to fizz for an hour and then use the toilet brush to brush it clean. They’re also good for freshening up your gym water bottle or thermos flask. Fill the bottle with water, add 3 or 4 tablets and leave it to soak for a couple of hours.
5. Sink
Bicarbarbonate of soda is good for unclogging and deodorising a slow draining plughole. Pour four or five tablespoons of powder down the sink, then add the same amount of white vinegar and put the plug in. Wait a few minutes for it to fizz away and then run the taps to wash it through. Should that fail to shift the blockage, try an old fashioned sink plunger.
6. Mirrors
To stop the mirror fogging up in a steamy bathroom, give it a wipe over with some shaving foam, then use a soft cloth to rub it off. If the mirror is dirty or streaky, clean it first using white vinegar mixed with equal parts water applied using old newspaper.
7. Medicine cabinet
Do a spring clean of your medicine cabinet by emptying it out and checking the expiry dates of any medicines, throwing away any that are old. It’s best to throw anything without a date label that you’re not sure about, as old medicines lose their effectiveness and can even become dangerous.
8. Bath taps
Lemons are great for all sorts of household cleaning – get the shine back on your chrome bath and sink taps by cutting a lemon in half and rubbing all over. Then rinse with water and then wipe them dry. To keep taps looking shiny after you’ve cleaned, wipe some baby oil over them and then give them a good buff over with a soft cloth.
9. Storage
It’s all too easy to let shampoo bottles, shower gel, and other toiletries build up along the sides of your bath, making your bathroom look messy and collecting dust. In my house this used to become a problem just after Christmas, when all the gift packs of smellies were looking for a home. Now I use a couple of deep, lined wicker storage baskets to store any spare bottles, as they can be stood up inside the baskets to prevent spillages. When you shut the lids they make a good place to stack spare towels too.
10. Plants
I love having plants in my bathroom to get that tropical spa feeling when soaking in the bath. Not all plants thrive in such humid conditions though, so check the care labels before you buy. Spider plants, bamboo, Boston ferns and philodendrons all seem to make good bathroom companions. Air plants are also a good choice for bathrooms, and as they don’t grow in soil they are less messy. Make sure to position the plants where they have enough light and don’t over water, as they will get some moisture from the air. Plants will tend to get dusty quickly in bathrooms, due to aerosols, talcum powder and so on, so make sure to clean them regularly using a mist sprayer filled with distilled water, then wipe the leaves with a soft cloth.
