Keeping your bathroom clean and tidy is one of those chores that is both essential and laborious. Whether you have a large family or live alone there is no getting away from the fact that once a week, or more often with heavy use, you have to simply roll up your sleeves and get on with it. We've compiled a list of useful, surprising and time saving tips that may help the task along and if not make it enjoyable, at least make it less arduous.
It's useful to start by having all the necessary kit you need to hand. This is easy if you've got great bathroom storage such as fitted furniture, but if not try to get a basket or similar to keep your cleaning kit in. There are many off the shelf products that you can buy to clean your bathroom with and these are great to keep together along with a few extra bits. Lint free cloths or a roll of dishcloths are useful for wiping surfaces as are sponges with a scouring surface and an old toothbrush for scrubbing with. White wine vinegar or distilled vinegar and bicarbonate of soda are really useful additions to your cleaning arsenal; they can be used for a multitude of tasks which we'll talk about later. Old newspaper and tumble dryer sheets are a useful addition for polishing mirrors and cleaning shower screens and produce surprisingly good results.
The Toilet
OK let's start with the most unsavoury place. It's best to use a toilet brush and dedicated toilet cleaner for this but if you have stubborn stains or scale in your toilet you can drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets in overnight to help them to dissolve or pour in a can of cola and leave for an hour. You can also use a pumice stone to help shift rust marks although it's best to try this on a hidden area gently before attacking a large mark. Many toilet seats can now be easily popped off to allow for a thorough clean.
The Bath
White wine vinegar will really help to get rid of soap scum in the bath. Treat first and leave for a few minutes before scrubbing. It's important to note that abrasive cleaners should not be used on a bath so avoid at all costs. Tougher hard water rings can be sprayed with white wine vinegar and left for an hour before cleaning off with plenty of water.
Showers
Remove soap scum with a sponge and white wine vinegar. This also helps to get rid of water marks. Put some white wine vinegar in a plastic bag and use an elastic band to secure it around the shower head overnight to dissolve any lime scale that may have formed. Poke the shower holes through with a pin and rinse thoroughly for a shower that performs like new.
Shower screens
Again a sponge and white wine vinegar work well on screens, but a tumble dryer sheet works great for getting rid of soap and water marks. These can also be used for dusting skirting boards, they pick up dust really well and leave a slight gloss coating which helps to stop the boards from attracting dust. Try to use a squeegee to clean your enclosure after you use it or rub it down with a towel. If possible keep the shower door open after using the shower to stop mildew from forming in the damp atmosphere. It's also a good idea to run an extractor fan or open a window for half an hour after the shower to help the room dehumidify.
Tiles
Mix 1/4 cup of baking powder with 1/2 a cup of white wine vinegar and a couple of litres of water and use a clean cloth to wipe down tiles. This solution can also be used on tile floors.
Worktops
Most worktops are made from materials that respond well to cleaning. Usually warm soapy water is all you need but stubborn stains can be cleaned using bicarbonate of soda mixed with water.
Mirrors
These can be easily cleaned using a solution of white wine vinegar and water. Once cleaned they can be polished with a lint free cloth or balled up newspaper which leaves a smear-free finish.
Bathroom Furniture
The doors and units of bathroom furniture are best wiped down with warm soapy water. Most manufacturers advise this and it's best to stick to these guidelines. Stubborn stains can be removed with a little extra elbow grease!
Obviously there are many ways of approaching bathroom cleaning. The trick is to find the techniques and tips that work for you. Try to do bits as you go along to avoid a big, time consuming clean up and you'll find the task a little easier to bear. It's a necessary evil that is part of all our lives, hopefully some of these ideas will help to make it less of a chore.