Most of us (hopefully) clean our bathrooms on a regular basis. But do you give enough attention to every surface? The toilet, shower and bathtub are easy enough to remember. And you probably clean the sink and the counters every time. But is there anything in your bathroom that gets neglected during your weekly (okay, maybe monthly) clean?
Try something for me. Go into your bathroom, open your medicine cabinet and run your finger along one of the shelves. Is it a little bit gross in there? That's because we tend to forget about our medicine cabinets when we're cleaning. Which is ridiculous, because your medicine cabinet, like the other cabinets in your house, is pretty easy to clean.
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1. Baking soda & coconut oil
Let's start with wood medicine cabinets. Whether you're cleaning the door or the shelves, you can treat these just like your kitchen cabinets. One of the most effective cleaning treatments is a combination of 2 parts baking soda/1 part coconut oil. Rub the mixture onto your cabinet to remove any dirt or gunk that has built up on the wood.
Let's start with wood medicine cabinets. Whether you're cleaning the door or the shelves, you can treat these just like your kitchen cabinets. One of the most effective cleaning treatments is a combination of 2 parts baking soda/1 part coconut oil. Rub the mixture onto your cabinet to remove any dirt or gunk that has built up on the wood.
2. Dish soap
Dish soap is another common cleaning solution for a wood cabinet. Just add a little gentle dish soap to warm water, dip in a towel and scrub the cabinet. Rinse the soap off with a damp sponge before rubbing down the cabinet with a dry towel.
Dish soap is another common cleaning solution for a wood cabinet. Just add a little gentle dish soap to warm water, dip in a towel and scrub the cabinet. Rinse the soap off with a damp sponge before rubbing down the cabinet with a dry towel.
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3. Vinegar
We all know you can't have a list about cleaning without vinegar showing up at least once. No matter what material your medicine cabinet is made of, it can be cleaned with vinegar. All you have to do is dampen a cloth with some vinegar and wipe down your cabinets. Then wipe them with a water-dampened cloth, followed by a dry towel.
We all know you can't have a list about cleaning without vinegar showing up at least once. No matter what material your medicine cabinet is made of, it can be cleaned with vinegar. All you have to do is dampen a cloth with some vinegar and wipe down your cabinets. Then wipe them with a water-dampened cloth, followed by a dry towel.
4. Rubbing alcohol
If the door of your medicine cabinet doubles as a mirror, you'll need different materials to clean it. Unless you're going for the streaky, fingerprint-covered look. Assuming you want a clean mirror, though, rubbing alcohol should be the first product you grab. Pour the rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and use it to spot treat the mirror if you see any dried on gunk. Your next step is to spray the mirror with a mixture of water and vinegar (there it is again). Finally, use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the mirror, leaving you with a streak-free shine.
If the door of your medicine cabinet doubles as a mirror, you'll need different materials to clean it. Unless you're going for the streaky, fingerprint-covered look. Assuming you want a clean mirror, though, rubbing alcohol should be the first product you grab. Pour the rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and use it to spot treat the mirror if you see any dried on gunk. Your next step is to spray the mirror with a mixture of water and vinegar (there it is again). Finally, use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the mirror, leaving you with a streak-free shine.
5. Tea bags
You've probably never cleaned your mirror with a wet tea bag, have you? Well, you might want to start. If the door of your medicine cabinet is a mirror, you can wipe the mirror with a used, wet bag of black tea. Use a paper towel to dry the mirror, leaving you with a clean mirror that doesn't smell like chemical products.
You've probably never cleaned your mirror with a wet tea bag, have you? Well, you might want to start. If the door of your medicine cabinet is a mirror, you can wipe the mirror with a used, wet bag of black tea. Use a paper towel to dry the mirror, leaving you with a clean mirror that doesn't smell like chemical products.
6. Razor blade
If your mirrored medicine cabinet door is covered in scuffs and dried on gunk, you might want to consider scraping those off with a single-sided razor blade. If you do this, make sure you hold the blade at an angle and scrape slowly to avoid gouging the mirror's surface.
If your mirrored medicine cabinet door is covered in scuffs and dried on gunk, you might want to consider scraping those off with a single-sided razor blade. If you do this, make sure you hold the blade at an angle and scrape slowly to avoid gouging the mirror's surface.
7. Borax
When it comes to cleaning the shelves inside your medicine cabinet, you can use pretty much anything you'd use to clean wood cabinets. Other than the options mentioned above, you can also dissolve 1/2 cup of Borax in a gallon of water and scrub the wood with that. Make sure you wring out any excess water before approaching the shelves, as that will save you time having to use a towel to dry them later.
When it comes to cleaning the shelves inside your medicine cabinet, you can use pretty much anything you'd use to clean wood cabinets. Other than the options mentioned above, you can also dissolve 1/2 cup of Borax in a gallon of water and scrub the wood with that. Make sure you wring out any excess water before approaching the shelves, as that will save you time having to use a towel to dry them later.
8. Distilled water & glass cleaner
If you're one of those people who actually keeps your medicine cabinet organized, you might have a glass door on your cabinet, allowing anyone to glance inside and see what you keep in there. If you're one of those people, you'll want to invest in a good glass cleaner. To avoid streaks or buildup on your glass, though, dilute the glass cleaner with distilled water.
If you're one of those people who actually keeps your medicine cabinet organized, you might have a glass door on your cabinet, allowing anyone to glance inside and see what you keep in there. If you're one of those people, you'll want to invest in a good glass cleaner. To avoid streaks or buildup on your glass, though, dilute the glass cleaner with distilled water.
9. Newspaper
Do you use paper towels to clean the glass door of your medicine cabinet? Well, knock it off. Paper towels tend to leave linty streaks on glass, requiring you to use more glass cleaner than necessary. Instead of paper towels, grab a handful of newspaper and use that to wipe off your glass cleaner.
Do you use paper towels to clean the glass door of your medicine cabinet? Well, knock it off. Paper towels tend to leave linty streaks on glass, requiring you to use more glass cleaner than necessary. Instead of paper towels, grab a handful of newspaper and use that to wipe off your glass cleaner.
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10. Lemon
Lemons are another common cleaning product (and they smell way better than vinegar), so it's no surprise that you can clean a glass medicine cabinet door by scrubbing it with the cut side of half a lemon. If your cabinet or the shelves inside are made of chrome, you can also use the lemon juice to give them a little extra shine.
Lemons are another common cleaning product (and they smell way better than vinegar), so it's no surprise that you can clean a glass medicine cabinet door by scrubbing it with the cut side of half a lemon. If your cabinet or the shelves inside are made of chrome, you can also use the lemon juice to give them a little extra shine.
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11. Dryer sheets
No matter what kind of medicine cabinet you have, you can always use dryer sheets for a quick clean. Dryer sheets remove dust and hair from any surface and can help give a little shine to any hinges or doorknobs on your cabinet. So if you just need a quick wipe down before you get to the deep cleaning (or want to put off deep cleaning for a few more days), grab a dryer sheet and run it over the door and shelves of your medicine cabinet.
No matter what kind of medicine cabinet you have, you can always use dryer sheets for a quick clean. Dryer sheets remove dust and hair from any surface and can help give a little shine to any hinges or doorknobs on your cabinet. So if you just need a quick wipe down before you get to the deep cleaning (or want to put off deep cleaning for a few more days), grab a dryer sheet and run it over the door and shelves of your medicine cabinet.
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