Of all the rooms in your house, the bathroom is probably the worst to clean. We all know what happens in there, so it's not surprising that this is the room with the most germs and the grossest stuff to clean up. But what if you could make cleaning the bathroom way less terrible?
Armed with several gallons of vinegar, a roll of paper towels, plenty of soap and water, a few spray bottles and a package of Kool-Aid, you can have your entire bathroom gleaming in no time. Well, it might take a little more than the things I just listed, but for the most part, we've got you covered.
1. Vinegar soak You don't need to spend hours scrubbing the hard water stains on the faucets in your bathroom. Instead, soak a few paper towels in vinegar and wrap them around the faucet. Leave them for about an hour and when you remove them, your faucets should shine like they did the day you installed them.
2. Drains You might not think of a clogged drain as a cleaning issue, but if you don't take care of that clog, then you'll end up with a pretty disgusting mess on your hands. To unclog a drain, whether in the sink or the tub, pour 1/2 cup of salt down the drain, followed by 1/2 cup of baking soda and finally 1/2 cup of vinegar. Let this combination work together for 10 minutes to dissolve all the gunk stuck in your drain, then finish up by pouring 2 quarts of boiling water down the drain.
3. Shower head Cleaning your shower head is pretty simple and can mostly take care of itself while you clean other areas of the bathroom. Fill a Ziploc bag with vinegar and use a rubber band to hook the bag around your shower head. Let it soak in the vinegar overnight and when you remove the bag in the morning, wipe off the shower head with a clean cloth.
4. Exhaust fan As long as you aren't worried about balancing on a step stool in your bathroom, cleaning your exhaust fan might end up as one of your easiest chores. All you have to do is remove the cover, rinse it with a little soap and water, use the hose on your vacuum to suck the dust out of the fan and then reattach the cover.
5. Tile & groutYou're probably used to cleaning your tile floors by spending time on your hands and knees scrubbing the tile and the grout in between, right? Well, get up and try this instead. Mix 1/2 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of dish soap. Use a sponge, cloth or scrub brush to easily spread this combination over and in between your tiles, saving yourself from all that time spent scrubbing.
6. Daily shower spray To avoid having to scrub your tub and shower as often, make your own spray to use after every shower. Combine 3 cups water, 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol, 2 teaspoons dish soap and 2 teaspoons Jet Dry in a large jug. Transfer some of this mixture into a spray bottle and give your shower and tub a quick spritz after every use.
7. Drip dry After you clean your toilet, what do you do with your toilet bowl brush? Do you rinse it in the sink or bathtub and then stick it back in its holder? Stop doing that. If you put it away while it's still wet, you're creating a breeding ground for new germs. Instead, after you've finished cleaning your toilet, lift up the seat, set down the brush and lower the seat on it. The seat will hold the brush in place and let it drip dry on its own.
8. Sink stainsIf you have some gross-looking stains in your bathroom sink, you can get rid of them in three easy steps. Start by scrubbing the sink with a sponge, warm water and dish soap. Then spray bleach in the sink and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing and rinsing again. Finally, put Bar Keeper's Friend directly on the stains and scrub until they disappear.
9. Toilet Kool-Aid No amount of scrubbing will truly get rid of those nasty rings in your toilet. You can, however, dissolve the gunk that forms the ring. All you need to do is sprinkle lemon Kool-Aid powder around the inside walls of your toilet, let it sit for an hour and then use your toilet bowl brush to finish cleaning as usual. The acidic chemicals in the Kool-Aid powder will dissolve the ring, leaving your toilet clean without any extra scrubbing.
10. MirrorsMost people rely on store-bought glass cleaner for their bathroom mirrors, but this often leaves streaks on the glass. To get rid of these streaks, and save money on cleaning products, spray black tea on your mirrors instead.
