Bathroom
Drains
Cleaning: To keep drains fresh and free of clogs, pour half a cup of baking soda down them, followed by a cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for ten minutes or so, then flush with a good quantity of boiling water (four litres or so).
Drain blockages: Prevent these by avoiding washing things down the drain, especially hair set it aside to throw out instead.
Drain odours: Mix up a quarter of a cup of equal parts baking soda and salt. Pour down the drain, followed by a cup (or so, it neednt be exact) of boiling water. Flush with cold water. Do this as necessary, or once a week to prevent odours occurring.
Fittings
Gold taps: Wash with warm soapy water only.
Lime deposits: On taps and other fixtures, these can be softened before regular cleaning by covering the deposits with paper towels soaked in vinegar. Leave for around an hour.
Plumbing fixtures: Stainless steel, chrome, enamel, ceramic or porcelain fixtures can be cleaned with a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in half a litre of water. Simply wipe onto the fixtures, and then rinse clean.
Shower curtains: Plastic or nylon shower curtains can be scrubbed with vinegar to clean. They can be soaked in salt water before hanging to prevent mildew forming.
Shower heads: Remove deposits which may be clogging the water flow by submerging the shower head in a solution of equal parts vinegar and hot water. Soak for around an hour.
Shower screens: The outside of glass shower screens can be cleaned like any other glass. The insides can be scoured with bicarb soda and rinsed thoroughly.
Mirrors and glass
Cleaning: Combine 1/4 cup white vinegar and one tablespoon of cornstarch in a litre of warm water. Sponge or spray onto glass, and then buff dry with black-and-white newspaper. (Wear gloves, or youll wind up with black fingers.) You may also get good results with simply vinegar, either straight or half-diluted, or diluted lemon juice. Especially dirty glass may need to be washed with warm soapy water first.
Destreaking: Remove streaks from glass and mirrors by wiping over with diluted vinegar.
Surfaces
Baking soda on a damp cloth or sponge should be safe for all bathroom surfaces, and both cleans and deodorises. Rinsing or wiping down afterwards gets rid of any residue. Sea sponges (yes, from the beach) can make useful cleaning pads in the bathroom. Give it a couple of good long soaks in fresh water (to remove all salt residue) before using.
Bathtubs: Vinegar diluted or full-strength removes most dirt without scrubbing. For tougher residue, wipe the bath out with full-strength vinegar, then use baking soda as you would a scouring powder. Rub down with a damp sponge, and then rinse thoroughly with clean water. A final wipe with white vinegar gives a shine to ceramic surfaces.
Stained bathtubs may benefit from additional attention with fine steel wool and bicarb before being rinsed with vinegar. Alternatively, try cloudy ammonia on a cloth, or use a paste of borax and lemon juice on the stains for a few hours before rinsing. As always, be careful with ammonia and borax.
Fibreglass: Do not scour or clean with abrasive powders. Half a cup of washing soda dissolved in half a bucket of hot water can be used to wash down the surface, but any further stains or scratches may require professional attention.Bathroom
Drains
Cleaning: To keep drains fresh and free of clogs, pour half a cup of baking soda down them, followed by a cup of vinegar. Allow the mixture to foam for ten minutes or so, then flush with a good quantity of boiling water (four litres or so).
Drain blockages: Prevent these by avoiding washing things down the drain, especially hair set it aside to throw out instead.
Drain odours: Mix up a quarter of a cup of equal parts baking soda and salt. Pour down the drain, followed by a cup (or so, it neednt be exact) of boiling water. Flush with cold water. Do this as necessary, or once a week to prevent odours occurring.
Fittings
Gold taps: Wash with warm soapy water only.
Lime deposits: On taps and other fixtures, these can be softened before regular cleaning by covering the deposits with paper towels soaked in vinegar. Leave for around an hour.
Plumbing fixtures: Stainless steel, chrome, enamel, ceramic or porcelain fixtures can be cleaned with a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in half a litre of water. Simply wipe onto the fixtures, and then rinse clean.
Shower curtains: Plastic or nylon shower curtains can be scrubbed with vinegar to clean. They can be soaked in salt water before hanging to prevent mildew forming.
Shower heads: Remove deposits which may be clogging the water flow by submerging the shower head in a solution of equal parts vinegar and hot water. Soak for around an hour.
Shower screens: The outside of glass shower screens can be cleaned like any other glass. The insides can be scoured with bicarb soda and rinsed thoroughly.
Mirrors and glass
Cleaning: Combine 1/4 cup white vinegar and one tablespoon of cornstarch in a litre of warm water. Sponge or spray onto glass, and then buff dry with black-and-white newspaper. (Wear gloves, or youll wind up with black fingers.) You may also get good results with simply vinegar, either straight or half-diluted, or diluted lemon juice. Especially dirty glass may need to be washed with warm soapy water first.
Destreaking: Remove streaks from glass and mirrors by wiping over with diluted vinegar.
Surfaces
Baking soda on a damp cloth or sponge should be safe for all bathroom surfaces, and both cleans and deodorises. Rinsing or wiping down afterwards gets rid of any residue. Sea sponges (yes, from the beach) can make useful cleaning pads in the bathroom. Give it a couple of good long soaks in fresh water (to remove all salt residue) before using.
Bathtubs: Vinegar diluted or full-strength removes most dirt without scrubbing. For tougher residue, wipe the bath out with full-strength vinegar, then use baking soda as you would a scouring powder. Rub down with a damp sponge, and then rinse thoroughly with clean water. A final wipe with white vinegar gives a shine to ceramic surfaces.
Stained bathtubs may benefit from additional attention with fine steel wool and bicarb before being rinsed with vinegar. Alternatively, try cloudy ammonia on a cloth, or use a paste of borax and lemon juice on the stains for a few hours before rinsing. As always, be careful with ammonia and borax.
Fibreglass: Do not scour or clean with abrasive powders. Half a cup of washing soda dissolved in half a bucket of hot water can be used to wash down the surface, but any further stains or scratches may require professional attention.
Grout: Make a baking soda paste of three parts soda to one part warm water. (Leftover paste should be disposed of, so dont make too much.) Scrub into the grout with a sponge or an old toothbrush. Rinse thoroughly.
Hard water: Apply straight vinegar to the marks and allow to stand until they disappear, then rinse. Repeat if necessary. Lemon juice may be used as an alternative.
Lime deposits: Apply straight vinegar and allow to stand until they disappear, then rinse. Repeat if necessary.
Mildew: Dissolve half a cup of borax in half a cup of vinegar and two cups of warm water. Spray or wipe over affected areas and scrub. Repeat as necessary. Rinse thoroughly. (Always be careful working with borax. Gloves are a good idea.)
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