The bathroom is your private temple of hygiene, grooming, and hopefully…not too much literature. Yet, it’s also the depository of the worst shameful wastes your body and lifestyle can produce. It’s a terrible, twisted truth, but here are some methods to ease the pain and ensure your porcelain monastery remains sparkling and unsoiled.
Ceramic Tiles :
Tiles are easy to clean. That’s why your bathroom is probably lined with them in many places. Just sweep or vacuum away any loose sand or grit. Then mop the tiles with a mild detergent in hot water, using a rag or chamois mop instead of a sponge mop, which only pushes grimy water around. Change the bucket of cleaning solution often to keep the mop clean.
You can remove any hazy film left behind with an all-purpose cleaner like Hero Clean’s. Or make you own with lemon juice or vinegar plus hot water. (You’ve probably noticed by now that lemon juice and vinegar are the natural cleaning tools of the Gods)
Buff the floor clean with a towel or soft cloth.
Grout :
You thought it was that easy? Guess again. Between all those shiny, durable tiles are lines of grout, the rubbery joints that hold your bathroom together. Unlike the tiles, the grout is actually porous and absorbs dirt and spills easily.
Here’s how to extend the life of your grout and keep things looking fresh :
- Wipe down the grout with hot water to remove any surface dirt. Then use a spray cleaner like Hero Clean’s, or use an equal solution of water and vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Let the solution sit on the grout for 5 minutes before scrubbing out the lines with a soft toothbrush.
- Don’t use the same one you use for your teeth. That would be nasty. Rinse away with hot water.
For stubborn stains, use 2 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Apply to the problem areas on the grout and let it sit overnight. Scrub away with your brush and rinse in the morning.
The Showerhead :
Here’s one you don’t often consider. That thing spraying you with clean water may itself be totally filthy inside. We didn’t want to contemplate it either, but now that we are, let’s just do something about it.
Fill a plastic sandwich bag with a lot of white vinegar and place it over the shower head, securing it with rubber or elastic bands. The showerhead should be completely submerged. Let it sit that way for a few hours, drowning in vinegar, and then remove the bag and wipe off the vinegar with a microfiber cloth and water. Run the shower for a few minutes to clean the pipes, and everything should be rejuvenated beyond a doubt.
The Toilet :
Ground zero. It’s not pretty to stare down into that porcelain abyss, but real men don’t shy away from tough jobs. Put on your defensive rubber gloves and get to work.
First, just sprinkle some baking soda and a cup of white vinegar in the bowl once a week. It will remove odors, and make stains melt away with ease. Wipe with a paper towel all around the bowl and underneath the rim. We recommend removing the seat to get in all the nooks and crannies. To clean out the much-feared rear tank, we have a secret solution. Buy denture tablets (even if your teeth are real), and drop 2 tablets in the tank and let them disappear overnight.
Hard Water Stains :
That weird scum around your sink faucet is the remaining calcium deposits from the water in the pipes. It’s not your fault. But it is your fault if you leave it sitting there. Especially when it’s stupidly simple to remove them. Just soak a paper towel in vinegar and wrap it around the faucets, etc. covering the hard water stains. Let it sit for 30 minutes and then remove. No scrubbing required, just rinse with water and a cloth.
Granite Countertops :
If your countertops are granite, they can be cleaned up without damage by using a mixture of 2 cups water, ¼ cup isopropyl alcohol (don’t use Bourbon) and 5-6 drops of dish soap, all deposited into a spray bottle. You can also add 10-15 drops of essential oils (you pick the flavor) for a pleasant scent. Shake up the bottle, then spray onto your granite before wiping off with a soft microfiber cloth. Shiny!
DON’T use vinegar on stone materials like granite. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Shower Glass & Mirrors :
It’s helpful to see your reflection when shaving…you know, to avoid fatal injury, so it’s good practice to keep mirrors clean. The same goes for shower glass, because people will judge you if it’s foggy, and we’re all a little sensitive inside.
Both materials can be simply cleansed using a mixture of half water and half vinegar in a spray bottle. Wipe away the spray with a NEWSPAPER – Unlike paper towels, it won’t leave streaks behind. Or use a microfiber cloth, because this is 2016 and you may not know what an actual newspaper looks like or where to buy one.