Welcome to Cleaning Tips

Fast Toilet Cleanup

The least desireable bathroom cleaning task is probably washing the toilet. Unappealing? Yes, but completely necessary. Here are some bathroom cleaning tips to assist you in this endeavor. Drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets in and let them fizz for a while. You might also consider pouring two cups of vinegar into the bowl and letting it sit for an hour, Your scrubbing should be minimal. If you have difficult to remove hard water stains from the sides of the bowl, try rubbing them with a pumice stone or filling the bowl with vinegar and leaving it to sit over night.

Unclogging Drains

Hair and goo can build inside your sink causing your drains to empty slowly, giving you something else to contend with during your bathroom cleaning ritual. Drop a couple of alka seltzer tablets into a slow drain and follow with a vinegar chaser. After a few minutes, rinse with hot water. Your drain will be as good as new. Would you like another bathroom cleaning tip? Baking soda will not only clear up clogged drains, but it will also keep them smelling fresh. Try this: pour one half cup of salt and one cup of baking soda down the drain and let it sit overnight. In the morning chase it with a pot (two to three cups) of boiling water.

Rust Removal from Sinks, Tubs, Toilets and Tile

Cleaning a bathroom shouldn't be a daunting task. The appearance of rust on sinks, tubs and bathroom tiles can be enough to put off even the most creative housekeeper. Cleaning bathroom rust isn't difficult however. It can accomplished with several items found in the kitchen. Lemon juice left to sit on the offending spot for at least 30 minutes should be enough to remove the rust. White vinegar works much in the same manner. It may take a couple of applications, but either of these household staples should be enough. If they're not, you may want to try something a little stronger such as ordinary household bleach or a cleaning product contain oxalic acid.

Quick Sink and Toilet Clean Up

For cleaning bathroom quickly, use baby wipes! These handy sheets aren't only great for wiping baby's bottom. They can also be used for efficiently wiping surfaes such as countertops and behind the toilet. If you liked that speedy bathroom cleaning tip, try this one: use a damp dryer sheet to remove soap scum from shower doors and walls. Not only does it remove this unsightly film, but it leaves the room smelling clean and fresh.

Lime and Other Mineral Deposits Removal

Hard water can cause lime and other minerals to build up on your bathroom fixtures and make bathroom cleaning a nightmare. The easiest way to remove lime or other mineral buildup from your bathroom is by using an acidic cleaner. You can also try common household staples such as white vinegar, lemon juice, or a cleaner containing oxcalic acid, which is best for rusty stains.

Grout Mold and Mildew Removal

When cleaning a bathroom, be sure to pay particular attention to grout which can harbor mold or mildew if not properly maintained. If mildew does start to creep up on you, try cleaning with a dilute solution of chlorine bleach in water (one cup bleach to three cups water, increasing the bleach as necessary). Spray or sponge it on, wait a few minutes, then rinse well with clean water. Commercial mildew remover sprays can also be used. When using chemicals for cleaning bathroom tiles, be sure to wear rubber gloves and rinse the area well after cleaning. A less hazardous method is to use a peroxide based cleaner, such as Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate. Wet the area, spray Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate on the mildew, wait a few minutes then scrub with an old toothbrush. If the stains are particularly stubborn, you may want to use a stronger dilution of Bio-OX Citrus Concentrate.

Toilet Bowl Stain Removal

It may be an unconventional bathroom cleaning product, but a can of Coca- Cola will remove stains from inside your toilet bowl. Just pop the top and pour it in. Let it sit for about an hour, giving the acid some time to work and then flush. Here's another unusual bathroom cleaning tip: drop a couple of Alka Seltzer tablets into your toilet. Let these dissolve and go to work and then flush. If you'd rather use a more conventional household item for bathroom cleaning, pour vinegar in the bowl and let it sit overnight.

Fiberglass Soap Scum Removal

If left to languish, soap scum will harden, giving you a bathroom cleaning nightmare. Acting quickly will prevent this from happening. Keep a cloth or squeegee in your shower to wipe down the walls as soon as you're finished bathing. It's best to tackle the problem while the shower walls and doors are still wet. If it's too late and the soap scum has hardened onto your wall, this bathroom cleaning tip will help. Dampen a dryer sheet and wipe the walls., The soap scum will come off easily.

Cleaning Shower Heads

We don't usually consider our shower heads when cleaning a bathroom, but we should. Especially if we have what is considered "hard water." Lime and mineral deposits can clog the holes of the shower head giving us less water pressure, which means a less productive shower. Fortuanately there's a simple bathroom cleaning tip to hand this. Warm some vinegar in a microwave and pour into a ziplock bag large enough to place your shower fixture. Leave the shower head in the warm vinegar bath for about an hour. After that time, discard the vinegar and use a toothbrush to clean off any remaining mineral deposits. Rinse in warm water.

Cleaning Mirrors

Hurried morning grooming can mean a mess later if we're not careful. If your vanity mirror is dull from hairspray buildup try this bathroom cleaning tip: Washing the mirror with a solution of clairfying shampoo and water will eliminate the sticky haze caused by sprays. For a no-lint shine, wipe clean with a lint free cloth such as a cloth diaper or coffee filter. A cloth dampened with rubbing alcohol will not only help to remove hairspray buildup from the mirrors but will also assist in cleaning bathroom tiles of sticky hair care products.

Cleaning Shower Doors

Soap scum is made up of talc, body oils and minerals from hard water. If left to dry, soap scum removal can be one of the most difficult parts of cleaning a bathroom, but it doesn't have to be that way. To eliminate this problem, first try a little preventative maintenance. Keep a squeegee in your bathroom to wipe down shower doors and walls after every bath or shower. In addition, if you use a bar soap, you might want to consider switching to a liquid soap since it doesn't contain talc. Finally, here's a quick soap scum removal tip: use a dryer sheet! Just dampen and wipe along your shower door, soap scum will no longer be an issue. This also works for cleaning bathroom tiles of this unsightly film as well.

Brass Fixtures

Brass fixtures look beautiful in a bathroom, but with them come a certain responsibility. While polishing brass might not be one of the more pleasureable aspects of cleaning a bathroom, it doesn't have to be tedious. To get your brass to shine, cut a lemon in half and dip it in some salt. Rub this on the brass and wipe with a clean cloth. If you don't have a lemon handy, make a paste from vinegar, salt and flour. Rub this into the brass and dry with a thick cotton cloth. Remember this cautionary bathroom cleaning tip: Before using a commercial brass cleaning product, test in a hidden area. Sometimes cleaning products will leave behind a film.

Cleaning Grout

It's not enough to give tile a wipe down every now and then. If not cleaned properly, grout will turn gray and dingy. Try this safe home remedy for cleaning bathroom tiles. Make a paste of baking soda and peroxide, apply to your grout, rub in with an old toothbrush and let sit for at least 30 minutes. For more heavy duty bathroom cleaning, dip your toothbrush in some bleach and give the grout a good scrub. Rinse by cleaning with a damp sponge.

Bathtub Stain Removal

It's a sad fact of life. Bathtubs can take on stains, mostly caused by mineral build up from hard water. No one who handles bathroom cleaning should have to contend with bathtub stains. If you do find yourself with this problem keep this bathroom cleaning tip in mind: Use Borax for removing hard water stains.Just sprinkle some onto the offending area, let sit for a few minutes, and wipe with a damp sponge.

Toilet Cleaning

Paper towels work really well for cleaning toilets. You can use a cleaning product first to wipe down the toilet and then use a dry paper towel to wipe up the remaining hair and dirt that is left on the toilet. Some materials, such as hair, wipe up better with a dry paper towel. By using one wet paper towel and one dry one you can capture all the material that is on the toilet.

Chrome Fixtures

If not properly maintained, chrome fixtures can become dull and cloudy. After cleaning a bathroom, you want your chrome fixtures to sparkle! For blinding brilliance, make a paste of baking soda and dishwashing liquid. Apply this to your chrome fixtures and rub clean with a cloth. Warm vinegar will also make your bathroom shine. Here's an additional bathroom cleaning tip: To clean stains from your bathroom chrome and tile, use baby oil! Wipe off with a cloth diaper for a lint free shine.

Rubber Bath Mat Mold and Mildew Removal

If you'd rather not spend your bathroom cleaning time scrubbing mold and mildew from your bath mat, be sure to hang it after each use. If your bath mat has become a victim of mold and mildew, you have several recourses. You can wash it in the washing machine (cold or warm water please, and don't put it in the dryer!) or you can use Borax to clean and disinfect. Sprinkle it on and scrub it off. Keeping the mat as dry as possible between uses is the key to mold and mildew prevention.

Urine Odor Removal from Tile and Grout

Cleaning a bathroom sometimes means removing urine odor from tile and grout. To do this in an efficient manner means getting to the root of the problem.. The newest technology for cleaning bathroom tiles uses peroxide and detergents to penetrate the soiled area and deactivate the odor. Simply spray a product like PAWS - Pet Accident Washup Solution on the area, allow to sit for 10 minutes and then wipe clean. Baking soda will also neutralize the smell of urine from in between your bathroom tiles. Make a paste of baking soda and water and clean with a toothbrush. Let site for about 30 minutes and wipe with a damp sponge. If the odor persists, repeat until the odor is gone.