A cleaning tip, or two, that you may find useful. As I say on my Web page, these are tips that have been emailed to me, or that I have found on the Internet. I have not tried all of them and do NOT guarantee their effectiveness. If you do try one and it works, or if you have another one that works for you, please let me know.
Bathroom Odors: Place an opened box of baking soda behind the toilet to absorb bathroom odors.
Did you know that these charcoal and vinegar (separately, NOT combined together) can also help to eliminate household odors? I found this information as I was searching for more ways to eliminate odors.
CHARCOAL: Activated charcoal (such as that used in fish aquariums) is a great way to absorb and remove almost any offensive odor. Place a dish of it on the floor or hang it from a bag year round to help keep your lower level odor-free.
I think this is an idea worth trying. You could easily make a little sachet bag, or buy one, and put some of the activated charcoal into it to absorb odors. Be sure to sew it closed, and that the little ones don't get into it.
I think this is an idea worth trying. You could easily make a little sachet bag, or buy one, and put some of the activated charcoal into it to absorb odors. Be sure to sew it closed, and that the little ones don't get into it.
VINEGAR: Mix two cups vinegar to one half cup water and pour into a saucepan. Simmer until the liquid is almost gone. The vinegar will help to clean and deodorize the air in your home.
Although this will probably clear the kitchen and any nearby rooms of odor it probably won't do much good for your bathroom, which is probably located in another area of your home. However, as I was reading about eliminating odors I also read that you could clean the walls and counters and cabinets of your bathroom with a vinegar and water solution.
Once every few months, pour a mixture of 2 parts vinegar to one part baking soda down the drain. This keeps it clean and fresh-smelling. To keep hair and other particles from clogging the drain, invest in a “drain-catch,” a small piece of perforated metal or plastic that fits over the drain hole and catches particles while allowing water to run down freely.
Of course, if you are giving your bathroom a thorough cleaning and want to eliminate germs and bacteria, I still believe that good ol' bleach and water is the best way to clean. Just be sure that the room is well ventilated and that small children stay out of the room while you are cleaning.
It certainly isn't going to do much good to go in and try to eliminate odors from a dirty bathroom. So start off with a good cleaning. The following is a good way to get this nasty job done effectively.
First, gather the cleaners and items that you need to complete the job. You will want to get a two gallon bucket, a toilet brush, a scrub brush, an old toothbrush, sponges, bleach OR ammonia, water, a mildew remover such as TILEX or whatever bathtub cleaner you prefer, and rubber gloves to protect your hands.
When it comes to sponges you will need 2, one for the sink and tub and another one for the toilet. First, go to the kitchen and check the one you use there. Getting old? Down grade it to the one you will use for the bathroom sink and tub. Now down grade the sink and and tub sponge for toilet cleaning.
The first thing you want to do is to spray the bathtub and shower down with the mildew remover and let it sit for a few minutes. Make sure that the bathroom is well ventilated for the fumes that the cleaners will cause.
After you spray down the bathtub and shower, you want to move to the toilet. In the bucket, mix two parts water to one part of bleach OR ammonia. Never mix bleach and ammonia together, this is very harmful. Pick one as your preference and stick with it throughout the entire bathroom.
Put the rubber gloves on and pour a little of the mixture into the toilet. Take the sponge and dip it into the bucket of the mixture and wipe down the rim of the toilet and the seat. Also wipe the outside of the bowl and the base of the toilet. Make sure to also wipe the area behind the seat, especially if you have boys and men in the house. Take the toilet brush and begin to scrub the inside of the toilet. Rinse your sponge as needed and then rinse in fresh water and re-wipe the entire area to remove the chemicals. Flush the toilet and that, the hardest and most disgusting part of cleaning your bathroom, is done. THROW AWAY THE TOILET SPONGE.
Then move to the sink and again take your other sponge and dip it into your bucket. Wipe down the entire counter, faucet, and sink. Rinse the sponge in the bucket as needed and then rinse in fresh water and re-wipe the entire area to once again remove any of the chemicals. Take the old toothbrush and dip it into your bucket. Scrub any areas around the faucet and sink to remove any mildew that may be hiding in any small places. Then rinse with fresh water. Wipe down with a clean dry rag.
Take your sponge and re-dip again in the mixture in the bucket. Ring out and wipe down the baseboards. Rinse in fresh water, ring out and re-wipe baseboards to remove any chemicals.
Now go back to your bathtub and shower that you have already sprayed down with mildew remover. Most of the work should be all done for you. There may be some soap scum build up left and for that you will need your bucket of cleaner and your scrub brush. Take the scrub brush and begin to gently scrub the entire tub and walls. Re-dip when needed. Once all the tub and walls and curtain and/or doors are scrubbed clean, take the old toothbrush out again and dip into the mixture. Scrub the faucet and drain areas. Pour out mixture in the bucket and fill with fresh water. Begin to rinse the tub and shower down to remove the chemicals. Then take another dry clean rag and wipe any water off the walls and floor of the tub and shower. You're done!
It sounds like a lot of work, but once you've done it a couple of times, you will get into a routine and cleaning your bathroom will no longer feel like that huge, dreaded chore. If you follow this routine to disinfect and sanitize your bathroom, you will only need to do this about once every other week. Be sure to always rinse the sink after you're done using it and wipe down the shower or tub after every use, this to will help prolong your initial cleaning.
You can make cleaning the toilet easier by prepping it. Pouring ½ cup bleach into the bowl and allowing it to sit for several hours or overnight will “magically” clean the bowl of mildew and rust spots. Once the bleach has worked it’s magic, simply use the scrub brush to clean under the rim and around the bowl. Another “old-time” suggestion is to pour half a can of Coca-Cola in the bowl and let it sit for several hours. The citric acid in the cola reportedly breaks down mold enzymes and allows you to easily wash the stains away.
When it comes to sponges you will need 2, one for the sink and tub and another one for the toilet. First, go to the kitchen and check the one you use there. Getting old? Down grade it to the one you will use for the bathroom sink and tub. Now down grade the sink and and tub sponge for toilet cleaning.
The first thing you want to do is to spray the bathtub and shower down with the mildew remover and let it sit for a few minutes. Make sure that the bathroom is well ventilated for the fumes that the cleaners will cause.
After you spray down the bathtub and shower, you want to move to the toilet. In the bucket, mix two parts water to one part of bleach OR ammonia. Never mix bleach and ammonia together, this is very harmful. Pick one as your preference and stick with it throughout the entire bathroom.
Put the rubber gloves on and pour a little of the mixture into the toilet. Take the sponge and dip it into the bucket of the mixture and wipe down the rim of the toilet and the seat. Also wipe the outside of the bowl and the base of the toilet. Make sure to also wipe the area behind the seat, especially if you have boys and men in the house. Take the toilet brush and begin to scrub the inside of the toilet. Rinse your sponge as needed and then rinse in fresh water and re-wipe the entire area to remove the chemicals. Flush the toilet and that, the hardest and most disgusting part of cleaning your bathroom, is done. THROW AWAY THE TOILET SPONGE.
Then move to the sink and again take your other sponge and dip it into your bucket. Wipe down the entire counter, faucet, and sink. Rinse the sponge in the bucket as needed and then rinse in fresh water and re-wipe the entire area to once again remove any of the chemicals. Take the old toothbrush and dip it into your bucket. Scrub any areas around the faucet and sink to remove any mildew that may be hiding in any small places. Then rinse with fresh water. Wipe down with a clean dry rag.
Take your sponge and re-dip again in the mixture in the bucket. Ring out and wipe down the baseboards. Rinse in fresh water, ring out and re-wipe baseboards to remove any chemicals.
Now go back to your bathtub and shower that you have already sprayed down with mildew remover. Most of the work should be all done for you. There may be some soap scum build up left and for that you will need your bucket of cleaner and your scrub brush. Take the scrub brush and begin to gently scrub the entire tub and walls. Re-dip when needed. Once all the tub and walls and curtain and/or doors are scrubbed clean, take the old toothbrush out again and dip into the mixture. Scrub the faucet and drain areas. Pour out mixture in the bucket and fill with fresh water. Begin to rinse the tub and shower down to remove the chemicals. Then take another dry clean rag and wipe any water off the walls and floor of the tub and shower. You're done!
It sounds like a lot of work, but once you've done it a couple of times, you will get into a routine and cleaning your bathroom will no longer feel like that huge, dreaded chore. If you follow this routine to disinfect and sanitize your bathroom, you will only need to do this about once every other week. Be sure to always rinse the sink after you're done using it and wipe down the shower or tub after every use, this to will help prolong your initial cleaning.
You can make cleaning the toilet easier by prepping it. Pouring ½ cup bleach into the bowl and allowing it to sit for several hours or overnight will “magically” clean the bowl of mildew and rust spots. Once the bleach has worked it’s magic, simply use the scrub brush to clean under the rim and around the bowl. Another “old-time” suggestion is to pour half a can of Coca-Cola in the bowl and let it sit for several hours. The citric acid in the cola reportedly breaks down mold enzymes and allows you to easily wash the stains away.
Hmm, I started off with a simple tip about bathroom odors and ended up with a whole entry about cleaning the one room that we all hate to clean. I say "we", lol, ME! ME! ME! I hate cleaning the bathroom. Yuk! Gross! Ew! Just Ewwwwww! LMBO!
Although, at the moment I am thinking about going and giving the nasty little space a thorough going over. OH! I almost forgot, since I was doing this tip today, I wanted to "pimp" a product that I recently bought over the holidays.
I bought one of those Air Wick automatic room freshners and I think it is the neatest little thing. If you click on the Air Wick link you can go check out what I am talking about and you can even find a link there to print out a coupon for one. I set mine to spray every 36 minutes, except when wehave people over. Then I set it to spray every 9 minutes. I absolutely love this little gadget. It seemed a little expensive when first buying the kit, but it was definitely worth the investment. Even Ray commented on it.
Well, that just about covers it, I think. As usual, if you have any easy cleaning tips or little tricks that you use, please share them with us. Me? I'm off to clean my bathroom.
Have a great day.
Hugs!
1 comment:
i hate the bathroom too but found these tips wonderful. I am not an "organized" cleaner. so this type of tip is great to me!
enjoy your day and that sparkling clean bathroom!
Tina
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