The bathroom is one of the most frequently-used rooms in any house, and it seems that germs and grime accumulate faster here, too. The good news is, most bathroom surfaces are easily sanitized and don’t actually require heavy chemicals to keep things clean and shiny. Keep in mind that antibacterial is not always a good thing and that your bathroom can be healthy and clean using less-toxic ingredients that still do the job. In fact, antibacterial ingredients in commercial cleaners probably do more harm than good. Some solid essential oils and the sizzling clean of baking soda and vinegar have worked for decades, and they work well for me, too.
Cleaning the bathroom will be time-consuming the first time, since you’ll want to do a hands-and-knees, every-nook-and-cranny clean, and you’ll probably also want to get on the stepladder and clean ceilings, vent fans, and light fixtures. Worktop to bottom, so any dust from the ceiling fixtures can later be swept up. Once you’ve finished cleaning, open any windows, turn on the fans, and let the room air out for a few hours if you can.Organizing the bathroom requires plenty of small organizers. I like to keep a usable amount of each item in my go-to place (such as the medicine cabinet), and store the rest of bulk packages in a less conspicuous place, such as in a basket on a shelf or in a cupboard. Glass and enamel containers create my personal favorite natural look in a bathroom, and are easy to clean and sanitize as opposed to fabric or woven bins. If you have kids, though, softer goods or painted and sealed wood make sense.
A SHOWER FOR YOUR SHOWER CURTAINS AND LINERS
Well, technically a bath. Most shower curtains and liners can be thrown in the washing machine every so often to get them nice and fresh. But a bath specifically made for them, with antimildew properties, will do an even better job. Give them a nice soak in the bathtub and let air dry if possible. A strong mixture of hydrogen peroxide and naturally antibacterial tea tree oil will cut through soap scum and mildew like a champ, and keep your shower curtain liner fresh in between washes.
• 1 cup hydrogen peroxide
• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup salt (any kind will do)
• 10–12 drops tea tree oil
To keep your shower curtain and liner in tip-top shape, give them a refreshing bath now and again. Fill the bathtub with a few inches of lukewarm water, then add all of the above ingredients. Agitate well for a few minutes, then leave to soak for half an hour. Rinse thoroughly. Air dry or throw in the dryer (bonus points if you use a linen spray or wool dryer ball to add scent).
RUST ARREST: SPOTS ON SHOWER CURTAIN AROUND METAL RINGS
Metal shower curtain rings look modern and sleek and come in many different finishes and styles. But they have a dirty secret: when exposed to the moisture of the shower over a long period of time, they begin to rust. And that rust transfers to the beautiful shower curtain they are holding up. Getting rust out of fabric isn’t the easiest task, but if you keep on top of it, you’ll be able to stop those rusty rings in their tracks. See page 71 for how to get the rust off the rings themselves and the shower bar if that’s becoming rusty, too. This process works for rust spots on any piece of fabric.
• Lemon
• Salt
• Lemon essential oil
To Use: Lay the curtain on top of a towel and use half the lemon, dipped in salt, to rub the rust stains. Top with a drop of lemon essential oil over the stain. Wash or soak, as usual, using the stain remover spray on page 131 as extra assurance if you wish.
RUST RELEASERS: GETTING RUST AND HARD WATER DEPOSITS OFF CHROME IN THE BATHROOM
Chrome is a popular choice for bathroom fixtures, particularly for shower-heads, medicine cabinets, and shower bars. But rust, calcium, and hard water will build up and create nasty rust that can be hard to release.
Shower Bars and Fixtures:
• Warm water
• Aluminum foil, cut into 3-inch x 3-inch squares
• Gloves (I like to use gloves when cleaning chrome just because I don’t like the feeling of aluminum foil in my hands and don’t like the idea of getting rust into a cut or scrape.)
Simply dip the aluminum foil in water and use it to rub the rust spots away. The chemical reaction between the two metals removes the rust. Don’t worry, the aluminum foil shouldn’t scratch your nice chrome fixtures because it is softer than the chrome finish. For any particularly pitted or rusted areas, crunch the aluminum foil into a ball. The extra-rough surfaces of the foil will help smooth out the pitted chrome. Then rinse completely. Use a dry cloth with a slight texture to buff the chrome using pressure and a circular motion to restore shine.
Showerhead:
• ¼ cup citrus vinegar
• 4 drops clove essential oil
Mix the two ingredients together in a plastic bag. Place over the shower-head and tie in place with a rubber band or hairband. Let sit for 20–30 minutes (but no longer). Remove the bag and solution. Use a clean toothbrush to scrub the area well and get all of the buildups out.
SHOWER CURTAIN LINER ANTIMILDEW SPRAY
This spray works for plastic shower curtains liners only. If you have a washable cotton liner with a water-resistant weave, be sure to wash it frequently to prevent mold and mildew spores from building up in the fabric. The soak above is perfect for those cloth liners, too. But if you still prefer to use plastic, this spray cuts down drastically on the number of times you’ll need to actually take the curtain down and give it a soak and scrub.
• 8 ounces hydrogen peroxide
• 15 drops tea tree oil
Fill a glass spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide and add 15 drops tea tree oil. Shake well before using.
To Use: Spray shower curtain liberally and frequently, whether dry or wet.
Extra Tip: Keep the shower curtain pulled fully taut/closed when not in use. This helps prevent water from getting trapped in the folds of the curtain, a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
POLISHED PORCELAIN POWDER FOR BATHTUBS AND SINKS
If you’re lucky enough to have a porcelain bathtub or sink, you’ll want to take good care of it to avoid pitting and staining. Once the porcelain is compromised, which happens both through daily use and toxic chemical abuse, it gets stained much more quickly and is harder to keep clean. Take good care of the parts that are still well-glazed, and reglaze if the staining and pitting become too heavy. And most of all, avoid bleach and toxic chemicals or anything heavily abrasive. Yes, pouring bleach onto the stained parts will help momentarily. But it only lasts for a little while and causes more damage. Vinegar and baking soda, along with some essential oils and a little scrubbing, will get even stained spots brighter. The addition of geranium and sweet orange creates one of my favorite bathroom scents, but feel free to choose your own blend.
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Vinegar
• Warm water
• Geranium essential oil
• Sweet orange essential oil
Mix together 2 cups baking soda and ½ cup salt. Wipe the sink or bathtub completely clean with a sponge and warm water. Spray the entire basin well with warm water so the baking soda will adhere. Sprinkle liberally with baking soda and salt mixture. Give it a nice thick layer. If your bathtub is extra-large or deep you may need to mix up more baking soda and salt.
In a small spray bottle, mix together half vinegar and half warm water, with a few drops of each essential oil. Spray the baking soda mix well with vinegar to get it thoroughly soaked. Let sit for at least 20 minutes, if not longer. You should see the baking soda start to take on a brownish tint from absorbing grime. Spray more vinegar if necessary, but it’s ok if the paste dries out a little. Then, use a stiff brush (do not use stainless steel bristles or pads) to scour the baking soda/salt mixture well and really get some muscle behind it to get that porcelain gleaming. Rinse thoroughly. If there are still any trouble spots, repeat the process. Then give it one last shine with the vinegar and essential oil spray. It should be shiny and glowing.
SO-LONG SOAP SCUM SPRAY AND SCRUB: CLEANING ACRYLIC, PLASTIC, AND GLASS WITH SOAP SCUM
Many insert showers and bathtubs are made from molded acrylic. These are easy to clean when they are brand new and have their coating still in place, and before they collect any soap scum. But eventually the wipe-clean properties deteriorate and soap scum builds up, making acrylic showers a pain to get completely clean. Preventative care is ideal, with a vinegar and essential oil post-shower/bath spray that prevents soap buildup. But once the soap scum is there, you’ll need something a bit stronger to cut through it. Since we’re not using toxic chemicals, that something stronger means you—you’ll have to use some muscles to scrub, but you won’t be going it alone. The foaming action of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda will release most of the grime.
Mildew and Soap Scum Prevention Spray
• 2 cups Citrus Vinegar
• 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
• 25 drops lemon essential oil
Combine ingredients in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Shake well. Spray shower and bathtub liberally with this mixture after each use.
Soap Scum Scrub
• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup table salt
• Warm water
• Hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle
Mix the salt and baking soda together in a small bowl. Spray the surface well with warm water. Sprinkle liberally with the baking soda mix. For vertical surfaces, add the water to the baking soda and salt to make a paste, and rub the paste on the area. Spray to saturate with hydrogen peroxide. Let sit for 15 minutes. Scrub well using a soft scrub brush or sponge. Use a toothbrush to get into tricky areas, such as shower doors and around drains. Rinse well.
Bathroom mirrors become so quickly streaked with flying toothpaste, lotion, face wash, and the detritus of flossing. You might want to clean the mirror daily, or even twice daily, depending on how shiny you like it to remain. A lot of commercial “green” glass cleaners contain soap, which leaves a residue. There’s no need to add soap to glass cleaner unless the glass actually has dirt on it, as might be the case with outdoor windows. The addition of rubbing alcohol in this recipe cuts drying time down and prevents water spots.
• 2 cups distilled or boiled and cooled water
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
• 6 drops lemon essential oil
• 12 drops lime essential oil
Add all ingredients to a 20-ounce spray bottle. Shake well before each use.
To Use: Spray on and wipe off with a soft cloth, using circular motions top-to-bottom.
SHINY FAUCETS IN A FLASH: FAUCET & DRAIN CLEANING PASTE
Faucet spouts and handles can get some major soap scum and mineral deposits from hard water, too. This recipe foams up to get into all of the small areas that are tough to clean with just a rag. Use a cotton swab, too, for seams and under faucet handles, and don’t forget to get the solution up into the faucet itself. You can also add the hydrogen peroxide and peppermint essential oil to a small baggie and do the same faucet cleaning method as the shower head cleaner recipe.
• Baking soda
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Peppermint essential oil
• Rubbing alcohol
Wipe the faucet and drain with warm water. Sprinkle liberally with baking soda. Spray hydrogen peroxide onto all of the baking soda, and add a few drops peppermint oil on top. Let foam for 15–20 minutes. Wipe clean with warm water and a rag, scrubbing a bit if necessary. Saturate a corner of a new rag with rubbing alcohol and give the entire surface a wipe. Let air dry.
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