We all hate bathroom chores. But let’s face it, if we don’t stay on top of it, it can get nasty, fast. It doesn’t take all the name-brand cleaners to get the job done. In fact, getting your bathroom to sparkle can be achieved with just a little elbow grease and some homemade concoctions.
Tip #1:
Clean the tub/shower while you are IN the tub/shower.
Pick a wall and scrub it before you wash. The next time you shower, clean the next wall, and so on. Your tub will always be getting clean and you get to rinse off when you’re done! (Granted, I never did it this way when I was cleaning other people’s houses!)
Tip #2:
Keep your tools handy– ideally in the shower.
The supplies you need are practical and if you can be either tolerant of seeing them every day or creative in hiding them, they can easily be kept in your shower for easy, daily access.
• a scrunchy-scrubby-thingy (top right-most dollar stores sell these 2 for $1)
• an old toothbrush (emphasis on “old” – you won’t want to brush your teeth with this one ever again!
• natural shampoo or baking soda – whichever method you use for cleaning your hair
• old cup (not pictured)
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Tip #3:
Use your tools appropriately.
The scrunchy should be used for flat surfaces. The toothbrush should be used in corners, cracks, and seams. If you have tile in your tub area, I suggest using the scrunchy first because it will get some of the ick out of small places, but the toothbrush is a necessity for getting into the nitty-gritty spots.
Another item I love is a squeegee.
This is great for ridding your walls and floor of standing water which encourages mold and mildew. Not a necessity, but it can be a priceless asset to your supply stash!
Tip #4.
Flushing the Water in the Pipes.
Flushing the pipes won’t prevent bacteria from growing inside them but might delay the buildup of biofilm by reducing the level of debris in the remaining bathwater in the pipes after using the jets.
1. Fill the tub with hot water.
2. Run the jets for 10 to 15 minutes to reduce the levels of remaining soap scum, hair, body oils, dead skin, etc.
3. Drain the tub.
If you have visible buildup inside the holes of the jet itself, it might be easiest to simply grab an old toothbrush or a long-handled soft brush and gently scrub inside the jet with a bit of shampoo to remove any accumulated oils. Make a point to inspect the holes when you have your next bath and do a routine wipe down to avoid this from becoming a problem.
Tip #5.
Deodorizing Your Bathtub Jets
Vinegar is a very effective odor neutralizer and cleaner. Vinegar is a mild acid that will help to kill mold and mildew but it’s not nearly as effective as chlorine bleach. Vinegar is less likely to irritate the skin as bleach will if not completely removed from the tub.
Because vinegar is an acid it reduces hard water spots left from minerals in the water and softens soap scum which will make cleaning the bathtub itself easier.
Do not add any soap, detergent, baking soda, or any other solution when using vinegar. These substances are alkaline and at the very least will counteract the effectiveness of cleaning with vinegar, to begin with. On the more serious side, certain cleaners may react with the vinegar and produce toxic fumes which can be very harmful to your health.
1. Fill the tub with hot water.
2. Add 1 gallon of plain white vinegar.
3. Run the tub as instructed above under “removing mold and mildew”.
Now Enjoy Your Clean Whirlpool / Jacuzzi Bathtub.
Nothing feels as good as a job well done! A relaxing bath with candles and a few drops of essential oils sounds like a treat to me.
