Cleaning Hacks for the Bathroom: 27 Ways to Stay Ahead of the Grime – Greatist

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Your bathroom gets a lot of action. One minute its tidy, the next its a mess so its probably not your favorite room in the house to clean.

But were of the mind that when kept neat, this personal space can actually be an oasis a place to disconnect and recharge while you shower, soak in the bath, or stand in front of the mirror for your daily pep talk.

So instead of letting your anxiety about cleaning this well-visited space build up until you have to do a serious, time-consuming deep clean, we suggest staying ahead of the grime and clutter with little weekly or daily cleaning habits like the ones below.

Here, weve rounded up the cleverest cleaning hacks for each part of your bathroom plus how often you should do each one.

Some of whats inside

Here are a few of the bathroom cleaning secrets were excited to let you in on:

Even though your toilet is one of the germiest places in your house, you dont actually need pricey products to make it gleam. Heres what we mean.

Frequency: Once a week

This hack is great for those trying to switch to natural cleaning products. Combine 1 part baking soda and 1 part white vinegar. Pour the mixture in and around the bowl, using your toilet brush to push it up under the rim. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then scrub and rinse clean.

If you build this into your weekly routine, youll stay ahead of the buildup and wont need to intervene with harsh products.

Frequency: After every use

You know how, over time, that little puddle of disgusting water accumulates at the bottom of your toilet brush holder? Avoid this ick factor by letting your toilet brush drip dry after you use it.

An easy way to do this is to close the toilet seat and lid onto the handle of the brush so the brush part is hanging over the bowl.

Frequency: Daily

Cleaning with baking soda is so effective because baking soda is abrasive. This means you can also use it cut down on toilet bowl cleanings. Simply sprinkle a dash of it into the bowl daily.

Bonus tip: Find a cute salt or pepper shaker to fill with baking soda and leave it within reach of your loo.

Your shower should be a Zen place. Its where you wash away the day, not to mention where you sing your best. Luckily, there are easy ways to keep it spick-and-span.

Frequency: Once a week

Glass showers exude luxury, but theyre also notorious for pesky lime deposits. Luckily, you probably have something in your pantry that can beat the grime: black tea!

Using two or three tea bags, make hot tea in a bowl. Let it cool enough so that you can dip a microfiber towel into it. Then watch in awe as it cuts right through the film.

Frequency: Every time you shower

Wiping down shower walls with a squeegee after each shower is a common practice in Scandinavian countries, where the water is rich in calcium and leaves a white residue. It takes just a few seconds and will drastically cut down on how often you have to scrub the lime from your shower walls.

Frequency: Every time you shower

Is there anything vinegar cant fix? We think not. If you want to work through grime in your shower, keep a mixture of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water in a spray bottle in the bathroom. Spritz the walls generously after each shower, and youll soon notice a mega difference.

Frequency: Whenever you notice buildup

If you have grout between tiles or in other nooks and crannies in your shower that are tricky to scrub, baking soda may be the answer. To start, wet your shower and sprinkle all the problematic areas with baking soda. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and then scrub with an old toothbrush.

Frequency: Once every 2 weeks

Fess up: When was the last time you washed your shower curtain? If you cant remember, heres your gentle reminder to add it to your next load of laundry.

To eliminate the mildew, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your laundry detergent. Run the machine on its hottest cycle, and then add 1/2 cup of white vinegar right before the rinse cycle starts.

Frequency: Once a month

Another item in your shower that you likely dont clean enough is your showerhead. Were all guilty of neglecting it, but it does need occasional attention.

To give the showerhead a thorough clean, remove it and place it in a bowl full of white vinegar. If its super gunked-up, add some baking soda. If your showerhead doesnt detach, fill a plastic bag with the same mixture and secure it with a rubber band. Either way, let it soak for an hour, and then rinse.

Frequency: Whenever you see lime deposits build up

For quick spot cleans and buildup removal, a Magic Eraser is a miracle worker. Because a Magic Eraser is activated by water, its handy to keep one in the shower to use when youre finished.

Thanks to stray hairs, leftover toothpaste, and makeup residue, sinks get dirty fast. Keep them clean with these methods.

Frequency: Whenever you notice deposits

First things first: If you have a porcelain or ceramic sink, scrub away any dirt with soap, water, and a sponge. Then, line your sink with paper towels soaked in white vinegar and let them sit for 30 minutes before rinsing.

Frequency: Once a week

Theres no trick to it: Just cut a lemon in half and rub it over all the chrome parts of your sink (and your shower!). Rinse it off, and then buff with a towel. Magic!

Frequency: Once a week, or whenever buildup appears

For faucets that need a deeper clean, sprinkle baking soda on the chrome. Then, wet an old toothbrush and scrub it clean. Rinse when youre done.

Frequency: Once a week

For those hard-to-reach spots in your sink, you may need an even smaller tool. Consider wrapping a cloth around the tip of a chopstick to get into even the tiniest areas. If theres tons of gunk, sprinkle the area being cleaned with water and baking soda first for an extra-deep clean.

Frequency: Once a week

Cooking spray does more than grease your grill or frying pan it can also shine those faucets to look brand new. Its easy: Spritz, then wipe down with a rag.

From soothing sore muscles to catching up on me-time to diving into a book, baths are a time to recover. To ensure your tub time is spa-like, keep it sparkly with these tricks.

Frequency: As needed

Clogged drain got you down? Tums to the rescue! Drop four tablets and 1/2 cup of white vinegar down the drain. Leave it for 10 minutes before pouring boiling water over top.

Note: This probably wont work on clogs involving hair youll likely need a snake for that task.

Frequency: Once every 2 weeks

Truth be told, you can use any type of citrus fruit to clean your tub, but grapefruit is ideal since itll cover more surface area.

To start, splash water all over your tub and the walls surrounding it. Cut the grapefruit in half and sprinkle each half with coarse sea salt. Then, scrub every inch before rinsing.

Frequency: Whenever you see lime deposits start to build up

Fun fact: Oil cuts through lime deposits! Pull out that cooking spray again and give your tub a good spray. Rinse with very hot water.

Giving the mirrors and windows in your bathroom some weekly love can make all the difference especially if you or someone you live with brushes their teeth vigorously!

Frequency: Once every 2 weeks (or after every each mirror cleaning)

Apply a thin layer over the entire mirror, and then wipe off with a cloth. This will keep your mirror from becoming cloudy for 2 weeks or until you wash it off with glass cleaner.

Frequency: Once a week

To keep the windows transparent and sparkly, combine 2 parts white vinegar and 1 part rubbing alcohol and use a microfiber cloth to clean the glass with this mixture. For the best results, clean at a time when direct sunlight isnt hitting the glass, so you can better look out for streaks.

Yes, your bathroom trash can needs a little TLC from time to time or every time you take out the trash! Here are some hacks.

Frequency: Whenever you take out the trash

When you remove the plastic trash bag, rinse the can with warm water, and then sprinkle baking soda on the bottom. This will help prevent an unwanted stench.

Frequency: Only once!

Is there anything more annoying than a trash bag that falls into the bin, creating a big mess? To the rescue are 3M Command hooks that ensure the bag stays in place.

Frequency: Whenever you take out the trash

Choose your favorite essential oil and drip 10 drops onto 3 cotton balls. Then, place them in the bottom of your trash can. Repeat this each time you take out the trash.

To go the extra mile, these mind-blowing tricks will really upgrade your bathroom experience. Challenge yourself to try one per month!

Frequency: Once a month

Did you know that rice naturally absorbs smells and soaks up moisture in the air? To help prevent mildew and odors, add 2 cups of rice and 10 drops of an essential oil to a wide-mouthed mason jar. Cover the jar with thin fabric or cheesecloth and place it in your bathroom.

Frequency: As needed

Out of baking soda? No prob. Simply crush some aspirin and combine it with water to create an abrasive paste.

Frequency: As needed

To get extra crafty, you can take that cheap toothbrush and melt it into any shape you need to reach small areas of your bathroom. Just boil it, and then while wearing protective gloves! bend it into the shape you need.

Frequency: As needed

Rather than throw away an old kitchen sponge, repurpose it for cleaning the bathroom. This is a small way to cut back on waste and save money. Just cut off one corner, so you dont get it confused with a new sponge!

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Cleaning Hacks for the Bathroom: 27 Ways to Stay Ahead of the Grime - Greatist