Conventional bathroom cleaners that you can buy from the store can be a bit of a gamble, even the ones that claim to be a “natural” or “green” cleaning product. Despite what the packaging of these products might portray, according to the American Lung Association, a large number of cleaning products release volatile organic compounds and other harmful chemicals that cause negative reactions such as headaches, eye, and throat irritation, and even more serious health issues, including cancer.
There’s no compelling reason to clean your home with ingredients that compromise your health. Even your bathroom can be effectively cleaned without the use of harsh chemicals. Here is how you can do it!
Shower and Tub
Clean and Brighten with Baking Soda and All-Natural Dish Soap
1. Create a paste, using a combination of baking soda and all-natural dish soap (like this fragrance-free, plant-based soap from Biokleen). If you have a fragrance sensitivity, we always recommend that you steer clear of any products that contain artificial fragrances.
2. Use the paste with a sponge or cloth to scrub away soap scum on your tub’s tile, as well as your shower door.
3. Use the paste with a toothbrush to scrub away the grout.
Wash a Vinyl/Plastic Shower Curtain
1. Put the curtain in the washing machine with a couple of towels. The towels will help wipe the scum off during the wash cycle.
2. Instead of detergent, substitute a half cup of baking soda and three tablespoons of distilled, white vinegar.
Clean Shower Mold with Vinegar
1. Put distilled, white vinegar in a clean, empty spray bottle.
2. Spray directly onto the mold, and let the area dry. The spray is going to loosen the mold, and because vinegar is a natural disinfectant, the spray will also kill bacteria.
3. Once the area is dry, spray it one more time, and then wipe it clean.
Toilet
Chlorine bleach is one of several cleaning supplies that made it onto the American Lung Association’s “naughty list” of household products. Instead of using bleach to clean your throne, try this.
1. Combine a tablespoon of baking soda with a half cup of distilled, white vinegar.
2. Pour this mixture into your toilet. Let it sit for 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Scrub the mixture around the inside of your toilet bowl with a toilet brush.
Vanity
Remove Scum from the Sink and Counter
1. Combine two cups of baking soda, one cup of water, a half-cup of all-natural dish soap, and a half cup of distilled, white vinegar. Place the mixture in a clean, empty spray bottle.
2. Spritz over the areas you want to clean, and wipe with a cloth.
Polish the Faucet
1. Make a paste with equal parts baking soda and water.
2. Rub the paste over the faucet and its handles with a cloth or soft sponge (nothing too abrasive).
3. Rinse away the paste with water, and dry with a clean cloth.
Remove Streaks and Spots from the Mirror
1. Make a solution with equal parts water and distilled white vinegar, and place it in a clean, empty spray bottle.
2. Spray directly onto the streaks or spots you want to remove and wipe with a cloth.
Don’t forget: the pipes in your plumbing system also need a good cleaning from time to time! At EZ Flow Plumbing, we offer top-of-the-line drain clearing services at a rate that’s hard to beat. Contact us about our $69 drain clearing promotion (available for a limited time only)!