Natural Cleaning: Bathroom

Other than the kitchen, the bathroom takes the most amount of time and work to clean since it has so many different types of surfaces and because, by its nature, it is a place that needs to be cleaned pretty often.

If you are like me and have boys, it is probably also one of your least favorite places to clean. Luckily, a checklist and some natural cleaners can make quick work of cleaning the bathroom.

Mirrors

Just like windows, mirrors can be cleaned with a 50/50 Vinegar and Water mix in a spray bottle and wiped with old rags from cut-up t-shirts or newspaper (paper towels leave a lot of residue with this method).

The easiest way, if you have them, is to use microfiber cloths (1 regular one wet, and one polishing one dry or just one regular wet one and one regular dry) to clean without the need for chemicals at all.

Counters, Tile, Shower, Tub

If you have it, you can use microfiber for all of these. I’ve even found it to be effective on soap scum in the shower.

If not, there are other natural options that work great too:

• A 50/50 Vinegar/water solution will clean tile, counters, cabinet fronts and soap scum in the shower
• A baking soda and water paste will clean stuck on gunk in the shower and tub (use vinegar instead of water for really tough stains).
• For grout, I sprinkle baking soda on the floor and spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a gentle toothbrush
• For stained tubs and really, really tough messes, this homemade scouring powder works great, though it isn’t needed for regular cleaning
• For wall tile, painted door frames, spots on the doors, outside of toilet, etc, my homemade all purpose cleaner will clean and disinfect

Toilets

About once  a week, I sprinkle some baking soda around the inside of the toilet to coat, then dump a cup of undiluted white vinegar into the water. I use a reusable toilet brush to scrub and the chemical reaction of the baking soda and vinegar removes stains and any lingering smell. This also works externally (I use on the bottom of the toilet and the floor) to remove that “boy” smell from bathrooms.

I’ve also found that the urine smell that can linger (especially with potty-training boys) is often hiding in the hinges of the toilet seat and under the bolt caps on the side of the toilet. At our house, these get removed every 2 weeks or so and thoroughly cleaned.

I finish up toilet cleaning with a spray and wipe down with undiluted hydrogen peroxide.

Air Freshening

Products like Febreeze and Lysol spray have a host of chemicals that can be really harmful, especially to children. To freshen the bathroom without the toxins, try these natural ideas:

• These two spray recipes from Keeper of the Home make easy and natural air freshening sprays
• Here is another recipe for an air freshener in a jar that you can use anywhere in the house that need freshening

Dyno-mom also has a great checklist that she uses with her kids and shares her schedule for making sure the bathroom stays clean.

How do you clean your bathroom? What is your least favorite room to clean? Let me know in the comments below!

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