You don't have to throw your money away on expensive cleaning products for the bathroom.
Many of the brand name bathroom cleaning products contain bleach or other abrasive chemicals, which is a big no-no with chrome fittings, despite what it might say on the back of the bottle. If you leave bleach on for just a little too long you run the risk of discolouration and peeling, even with the very best fittings.
So what should you use to clean your bathroom? Well if soapy water or a non-abrasive cleaner just isn't cutting it, there are quite a number of inexpensive methods that you could try, and today we look at some of the more weird and wonderful suggestions.
Alka-Seltzer
Why does it work?
Alka-Seltzer contains both baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and citric acid that reacts to form sodium citrate and carbon dioxide gas. This effervescent reaction creates a strong enough acidic bubbling effect that it can displace a lot of dirt and grime that would normally be difficult to each using traditional cleaning methods.
What can it do?
- To clean your bathroom pipes, place three or four Alka-Seltzer tablets down the sink followed by around half a litre of white vinegar. After a few minutes, run some hot water down the sink to flush the remainder away.
- Alka-Seltzer tablets can also be used to clean your toilet bowl. Simply place a handful of tablets in the water of your toilet bowl, leave them for around an hour or so and then gently brush.
Cola
Why does it work?
Coca-Cola and other ‘Cola’ products contain a mixture of three acids: citric acid, tartaric acid and phosphoric acid. Each of these acids work together to remove common deposits in the household such as lime scale build-up. Cola normally contains a stronger concentration of phosphoric acid than traditional cleaning sprays, making it a fantastically quick and easy method of cleaning your bathroom on a budget.
What can it do?
- Some shower heads may get clogged up with calcium deposits over time and have limited water flow or be spraying the water in a different direction. Place the shower head into a freezer bag full of cola and tie the bag up with a cable tie. Leave it to soak for around an hour, giving it a shake every 20 minutes or so and then rinse with warm water to prevent it going sticky. For stubborn deposits, team this method with a quick scrub with a toothbrush or poke with a needle for the desired result.
- Pour around half of a 2 litre bottle of cola around a toilet bowl; allow to sit for around an hour and then gently brush. The acids in the cola should have had time to break down stubborn stains and residue within the toilet. When this is finished, flush your toilet to get rid of any remaining cola and enjoy.
Lemon Juice
Why does it work?
Tom Drake, DIY specialist at Drench advises that "using natural ingredients to clean your bathroom will ensure the finish of your taps stay in good condition. One of the best ingredients to use for cleaning bathrooms is lemon juice, as it will help to dissolve limescale and soap build up, and will also leave your bathroom with a refreshing smell."
Lemon juice simply contains a relatively strong level of citric acid that can dissolve common lime scale build up.
What can it do?
- Put a few tablespoons of lemon juice into a spray bottle and fill with water. Use this to clean your bathroom mirrors and windows to leave a streak-free finish as well as a pleasant citrus fragrance
- Over time, conventional household taps can build up calcium deposits on the spout. A quick clean with some lemon juice and a soft cloth can help dissolve these deposits and keep your taps gleaming. If you have chrome plated taps, be sure to rinse off all traces of lemon juice afterwards to make sure your finish stays intact.
Vinegar
Why does it work?
Vinegar is very acidic, which means it's able to remove many of the issues in our bathrooms such as limescale and soap scum. It's also relatively inexpensive and doesn't come with any of the nasty chemicals found in many bathroom cleaners.
What can it do?
- Similarly to cola, vinegar is great for removing stubborn dirt or limescale from shower heads. You'll need to fill a plastic bag, usually a sandwich bag, with vinegar and submerge your shower head for a few hours. Once you remove it your shower head should be sparkly clean. For more information, take a look at our guide to cleaning shower heads.
- Vinegar can also be used as a cost effective air freshener. Simply mix 1 tablespoon of vinegar, 1 tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and 1 cup of water into a spray bottle for a cheap air freshener which will help eliminate unpleasant odours. To give your homemade air freshener a pleasant smell, add a dash of one of your favourite essential oils.
