There are some things that we all hate to do, but we do them anyway because we don’t have a choice. Cleaning the bathroom tops this list! But if you work with a plan—and know the easiest and most efficient way to tackle the grime—it need not be the worst chore in the world.
Here are some cleaning tips and hacks that will keep your bathroom tiles looking as good as the day they were laid!
Here’s What You Will Need
Before you start, keep all the equipment you need in one place.
- A broom and dustpan for dry sweeping
- A mop
- Long-handled brush to clean floors
- Hand-held brush to clean walls
- Toothbrush to clean joints and grout
- Squeegee
- Several dry microfiber cloths
- Vinegar, lime juice, baking soda, salt to make organic cleaning solution (you can make your own with the instructions given below!)
- Non-acidic disinfectant
DIY Cleaning Solutions
For stains: In a clean and dry spray bottle, measure out equal parts of clean drinking water and white vinegar. Spray on the stain, and let it soak well for a minute. Scrub the affected area with a toothbrush till the stain disappears, and wash with water.
For hard water stains: Rub a generous amount of table salt on the hard water stain and scour well. Let it sit for an hour before rinsing. If there is still a mark, use the vinegar and water mix as described above.
For removing grime on tiles: Mix half a cup of baking soda, and half a cup of lemon juice in half a bucket of clean warm water. Dip a sponge in this solution and scrub the tiles as hard as you can. Rinse with water and wipe clean.
To clean grout between tiles: Take equal parts of white vinegar and clean drinking water in a bowl. Use a toothbrush to scrub this mixture into the grout. After 15 minutes, wash well with water.
To remove mold: Apply concentrated vinegar solution directly on the mold-infested area. Leave for an hour, and wipe it clean with a microfiber cloth.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
If your bathroom tiles are made of marble or any other porous natural stone, then do not use even the mildest form of vinegar solution or lemon juice, as they are both acidic. These solutions can cause pits on the surface of the marble.
Mild dish soap and water are suitable solutions for cleaning marble tiles. To remove stains on marble, you can use a 12% hydrogen peroxide solution and water.
Also note that the surface of marble tiles should always be re-sealed every few years.
It is safe to use vinegar on ceramic tiles, vitrified tiles, or non-porous granite.
Let’s Begin!
Now that you have all the equipment you need and the DIY cleaning solutions at hand, let’s get started!
Step 1: Start by dusting every surface. Start from the top of the room, and work your way below. Use a duster or a microfiber cloth that will pick up dust and hair easily. Sweep or vacuum away all the dust.
Step 2: Run a hot shower, and leave it running for five minutes. The water vapour will loosen all the grime on the tiles.
Step 3: Use your DIY cleaners to first remove hard water and all other stains from the wall tiles.
Step 4: Check for mold in all the corners and edges of the tiles. Look everywhere, even below the counter. If you find any signs of mold, spray strong vinegar and wipe it clean after an hour.
Step 5: Next, clean the grout using a toothbrush and a half and half solution of vinegar and water. Leave for 15 minutes and wash well.
Step 6: Use a solution of baking soda, lime juice and warm water to scrub the grime off the surface of the tiles. Use a brush with hard bristles. Make sure that you start from one end and cover every inch of the wall. Follow a pattern so that you don’t miss any tiles.
Step 7: Once the wall tiles are done, use a hand shower to spray down with water. Wipe clean with a microfiber cloth.
Step 8: Repeat the same process on the floor tiles as well, removing stains, checking for mold, cleaning the grout and then finally removing the grime from the tiles.
As you keep cleaning, you may need to rinse the brush and clean your wet cloths often.
Step 9: Once both the wall tiles and the floor tiles are clean, use a disinfectant liquid on all the surfaces, and again wipe down with another clean cloth.
Step 10: Now you can stand back and admire your handiwork!
Tips to Keep in Mind
- This might seem obvious, but always follow the steps listed above. If you don’t dust the bathroom first, you might find that after all your hard work, your newly washed and cleaned tiles are coated with a film of dust!
- Again, make sure that you start from the top and work your way down. This will eliminate redundant work.
- Mold grows in damp, humid conditions. Always run the exhaust fan while you are having a bath, and continue running it till the bathroom is completely dry.
- Sunlight is the best disinfectant. If possible, leave the bathroom windows open and let the sunshine stream in!
- Keeping some indoor plants inside the bathroom will help to keep the air smelling fresh, and will regulate the humidity in the air so as to prevent formation of mold.
- Set up a cleaning routine, and make sure you stick to it. If the dirt and grime builds up, it can get very hard to remove. A deep clean once a week should be good enough to keep your bathroom sparkling clean and shining.
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