You can keep the bathroom reasonably clean with a weekly onceover -- brush out the toilet, wipe down the sink, squeegee the shower -- but over time, the soap scum, mildew and mildew deposits accumulate. If you'd prefer not to clean yourself up in a room filled with dirty secrets, here are some suggestions to send them on their way.
The Shower
- If you can bear the thought of cleaning the grout -- and it will make your bathroom look a lot better -- make a paste of Oxi-Clean or automatic dishwasher detergent and apply it to the grout with a brush. When dry, rub it off with a terry washcloth or brush.
- Treat the shower stall so it'll have a Teflon-like resistance to soap scum. Use Bon-Ami or Barkeeper's Friend (both gentle abrasives) followed by rubbing alcohol, which will strip the tile of any residue. Then spray it with the cheapest furniture polish you can find (the cheaper brands usually have more silicone) or baby or mineral oil. Then buff.
- If hard water's your problem and you have a lot of streaking or a white film, you may need a lime-removing product such as Limeaway. Then apply Rainex to the glass shower enclosure, on tile, Formica (TM), sinks, faucets and even windows where hard water from sprinkler hits it -- any non-wood, non-painted surface. One application lasts for months.
- Rubber bath mat looking a little the worse for wear? Sponge on some whitewall tire cleaner. Leave it briefly, scrub with a brush, then rinse. Tire cleaner is also good on white thermoplastic shower stall floors.
- Throw the shower liner in the wash with a couple of bath towels, then hang it to dry. If the bottom of the liner hasn't come clean enough, you can always just trim off an inch or two.
- When the showerhead is clogged, you have to remove mineral deposits. A metal showerhead can be boiled in l/2 cup vinegar and l quart water. A plastic one should be soaked in vinegar and very hot water. But if you can't remove the showerhead, just pour the solution in a plastic bag, secure the bag over the shower head with a rubber band, and leave it in place for a few hours. The filter at the faucet may need a similar treatment.
The Medicine Cabinet
- And last but not least, give your medicine cabinet a checkup. Check medicine labels or the crimp on the tube for the expiration date and discard whatever you have to. Don't forget to check all patent medicines and sunscreens for their expiration dates as well.
