Clean Sweep
Forget those bathroom-cleaning supplies you find at the store. They’re often filled with chemicals that do more harm than good. Instead, look for natural products that do an even better job at a fraction of the price.
Forget those bathroom-cleaning supplies you find at the store. They’re often filled with chemicals that do more harm than good. Instead, look for natural products that do an even better job at a fraction of the price.
Is your bathtub covered with an unpleasant white film? It’s likely soap residue, and not all commercial products can remove it easily. But not to worry; cut a lemon in half and rub it wherever there’s soap scum.
If the scum is stubborn, sprinkle some Kosher salt on the lemon half and then scrub the tub. Leave it for half an hour, rinse it, and marvel at how sparkly it is.
Another way to use citrus to clean your bathroom is in a spray. Slice a lemon or orange and put it in a spray bottle. Add 2 cups of vinegar (which should fill the bottle halfway) and 2 cups of water. Leave the lemons in the solution a week before removing them. Voila! Citrusy smell and clean bathroom!
Watch the magic of combining baking soda and vinegar with this natural toilet cleaner. Simply pour one cup of vinegar and one cup of baking soda into your toilet bowl. Let them sit and foam to remove the dirt before using your toilet brush to finish the job.
Hate the streaks the blue stuff leaves? Make your own mirror cleaner. In a spray bottle, combine ¼ cup vinegar, 2 ½ cups water, ½ teaspoon dish soap, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Spray and wipe with a soft cloth.
If your bathroom has older faucets that get tarnished, or you have other metal fixtures in your bathroom, combine the juice of half a lemon and two teaspoons of baking soda. Apply to the tarnished fixture and wipe off after a few minutes.
If your bathroom linens smell funky, spruce them up with your DIY linen spray. Add 3 ounces of plain vodka or rubbing alcohol to a spray bottle, combined with 1½ cups of distilled water. Add in 15 drops of lavender essential oil, and spray your linens before putting them away.
Vinegar and baking soda can also help you unclog a sink. Pour one cup of baking soda into your drain, followed by half a cup of vinegar. Cover the drain with a plate. After 30 minutes, run hot water down the drain.
Another overpriced thing you never need to buy at the store is hand soap. And the benefit of making your own is that you can add your favorite scent. Add ¼ cup of liquid Castile soap to a soap dispenser. Add two squirts of a carrier oil like almond or jojoba oil, along with 10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil. Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water.
If your tub needs a little extra elbow grease, don’t buy Comet; you can make your own scrub. Make a paste from 1 teaspoon of liquid soap, a cup of baking soda, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Apply the paste to your tub and then scrub away the dirt!
Again, vinegar and baking soda to the rescue! Combine 2 tablespoons white vinegar with ¼ cup baking soda (you can also use salt) and apply to those mildewy grout corners of your shower.
To get your bathroom windows sparkling clean, combine 1 ½ cups of distilled white vinegar, ½ cup of distilled water, and 10 drops of lemon essential oil in a 16-ounce spray bottle. Spray those dirty windows and wipe them with a soft cloth.
If you’re looking for an all-purpose cleaner you can use on both your tub and bathroom tiles, this is the one. Add 1 ⅔ cup baking soda, ½ cup liquid soap, ½ cup water (distilled is best), and 2 tablespoons vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray whatever you want clean and wipe with a sponge or cloth.
Here’s a simple one: When your faucets get water-stained, simply sprinkle baking soda on them and wipe it off with a sponge.
Don’t forget your bathroom floor! It’s covered in bacteria and needs to be properly sanitized every time you clean the bathroom. Combine equal amounts of 3% hydrogen peroxide and water in a bucket and mop away the dirt.
To get that shower gleaming again, combine ½ cup dish soap, 1 ½ cups white vinegar, and 30 drops of essential oils (lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus play nicely together) in a spray bottle.
Spray all of your shower walls and let the cleaner sit for an hour before wiping it clean.
Even your toothbrushes need to be cleaned from time to time. Simply soak them in hydrogen peroxide for at least an hour a few times a week.
Also, consider cleaning your makeup brushes once a week. Soak them in a glass jar with 1 cup of witch hazel, 4 teaspoons of liquid Castile soap, and 10 drops of lavender or tea tree oil.
If your faucet or shower head has white calcium buildup, soak a towel in vinegar and wrap it around the faucet. Leave it overnight and in the morning, it will be shiny again.
Let’s just say the bathroom isn’t always the best-smelling place in the house. With this air freshener, you don’t have to worry about it. Combine 2 cups water with 20-30 drops of essential oil and 2 tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle. Shake slightly to mix, then spray to leave your bathroom smelling great.
Let’s not forget about cleaning YOU! You can make your own body wash with three simple ingredients. Combine 3 tablespoons of liquid Castile soap with 3 tablespoons of raw honey and 2 tablespoons of oil like castor or olive oil. Add 10 drops of your favorite essential oil. Stir all ingredients in a glass jar and then enjoy!