It’s safe to say that cleaning the bathroom isn’t the most glamorous way to spend your time. Nevertheless, it’s a job that has to be done and we’ll admit that the glint of limescale-free taps and a pristine shower screen can feel pretty satisfying.
To achieve maximum bathroom sparkle with the minimum of extra effort, follow these 18 cleaning tips from the experts at the GHI. Once your bathroom is sparkling, everything will feel much lighter- trust us on this one.
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Squirt toilet cleaner around the toilet rim and leave it to work its magic while you get on with all the other jobs. Return armed with a stiff-bristled toilet brush and give the bowl a good scrub, then flush. Neutralise odours by pouring a cup of bicarbonate of soda down the bowl (ideally, once a week) or fit an in-cistern cleaner to sanitise it after every use. Wipe the handle with disinfectant and leave it to work for five minutes before drying.
Related StoryThe best way to unblock a toiletUnless you’re going entirely green with your routine, bleach is on most bathroom cleaning checklists. Whether you use it diluted to swirl around the sink or you use a stronger bleach solution to whiten grout, you could be making the common mistake of using it with warm water. ‘Always use cold water with bleach; hot water can render the active ingredients in bleach ineffective, making it totally useless,’ says Verity Mann, Head of Testing, GHI.
GHI tip: If you’re using chemical cleaners, keep your bath window and doors wide open throughout to help disperse fumes.
To save you time on clearing muck from a fresh and newly cleaned bathroom floor, make sure to dust your radiator first. Sweep the outside with a slightly damp dusting mitt or cloth, then, dislodge dust from the abyss inside using the flexible Microfibre Radiator Brush. A long-handled duster will also do the job nicely. Vacuum or dustpan up all dirt. Leave it shining with some multi-purpose spray.
GettyOver time your bathroom fan can grow a furry covering of unsightly dust. Vacuum or brush away the fluff from the filter and clean the rest with soap and water on a damp cloth. Be careful not to wet any of the internal fittings. If the grill is removable, soak it in soapy water for a more thorough clean. Rinse, dry - and voila!
Related Story10 stain mistakes you shouldn't makeFreshen the inside of your empty bin with Jeyes Freshbin powder or bicarbonate of soda, then spray with disinfectant and wipe dry. If the inside of the bin needs more attention than a quick freshen, hose it down in the shower after emptying to get rid of product residues and dirt.
Try rinsing the bath straight after a soaking, as left-over bubble bath/oils are a menace to remove once dried on. To tackle tidemarks and built-up grime, spray liberally with bathroom cleaner, and walk away. Let the cleaning agent work for at least 15 minutes before wiping and rinsing. If your tub is very dirty, fill it with warm water, add a couple of scoops of biological washing powder and leave it overnight. Rinse thoroughly before bathing.
GHI tip: Try using Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Bath on more stubborn soap scum.
GettyKeep dust at bay by giving the room a quick once-over with a hand-held vac every other day. Alternatively, use an antibacterial wipe to remove dust bunnies with ease but do not flush used wipes down your toilet. Avoid foamy floor cleaner in favour of spray, liquid cleaners (or an e-cloth mop) to prevent a residue that'll dull the floor and invite future grime.
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To keep drains running freely, pour a cup of soda crystals followed by boiling water down the plughole. This will help clear grease, soap scum and banish odours, too. Remember to wear rubber gloves to avoid skin irritation! You can also slug vinegar and bicarbonate down the plug to dissolve any dirt, meanwhile, lemon juice can help remove strong smells. Finish off the job with lots of hot water.
GHI tip: Try to bottlebrush your plugholes once a week. For drains that are blocked, period, we rate Buster Bathroom Plughole Unblocker.
Wipe away splatters of sun cream, toothpaste, moisturiser, etc., from your mirror with a little rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth. Then, use glass cleaner or plain water on a fine microfibre cloth, working from edge to edge and then top to bottom. Don't use a circular motion. For an extra sparkle, left-over smears can be buffed away with a little white vinegar on a paper towel.
GHI TIP: Looking for an eco-friendly way to clean your mirrors? Try making your own solution using one part distilled white vinegar to nine parts water.
GettyA steamed-up mirror can slow down your morning routine and leave water marks on the glass. After giving your mirror a good polish (see previous tip), stop it from steaming up with a drop of neat washing up liquid. Just buff the liquid into the glass with kitchen paper - this’ll keep your mirror steam-free for around a fortnight!
Related StoryHow to clean your windowsNever use abrasive cleaners on taps. Instead, remove limescale by soaking a cloth in a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water and wrap it around the spout (or use a descaling product and follow the instructions). Leave for a few hours before removing the cloth, then rinse well with water and blot dry to avoid splash marks. Wipe with a disinfectant to finish. Keep vinegar well away from gold taps and marble surrounds!
GHI TIP: If you don’t like that vinegary smell, you can follow the same process using lemon juice.
Use a whitening toothpaste with an old toothbrush to clean calcified limescale crust from taps. Tackle limescale deposits on and around chrome taps by, once again, saturating a soft rag or kitchen towel with white vinegar and wrapping it around the faucet. Leave overnight. Rinse thoroughly with warm soapy water in the morning.
GettyPour a solution of half distilled vinegar, half water into a plastic bag and fasten it over your showerhead with an elastic band. Make sure the holes are immersed in the liquid. After an hour, remove the bag and run the shower on hot to flush the showerhead through. Finally, use a needle to de-clog any spray holes that are still blocked. Your shower pressure will be up to scratch in no time!
Related Story10 luxurious shower gels for your best shower everSpritz the shower walls with a mixture of water and vinegar in an old spray bottle. Next, use a squeegee to wipe down the tiles and shower door - we love the OXO Good Grips Mini Squeegee. This, paired with Viakal Limescale remover, will have your shower looking brand new in no time. Clean glass screens with a sponge and the same vinegary solution, paying particular attention to hinged areas. If you have a shower curtain rather than a screen, try to get into the habit ofstretching it out to help it dry.
GHI tip: If you have a glass shower screen, add a dash of dishwasher rinse aid to water for a final polish – this will leave it crystal-clear.
Switch on the extractor fan or open the bathroom window when you shower to stop unsightly mould developing. Need to get rid of mould that’s already there? If mould-stained shower curtains can’t be machine washed, soak them in a diluted solution of bleach to remove. Scrub discoloured grout with an old toothbrush dipped in a solution of one part bleach to four parts water. Use HG Mould Spray on any remaining stained grout.
GettyKeep a microfibre cloth handy in the bathroom at all times to quickly rub off toothpaste splatters, watermarks and other stains before they dry and become harder to remove. We like the e-cloth range. You only need to add water, so no chemicals are required.
Related Story14 cleaning jobs your kids could be doingIf you have a large collection of tubes, tubs and bottles stored in your bathroom, cleaning around and under them can be tricky. Invest in some small bathroom storage so you can simply lift a basket or box of products up to clean underneath it. Here’s our pick of the best small bathroom storage ideas.
We’ve come full circle. Now your loo has had a makeover, fill the toilet brush container with hot, soapy water and a few drops of bleach. Swish it around and empty the water down the toilet. Flush clean water over the brush, spray both the caddy and brush with disinfectant, and return it to the container.
Bathroom cleaning equipment
Dettol Antibacterial Surface Cleaning Disinfectant WipesDettolamazon.co.uk£9.00SHOP NOWE-Cloth General Purpose Cleaning Cloths, Pack of 2E-Clothjohnlewis.com£9.49SHOP NOWViakal Limescale Remover SprayViakalwaitrose.com£2.00SHOP NOWHG Mould Remover SprayHGlakeland.co.uk£6.49SHOP NOWDri-Pak Soda Crystals 1kgDri-Pakamazon.co.uk£2.99SHOP NOWVax H85-GA-B10 Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, 0.3 L - White/OrangeVaxamazon.co.uk£39.99SHOP NOWGolden Swan White Vinegar Golden Swanamazon.co.uk£7.99SHOP NOWOXO Good Grips SqueegeeLakelandlakeland.co.uk£13.99SHOP NOWLike this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
