Every once in a while a clean freak occurs in all of us. Knowing that we are surrounded by bacteria and germs that could be the cause of many diseases and other abnormal conditions in humans and animals makes us worried and disturbed. Those fearful thoughts make us think twice about our cleaning and sanitation habits. A thorough cleaning of the bathroom using disinfectants will kill all of your scary germ enemies.
Even though nowadays more popular in the kitchen, vinegar is an efficient household cleaning agent because of its strong antibacterial properties. Since the shower head, if neglected could send millions of germs straight into your lungs, the best solution would be fill a plastic sandwich bag with vinegar then rubber band it around the shower head, allowing the head to soak in the vinegar overnight. When you take it off in the morning, you should be able to rub all of the grime right off! By adding a few drops of vinegar to a cup of baking soda, you could make a cleaning paste for scrubbing surfaces like shower doors, tubs, etc. The thick paste will stick to the surface it was applied to and after a hour of drying, it could easily be removed by rubbing it with a microfiber cloth. The baking soda is a great abrasive powder which helps scrub dirt and grime from surfaces. The vinegar is a great disinfectant. It’s a wonderful cleanser made for eliminating calcium, lime and rust is needed for hard water areas and rust-colored stains.
Cleaning the toilet could be a real nightmare. It is equally important to clean the exterior of the toilet as the toilet bowl. The exterior surface should be thoroughly washed and rinsed including the flush handle, underside and the base, the top and underside of the seat and lid. Also, we recommend scrubbing the entire bathroom floor with a disinfectant. When a toilet is flushed it spreads bacteria throughout the bathroom. After putting the toilet bowl cleaner into the bowl, it is necessary to wait for the cleaner to dissolve deposits and kill germs. A good bowl brush is a must and a curved bowl brush is the best choice since it could reach up and under the toilet rim. Putting the brush into bleach between uses will help to sanitize the brush. The soapy water will dissolve the grime so scrubbing hard probably won’t be needed. Acidic toilet bowl cleaner, usually sold in bottles with an angled neck, should be spread on the inside of the bowl covering the entire inside edge of the rim. If a stubborn ring is developed in the toilet at water level, pumice stone would be the most efficient. It is porous and spongy and should be directly rubbed on the ring.
Most powerful eco friendly combo! Boom!
All-purpose bathroom cleaner is perfect for removing toothpaste dribbles, overspray from hair products and other dirt and grime. Soft-scrub cleaners may be used for more hardened deposits since they will be easy to rinse from ceramic surfaces. For sanitizing the surfaces, cleaners formulated with bleach really do the trick. If you’re looking for a more eco friendly green route, use a vinegar based solution. And vinegar or baking soda is always a good choice. Rinsing the sponge thoroughly as you clean would be a good idea, but the disposable disinfecting wipes which reduce bacteria are more recommended because sponges and cloths may just move germs from one spot to another. Again, for a more eco friendly solution, the more disposables you use the bigger negative impact on the environment. We like to even pour a vinegar and baking soda solution down our sink and bath drains. While it may have no visible impact, you can be sure there are plenty of bacteria thriving in those dark and wet drains near your sink bowl. Faucet handles and the faucet itself must be cleaned and disinfected since the handles are touched after using the toilet and before washing your hands. The counter area, cabinets and drawers should be wiped off with hot soapy water. Adding a little bleach or vinegar to the water will make it more sanitizing and more efficient in removing germs and bacteria (surprise surprise).
It is also important to clean the walls, windows and ceiling especially if there are spots of mold. It should be sprayed with bleach or other disinfectant and left to rest for a couple of minutes (watch your eyes!). The sprayed surfaces need to be scrubbed afterwards. Sweeping and mopping the floor is essential. Sweeping up all the dust from the floor will make it ready for mopping it with hot soapy water.
Fiberglass showers, glass doors and mirrors are surfaces which need special treatment. Windex could be your solution of choice. Abrasive cleaners and scrubbing pads must be avoided since they could scratch and damage these sensitive surfaces. Microfiber towels are your best bet of leaving no smudges, and also leaving no cloth fibers behind.
One of the most important points to make – wash your hands thoroughly! Whether you use soap or not, scrubbing your hands under running water for 20-30 seconds will remove almost all harmful bacteria. We recommend to NOT use anti-bacterial soap, as it destroys your healthy and natural skin flora, thus harming your immune system in the long run. Using regular soap and following proper hand washing technique will rid your hands of any bacteria!
Protect your skin and clothes. Wearing rubber gloves while scrubbing and cleaning is highly recommended, as they will protect your hands from drying out when using harsh products. An opened window and good ventilation is very important. Work with what you have! Even an unwanted old toothbrush could help, so grab it and start scrubbing. Of course, if you’d like some home cleaning help for your home in the Cleveland Ohio area, let us know! Happy cleaning and sanitizing!
