Cleaning Your Bathroom a Little More Deeply

The last chore you want is to clean the bathroom. With a busy family, it’s difficult to even get in the bathroom let alone give it more than a once over. But, every so often, you need to set aside time to give your bathroom a deeper clean. It will improve the function of your fixtures, increase the life of your plumbing, and when you’re all done you can take that spa-like bath and know you’re in a pure environment.

Toilet tank

You may clean out the toilet bowl frequently, but how often do you clean out the tank? Depending on where you live and your incoming water, that tank may house anything from bacterium to moss and a few things in between. To add insult to injury, sometimes those stains in your bowl actually come from the tank. Try this first: Add a cup of distilled white vinegar to your tank. Let it sit for a while to loosen crusted on hard-water deposits. If necessary, use a clean toilet brush to brush the vinegar and water mixture up the sides of the tank too. When you’ve gotten the crusty stuff off, flush your toilet several times to remove all the vinegar residue.

If your tank still has stains, add some oxygen-based bleach to the tank and stir it up. Let it sit overnight, if possible so that it can work on those stains.

Tile hacks

Periodically, your tile and grout need some extra lovin’. If you use a tub and tile cleaner, leave it on a little longer one day and then wipe it all down and reseal your grout. If you prefer less harsh methods, make a paste with oxygen bleach or use hydrogen-peroxide and put is on the grout to whiten it before using the sealant. One other natural product option is a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Make a paste and use a toothbrush to scrub into fine grout or a cleaning brush for wider grout.

Mirror, mirror

Get your mirrors squeaky clean with a solution of water, isopropyl alcohol, ammonia, and dish soap. Spray the solution on your mirrors and glass shower doors and enclosures and rub with a paper towel or microfiber cloth for a streak-free reflection.

Faucet funk

If your faucet sprays out the side or in a strange pattern, you probably have hard water nuggets built up in the aerator. Your faucet aerator helps reduce waste and makes your water flow more efficient, so when it gets plugged up with hard water deposits, you need to clean it out. In very hard-water locations, do this every couple of months. Unscrew the aerator from the end of the faucet. If you do it frequently, it should come off quickly. If it’s stuck on, use an adjustable wrench or pliers, but wrap a washcloth around the aerator first so that you do not mar the surface. Soak the aerator screen in a solution of water and vinegar to dissolve the deposits, then brush them away with a soft toothbrush. Take care not to damage the screen.

Taking care of your home maintains its value and improves your chances of selling it for a higher amount. If you have questions about which maintenance projects to tackle before you put your home on the market, seek the advice of your real estate professional.