12 Bathroom Cleaning Hacks You Should Know

It goes without saying that cleaning the bathroom is not something homeowners normally look forward to. When it comes to keeping our bathrooms clean, we all want to take the easy route. Much to everyone’s delight, however, that’s where bathroom cleaning hacks come in. You’ll be glad to find out that there’s an easier way to go about those daunting tasks that probably no one would willingly want to do. When the time comes for another cleaning session, rest assured that it can be easier than you would expect. From using black tea for shower screens to vinegar for windows, these cleaning hacks and tips can make the job a breeze. 

1. Use Shaving Foam to Clean Bathroom Mirrors

As odd as it may sound, cleaning the mirrors with shaving foam will prevent them from fogging up when your bathroom gets steamy during hot showers. The glycerin in shaving foam essentially forms a protective layer on the mirror, keeping it from misting up. This simple bathroom hack involves spraying the foam and polishing it off with a kitchen roll. Your mirror will be gleaming and mist-free for up to three weeks — or until it becomes wet again.

Shaving foam leaves your bathroom mirror shining and mist-free.

2. Spritz Shower Walls With Vinegar

You’d be surprised to find out that you can use vinegar to clean just about anything in a bathroom. This ingredient, used as a homemade cleaning product, can do wonders for getting rid of grime. It’s also worth mentioning that resorting to harsh products is a cleaning habit you should avoid. That being said, consider filling a spray bottle with one part vinegar and one part water and keeping it in your bathroom. After every shower, spray the walls with the mixture and you won’t have to deal with grime anytime soon. 

3. Wipe Shower Screens With Black Tea

While you can use commercial products to give your shower screen a good shine, a natural alternative that can do as great a job is black tea. Simply soak a piece of lint-free cloth in a small bowl of black tea and use it to wipe the screen. Next, dry and buff the screen with a clean cloth and enjoy the results. Another alternative shower cleaning hack involves spraying some cooking oil and letting it sit for ten minutes to get the extra sticky grime off before rinsing it with soapy water and wiping it to a shine.

Black tea serves as a great alternative to cleaning agents for shower screens.

4. Disinfect the Toilet with Vinegar and Baking Soda

It often doesn’t take long before a toilet starts looking filthy (for lack of a better word). Having said that, it helps to have a few bathroom cleaning tricks up your sleeve for your toilet. One bathroom hack you can use is to pour a mixture of baking soda and white vinegar in and around the toilet bowl. Let it sit for 15 minutes and scrub it thoroughly before flushing the toilet. Unlike the Coca-Cola method which is a cleaning hack myth, this trick actually provides decent results. Repeating this hack on a regular basis will leave your toilet spick and span. 

5. Use Aspirin as an Emergency Cleaner

Getting ready to clean your bathroom only to realize that you’re fresh out of cleaning products can be frustrating. You may be relieved, however, knowing that you can use aspirin tablets as an emergency cleaner. Thanks to its salicylic acid, aspirin can make for an effective cleaning hack for bathrooms. Simply crush up two tablets in a bucket of water and clean your restroom as you normally would with other detergents. 

6. Clean Your Bathtub With Grapefruit

Not only can grapefruit make for a great exfoliator for your face, but it can also serve the same purpose for a grimy bathtub as well. As a matter of fact, it is considered to be one of the best cleaners for bathtubs. Start by cutting half a grapefruit and sprinkling salt on the bottom of the tub as well as on the cut surface of the grapefruit. Then, wet the tub and use the grapefruit to simply scrub it down. Rinse it all off with the showerhead for a lasting shine and a lovely scent. It’s worth mentioning that you can use any citrus fruit for this purpose, but a grapefruit’s size makes it an ideal option.

Using grapefruit as a bathtub cleaner can yield exceptional results.

7. Let Your Faucets Shine With Lemon

Faucets tend to become dull with water spots over time. A simple solution to this common issue is to cut a lemon in half and use it to rub the fixtures. Another method involves wetting an old toothbrush, sprinkling baking soda on the bristles, and using it to scrub the faucets. After ten minutes, simply rinse with water and wipe to a shine. These hacks are for cleaning work on all chrome fixtures — beyond faucets or the bathroom. 

8. Use Indigestion Tablets to Unclog a Slow Drain

The go-to solution for a slow-draining sink is often a plunger or a drain snake. But if the clog seems to be due to a buildup of soap, toothpaste, and razor gunk, you can solve the issue with effervescent indigestion tablets. Simply drop four tablets down the drain and follow it up with a cup of vinegar. After ten minutes, pour down a kettle of boiling water, and your drain’s “digestion problems” should be over. 

9. Shine Bathroom Windows and Shower Screens With Vinegar

If you want to give your bathroom windows and shower screens a quick shine, try mixing two parts of water with one part of white vinegar and half a part rubbing alcohol (with 70 percent concentration) in a spray bottle. Simply use the mixture as you would with other window cleaners: spritzing and wiping with a clean cloth. This bathroom cleaning hack is also ideal for mirrors and window screens.

For the best results, consider using this method when there’s no sunlight hitting the windows. You may also want to use a microfiber cloth for a streak-free finish. It’s also a good idea to do this well before a relaxing bath since the smell of vinegar isn’t all that delightful. Keeping the windows open also helps to get rid of the smell faster.

Let your windows shine by wiping them down with a mixture of vinegar, alcohol, and water.

10. Use Vinegar and Baking Soda to Eliminate Shower Curtain Mildew

Letting your bath curtain dry completely after each shower can prevent mold and mildew from taking hold. If condensation is a regular issue in your bathroom, however, it’s best to look for other solutions. For instance, you may have to wash your shower curtain once a week along with the towels and leave it to dry out completely before hanging it back. And if the mildew has become more of a problem, simply add half a cup of baking soda to the washing powder and set the machine to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Prior to the rinsing cycle, pour half a cup of white vinegar and your curtain should come out looking as good as new.

11. Soak Showerheads and Faucets in Vinegar

Yet another bathroom cleaning tip involving vinegar is for when your showerhead or faucet has low pressure. Using a rubber band, simply tie a plastic bag filled with white vinegar around the fixture and let it sit overnight. The vinegar will naturally break down any sediments or buildup or grime. Remove the bag and turn on the water to get rid of any remaining loose sediments. Adding a spoonful of baking soda will help eliminate more stubborn buildups.

Soaking your faucets in vinegar can help restore the water pressure.

12. Place the Toilet Brush Under the Toilet Seat Before You Put It Away

Sticking a wet toilet brush in its holder creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Even if you soaked it in disinfectant and hot water, you may want to avoid putting the brush away when it's still wet. Instead, make it a habit to position the brush under the toilet seat and allow it to drip dry into the toilet before sticking it back in the holder.

Cleaning your bathroom is something that would make you cringe just by thinking about it. These cleaning tips and hacks, however, can make your life so much easier. So the next time you have to tackle this unsavory chore, make sure to work smart, not hard.