8 Best Bathroom Cleaning Hacks

Want to make bathroom cleaning faster, easier and more manageable? Try these quick tips:

• Use dissolved aspirin tablets to clean soap scum
• Scrub surfaces with cooking spray to remove lime deposits
• Clean rust stains with baking soda
• Keep vinegar, baking soda and lemon juice on hand for clogged drains

We’ll cover all these house cleaning hacks and more — plus the No. 1 way to get rid of stubborn stains for good. Here’s how to make your bathroom cleaner than ever.

Best Bathroom Cleaner Alternatives

Whether you just ran out of your favorite cleaning product or are trying to avoid artificial chemical additives, the good news is that there are plenty of alternatives. Better yet, you probably already own these substitute products.

Aspirin

Dissolve two tablets of aspirin in a glass of warm water and use it to clean your tub, sink, toilet or shower. The acid in aspirin acts like bleach, taking the color out of stubborn stains and soap scum. This also makes it easier to remove grime with a brush or sponge.

Cooking Spray

Though it may seem odd to use your favorite non-stick cooking spray for a deep clean, the oil in these products actually helps break down lime deposits and hard water stains on your tub, shower and glass. All you have to do is squirt the cooking spray onto the grime or stains and scrub gently. When you’re done, turn on the warm water and rinse away any oily residue to avoid slipping risks.

Baking Powder

If your sink has rust stains or mineral buildup, your current cleaning product may not be doing the job. Instead, try this baking powder cleaning hack.

The first step is to wipe down your sink with soap and warm water. This removes any grime and mildew while helping to kill germs. Next, use the baking powder to scrub stains or discoloration around your sink. Use a sponge or soft washcloth to avoid scratching the surface, and try an old toothbrush for hard-to-reach areas. Finally, rinse away the baking powder and see the results.

Boxed Baking Soda

To keep your bathroom smelling fresh, have a box of baking soda nearby. This helps absorb odors rather than masking them as room sprays might.

Treating Bathroom Clogs

If you have a severe clog, it may require some chemistry. Try a house cleaning hack from this list:

Sprinkled Baking Soda

Is your toilet prone to getting clogged? Try occasionally sprinkling a liberal amount of baking soda in the bowl before flushing.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Pour up to half a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. You’ll notice some fizzing that should quickly subside. Leave the mixture to sit for a few minutes, then pour boiling water into the bowl. If the clog has been released, the toilet should flush with no problems.

Baking Soda and Lemon Juice

To begin clearing out your pipes, safely remove anything visibly clogging them. Then, pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of lemon juice. This solution will naturally work away any bits of food, hair, minerals or other grime that may be lodged in your pipes. After 30-60 minutes, rinse away the baking soda and lemon juice with boiling water.

White Vinegar

Low pressure and blocked holes in your shower head are usually a result of minerals built up by hard water. For a quick solution, fill a plastic bag with white vinegar. Submerge the shower head in the bag of vinegar, then secure the bag with a rubber band or twist tie and leave it to soak for at least a few hours. Once time is up, carefully remove the bag from the shower head and turn on the water to flush out any excess white vinegar.

A Long-Term Solution for Bathroom Cleaning

Although it’s great to know a house cleaning hack or two, tips like these are really just temporary solutions. No matter how hard you scrub or which cleaning products you use, certain issues will keep coming back until you address the root of the problem.

In some cases, this might be something like too much moisture in your bathroom, leading to mold and mildew. In other situations, your water itself is to blame — and that’s often due to dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium. This is known as hard water, and it can cause limescale, spotty glass, shower-head blockages and more. It can even make your hair and skin feel dry or irritated.

Fortunately, there’s an easy way to address these concerns: Install a water softener. Water softeners attract and flush out hardness minerals, leaving you with soft water — and a lot less cleaning. That means you’ll spend less time and money scrubbing your bathroom only to repeat the process in a few weeks.

Looking to diagnose your water problems? Try our Water Solutions Quiz.

Say Goodbye To Cleaning Problems

If you want to bid farewell to soap scum and grime, cut back on cleaning costs and make your bathroom sparkle, don’t reach for a sponge. Instead, start with your home’s water quality.

The best way to do that is to have a professional water test. You’ll learn all about your water’s hardness levels and get an inside look at other potential problems. Plus, your local water expert will offer personalized suggestions for your water needs.

Schedule your free, in-home water test and consultation today.