It's easy to talk about the simple ways to clean a bathroom; there are certain things that are fairly standard, but what about the things you didn't learn growing up? There are nooks and crannies you didn't know existed, until you're face to face with grime and gunk that came from you don't even want to know where! In part one of this two part posting, find out how to wash your shower curtain with ease, clean your shower head while you sleep and remove the old duck gripping decals from your shower floor with aluminum foil Click through to learn how easy it all can be!
Bathroom Tricks For Those Hard To Reach Places
Here's a few of the tricks that we use in our own bathrooms to keep things tidy! (P.S. Hell hath no furry like gripper rubber ducks stuck to your rental's tub floor! They seem almost impossible to remove)
How To Remove Stick On Gripper Decals: After moving into a few rentals with less than desirable decals stuck on the floor of our shower, we read up on the removal of such lovely items. After a few trial and errors we settled on one method that worked out perfectly! Simply tear off a piece of aluminum foil that's larger than the stuck on decal and place it on top, pressing it down firmly. Next, turn on your blow dryer (high heat) and aim it at the foil. We suggest using something with a long handle to hold the foil in place so you don't heat your fingers up in the process. Heat for 1 minute and then using something dull but firm (we used our Costco card, no razor blades please!) work the edge of the decal. If it's still not budging, reheat and it should start to peel. You might need to reheat as you peel, so have a little patience. It's worth it to not have ducks under your feet anymore! The decals can leave residue and if this is the case in your shower, try a little Vaseline rubbed on and then cleaned with soap and water.
How To Clean Your Plastic Shower Curtain Without A Mess: There are sprays and magic potions for cleaning soap and hard water residue off your shower curtain, although nothing is as simple as a quick go in the washing machine. It sounds silly, but it works like a champ! You will wash it through a full cycle (on warm, not hot) with 1 cup of white vinegar and 1/4 cup of your normal laundry detergent. When the cycle is finished, pull it out immediately and hang it back up to dry! Problem solved!
How To Clean Your Shower Head While Sleeping: Cleaning anything while you are sleeping is an awesome idea. Everyone loves to do something, while in fact doing nothing. All you need to do is fill a Ziploc (or other sturdy zip top bag) with straight white vinegar and tie it around your shower head. We found those really fat rubber bands to come in handy in this situation, although a quick wrap with electrical tape works as well. Catch some zzz's and remove the bag in the morning. Rinse your shower head clean, it might need a once over with a wash cloth in the process, but after that you can shower with shine again!
Stay tuned for more tips later on!
Do you have a bathroom trick that you swear by? Let us know in the comments below!
(Photo courtesy of Livingetc)
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A few additions:
Residual adhesive from decals can also be removed with orange oil.
If the plastic shower curtain is rumpled after washing, put it in the dryer for just long enough for the dryer to heat up (and so heat up the plastic), and then take it out and hang it. The wrinkles will be gone.
I wouldn't recommend the vinegar soak for brass fittings.
view Forestdweller's profile
I finally found a non plastic shower curtain liner. So easy to wash and feels like fabric.
Olive oil works remove adhesives the a soap off with hot water.
view LoriSF's profile
Is there anything that we can spray in the shower after to prevent mildew/slime?
I want to go the cheap/natural route, so buying those shower sprays is out of the question.
I am guessing vinegar, but I can't stand the smell and I'd be afraid of adding essential oils, since they're dangerous to cats. My cats choose to chill in my bathtub, so I want something safe for them.
view chusmabilly's profile
I moved to the Texas gulf coast with two heavy white shower curtains. It took me about three months (after which I had laundered the shower curtains 2x each), to re-consider how much I loved my beautiful shower curtains. I packed them away, and began buying shower curtains at the Dollar Store.
Yes---$1 for a 2mm thin shower curtain, which I threw away when it got yucky. All things considered, I think it was most "green" way to handle the problem as opposed to washing my good ones.
view SunnyBlue's profile
SunnyBlue -- it's not "green", but when you wash the plastic curtain liners, you can add Clorox to the wash. That kills any mildew.
view Forestdweller's profile
Ooooh, I'm gonna have to try the white vinegar in a ziplock bag trick for my shower head. Hopefully it works... so far, nothing else has. :/
view sparkle's profile
Check out this website:
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/healthy-home/nontoxic-cleaning
I've found the "home made" cleaners work better, cost less, are very easy to mix up, and don't smell nearly as bad as store bought products. Some call for the addition of essential oils, which you can leave out if you don't like the particular scent.
view short giraffe's profile
Wow, that's a mighty vitriolic mold that has attacked the outside of the clawfoot tub. Oh and it's all over that little chair too. Eek!
view luckypeach's profile
Does anyone have advice on getting underneath and behind clawfoot tubs? We have dogs and their hair and dirt and detritus love to live back there...
view devonc's profile
We use a shower filter which reduces the amount of bathrub residue I have to clean.
Also, to make your tub super sparkly you could fill it up with hot water & white vinegar and leave to soak for about an hour. Then drain and scrub down with baking soda. Finish with spraying glass cleaner and wiping down the tile. It will be like you have a brand new tub!
view gracieuk's profile
SunnyBlue- I spray vinegar diluted with water around my shower after every use. It cuts back on mildew, and it evaporates in a minute or two with no smell.
view Damfino's profile