For fixing, repair, and cleaning tips, the Apartment Therapy archives are a good resource. We recently searched for a simple way to clean grout and...voila, we found it. While we were sifting through past posts, we decided to pull together five of our favorite problem solvers for the bathroom. Click through the links below for more information on each one...
For stubborn grout stains, a grout whitening pen is a simple solution. This one is water-based and bleach-free.
The Zip-It Drain Cleaner is a thin piece of plastic with a serrated edge. To remove a clog, just snake it down the drain and pull.
To get the gunk out of your shower head, fill a Ziploc bag with white vinegar and tie it around the fixture. Leave it overnight and rinse in the morning for a shiny, good-as-new shower head. See this post for lots more solutions.
To remove the cloudy residue on your shower door, try using a fabric softener sheet to wipe away soap scum.
If your shower curtain sticks, try a set of rolling shower curtain rings to make it glide across the rod.
Other ideas for bathroom problem solvers? Let us know in the comments below.
Photo: Michelle Kaufmann's Smart Home
Does anyone know how to clean grout that is to be dark? I have white tiles and a dark gray grout that I'm trying to get back to its original dark gray. Bleach doesn't work.
view wanderinglight's profile
Please don't use fabric softener sheets! They are very toxic.
view Niamh's profile
I was curious about the comment from Nianmh and this is what I found. Quite scary.
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Toxic-Danger-of-Fabric-Softener-and-Dryer-Sheets&id=16953
Seem like we all might need to switch to soy-based fabric softener liquid BUT normally the fabric softener in the market are animal by products. So you need to pick the brand like Method or Ecover and they are more expensive.
"a derivative of rendered fat from cattle, sheep and horses. Just boil it down and mix with ammonium. After a series of chemical pit stops, it comes out a quaternary ammonium compound, or quat...quats effectively coat your clothing with lipids, (fats) making the fibers soft to the touch." from
treehugger site.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/11/vegan-alert-animal-fat-in-downy.php
view Leong's profile
For mold problem, my friends will turn the low light bulbs on for few hours to reduce humidity in the bathroom but I think it's waste the energy. I recently purchased a 1kg bamboo charcoal pouch (which is very popular in Japan and very green) and I put them close to the tub. It helps to absorb the moist and odor. And every month you just shake it and put under the sun for an hour. You can use this for years.
view Leong's profile
While the grout pen is convenient, I do prefer splashless bleach as an affordable alternative to keep grout clean.
view 1GH's profile
Wax paper the shower curtain rod every couple of weeks (also works for the clothes rod in your closets). The shower rings (and clothes hangars) will just zip along...
view Dusa's profile