What a day it’s been! Work was brutal, your mom was wondering if you’re getting enough sleep - ‘The bags under your eyes are just a bit puffier than normal, Honey’ - and the check engine light came on in your car as you were pulling into your driveway. Time for a long, hot soak in your tub followed by a good, brisk sit. You walk into the bathroom and it hits you; the subtle scent of mildew combined with the aroma of shampoo and soap scum…
This has truly happened…somewhere…to someone just like you. We can’t help you with your work or your mom, but we can offer you a few simple tips to keeping your bathroom clean and mildew-free so that well-deserved bubble bath feels as fabulous as you imagined.
First, be sure you know the material your tub and shower are made from, follow manufacturer’s directions for acceptable cleaning products, and always spot check new products in an inconspicuous area.
Acrylic: resistant to stains, chips and cracking - can scratch
Fiberglass: resistant to stains - may scratch or discolour with time
Porcelain enamel: resistant to scratching, is very durable - may chip
These simple steps below will help keep your pristine shower and tub spot-free between regular, deeper cleans.
Turn your bathroom fan on while and after you’re having a shower. Reduce the moisture / reduce the mildew.
Squeegee all shower walls, floors and doors after you shower, then wipe dry with a microfiber cloth. Pay special attention to glass.
Dry all fixtures - water stains can build up quickly and eventually destroy the finish
Soak the spare water up that sits in the shower door tracks with the same microfiber cloth you wiped your fixtures and walls with.
Rinse and dry your tub after every use - it’s much easier to wipe the soap residue away before it becomes that sticky, impossible-to-remove soap scum.
Mildew can form in grout lines so applying the following cleaning solution, waiting 5-10 minutes, then scrubbing with a bristle brush should do the trick. Following the above tips will help prevent the mildew from forming.
Recipe For Grout Cleaner:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
1 tsp dish soap
For those days you really don’t have the patience for wiping down your shower walls, floor and doors, below is a recipe for a cleaner you can spray on and leave that will help prevent soap scum and mildew from forming between regular weekly cleans.
Recipe For Daily Shower Spray:
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/2 cup rubbing alcohol
1 tsp dish soap
1 Tbsp rinse agent
2 cups water
Tip of the week: Paint the bottom of any cans (shaving cream) with nail polish - No Rust!