The bathroom is one room in the house that seems to get dirty in the blink of an eye. It is also one of the rooms in the house that can be subject to a myriad of chemicals in an effort to keep it pristine and fresh. However, if you’re wary of how many chemicals you expose your family to, and you’re tired of breaking out the safety goggles, face mask and gloves every time you go to clean the bathroom, why not give these natural alternatives a try.
Keep it clean with White Vinegar
I always try to have a bottle of white vinegar in my cupboard at home, because it is so versatile. You can use it for general cleaning of the bath, sink, shower, toilet and floor. It’s been shown to have disinfectant properties⁵҆, ² making it a great alternative to commercial, toxic disinfectants and a great all-purpose cleaner for your bathroom. I use it neat for tougher stains and diluted for lighter cleaning.
Bust the Blockage with Baking Soda
Baking Soda (or Bi-Carb Soda), has been used for hundreds of years, both in cooking and cleaning.¹ Tests have shown it to have mild antimicrobial activity² and it can be used to deodorize the room and even unclog drains. To do this, pour equal parts baking soda and vinegar down the drain, leave it to work for a few minutes, then flush the drain with hot water.³ Combine baking soda with White Vinegar to bust tougher dirt on your tiles, sinks and bath tub, such as grime and scum build-up.⁴
Beat the Mould with Clove Oil
If you struggle with dampness and subsequent mould growth in your bathroom, consider adding Clove Oil to your cleaning regime. This handy essential oil has anti-fungal properties⁶ and it can help to prevent the growth of moulds.⁷ Mix some Clove Oil with water (LivingSafe recommends ¼ tsp of clove oil to one litre of water) and spray it on any surface that you tend to find mould grows. It can help to kill off existing spores and prevent re-growth.⁸
Leave it Fresh with Eucalyptus Oil
This oil will not only leave your bathroom looking clean, but also smelling fresh. It’s a natural disinfectant⁹ and, when used straight on a cloth can help clean soap scum from your bath or shower without needing to use harsh abrasives or chemicals.⁸ Mix it in with your vinegar floor cleaner to give your whole bathroom a fresh scent.
Wave The Wand with this Bath and Shower Cleaner
When talking about keeping your bathroom clean without harsh chemicals I just had to share with you one of my favourite cleaning tips that I’ve come across and tried. This method can help to keep your shower free from soap scum build up and it’s so simple. Get a dish washing wand (just a home brand one will do) and fill it half with white vinegar and half with dish soap (keep it natural by using a natural dish soap).¹⁰ Now you can use this to clean your shower screens while you’re having a shower, which means less time scrubbing soap scum when you do your full bathroom clean.
Cleaning the bathroom can be a tedious job, but it doesn’t need to require braking out the hazmat suit to do it. With these simple and safe cleaning agents, your bathroom can look clean and smell fresh naturally.
References:
1. Waple, B. 2017, “Sodium Bicarbonate: The User-Friendly Blasting Abrasive”, Restoration and Remediation, June Issue, pp. 1-3.
2. Rutala, W.A et al., 2000, “Antimicrobial Activity of Home Disinfectants and Natural Products against Potential Human Pathogens”, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Vol. 21, no. 1, pp.33-38.
3. Lansky, V. 2004, “Baking soda: 500 fabulous, fun and frugal uses you’ve probably never thought of”, Book Peddlers, Minnesota MN.
4. Gibson, S. M. S. & Turner, P. R. 2008, “Green Cleaning: Recipes for a Healthy Home”, home Maintenance: Protect Your Investment, The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
5. Komiyana, E. Y. et al., 2010, “Evaluation of alternative methods for the disinfection of toothbrushes”, Brazilian Oral Research, Vol. 24, no.1.
6. Pinto et al. 2009, “Antifungal activity of the clove essential oil from Syzygium aromaticum on Candida aspergillus & dermatophyte species”, Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 58, no 11, pp. 1454-1462.
7. Karapinar, M. 1990, “inhibiting Effects of anethole and eugenol on the growth & toxin production of Aspergillus parasiticus”, International Journal of Food Microbiology, Vol. 10, no. 3-4 pp. 193-199.
8. Groch, N. 2018, “Cleaning Tips using Eucalyptus and Clove Essential Oil”, Living Safe Australia, http://livingsafe.com.au/cleaning-tips-using-eucalyptus-and-clove-essential-oil/.
9. Krishnan, A. et al. 2016, “Comparative Efficacy of Eucalyptus Oil and Commercially Available Disinfectant Against Dental Unit Waterlines – An Experimental Study”, Int J Oral Health Med Res, Vol. 2 no. 6, pp. 28-32.
10. Hometalker El Dorado Hills, CA, “Shower and Tub Cleaner”, www.hometalk.com/917132/shower-and-tub-cleaner?expand_all_questions=1.
