Cleaning bathroom?

**lilk** · 06-23-2009, 11:06 AM

We have hard water and it leaves this orange stuff in the shower stall, tub and toilet. I hate cleaning it. The only thing I can get to take it off is The Works. I don't like using it because of the ingredients are toxic.
Is there anything else I can use thats safer? Does anyone have a homemade solution? Please share.

**imagine** · 06-23-2009, 11:21 AM

we have hard water to vinegar is good at hard water stains. you have to let it soak on it/ or in it though. Then scrub. The more caked on it is the longer the soak or multiple soaks and more harder scrubbing.

The best thing I have found is using vinegar to keep up on it. It is easier to scrub this way. If I keep on top of it.

**jershaanddup** · 06-23-2009, 11:38 AM

Along this same line, does anyone know how to get mold/mildew off a shower curtain liner? I am cleaning the bathroom today and I've had ours soaking in water with OxiClean and bleach and it just isn't coming off. We don't have a washer here or I'd throw it in with some towels and be done with it.

Any suggestions?

**frugalwarrior** · 06-23-2009, 12:47 PM

We just get our liners at the dollar store, Our cats are terrorist to them (one on each side). So we duct tape a bit and then toss. Bleach will probably eat it. Have you tried CLR.

**jershaanddup** · 06-23-2009, 01:55 PM

I don't have any CLR. I'm trying to get the bathroom clean before my hubby gets home. I wasn't planning on cleaning the bathroom today but I figured I'd surprise him by cleaning the kitchen AND the bathroom. (Today is kitchen cleaning day).

I guess if the liner doesn't come clean, I'll just throw it out and we'll get another one tomorrow. If so, I'm going to try the mildew-free ones at Walmart.

**Brat** · 06-23-2009, 08:24 PM

Put the liner in the bathtub with a some laundery soap and a couple of towels or wash cloths..keep moveing them around and wipeing at the liner to take the soap off them...I don't like to do it but if I am in a hurry I will close the shower liner and spray with bleach water and just wipe at it after it sets a few minutes and splash water on it to rinse.

**jershaanddup** · 06-23-2009, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Brat

Put the liner in the bathtub with a some laundery soap and a couple of towels or wash cloths..keep moveing them around and wipeing at the liner to take the soap off them...I don't like to do it but if I am in a hurry I will close the shower liner and spray with bleach water and just wipe at it after it sets a few minutes and splash water on it to rinse.

Darn, I didn't see your post until now.

I ended up just putting it in a bucket with a cup of bleach and a gallon of water. I left it in there for 2 hours and when I came back, the mildew/mold was gone.

DH was excited about the clean bathroom. It smells like bleach in there but I actually like that smell, lol.

PS: DH just accidentally locked the bathroom door from the inside and shut it. We got it unlocked, but I was freaking out! I was thinking "Oh no, I can't tinkle now!"

**frugalfranny** · 06-24-2009, 01:43 AM

Good ideas. I am going to try some of them too for the cleaning part. I get the cheap 'inside' shower curtain so don't worry about that so much. (it then becomes my 'wheel barrow' outside)

I have really hard water too. It's awful!

**Momto2Boyz** · 06-24-2009, 06:59 AM

As far as the hard water stains, it doesn't actually sound like hard water stains, it sounds more like rust. Hard water stains are usually white and rust stains are usually orange, and usually you only get rust stains if you have a well. And I've heard that using washing soda works wonders. It's one of the ingredients used in homemade laundry detergent and I believe you can find it in the laundry section at the supermarket!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 06-24-2009, 08:31 AM

I usually just use bleach and water for the mold/mildew parts, vinegar and water for the hard water stains and bleach for the grimey ring around the tub. I don't think I've used anything else to clean my bathroom ever since.

Another tip:

Put some baking soda and vinegar into a baggie and tie to your showerhead. Submerge the head and then secure it tight. Let it soak for a while, come back and scrub it off with a toothbrush. Rinse clean.

CLR hasn't made its way into my house at all after I got all of that figured out. It actually creates breathing problems for me (even Simple Green does that too) so I don't use anything at all that needs ventilation.

**lilk** · 06-24-2009, 10:35 AM

Momto2Boyz, your right it's not hard water, its rust. I will try washing soda and see it that will work. I have to pick some up tomorrow, the last time I picked up baking soda, because they had the large box in with the laundry det. I was so mad when I realized, I was going to make homemade laundry soap. Next time I will be more careful.
Thanks for all the tips!

**maryannsms** · 08-02-2009, 09:49 PM

To eliminate rings around your toilet, pour 1 cup white vinegar into the toilet once a month. To clean up drains, pour one cup baking soda and then one cup white vinegar down the drain. Wait at least an hour and then flush with warm water. Do this once a month to get rid of buildup.

To stop mildew from becoming a problem, spray your bathroom ceiling ever six months with a 50/50 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water. Peroxide is a safe bleach that won’t harm you or the environment. Just spray the mixture on and leave it. If you already have mildew, wait 2 hours and then spray again. Then wait 24 hours and spray again if necessary.

**Brat** · 08-03-2009, 08:03 PM

to help make shower doors, walls and fixurers sparkle spray with rubbing alcholo and wipe..on the sink after cleaned spray with furniture spray and wipe out...tooth paste will slide right off.

**Karen1** · 08-04-2009, 08:03 AM

OMG I hate cleaning bathrooms.

I have great well water...so it makes it so simple. I don't have those types of stains but just use vinegar, baking soda and all that solutions to clean.

I hate the smell of bleach big time. Just brings tears to my eyes.

I also throw the liner in the washer with some towels. works well. but a few times it came out so shredded that I had to get new ones...now I buy 2 at a time in case I shred another...LOL...but they last long before they finally shred.

**Judi Dial** · 08-06-2009, 08:46 AM

We have iron oxides/mould in our water. Scrubbing regularly helps with the toilet. Not much else seems to phase it.

Our shower curtain liner turns reddish after a while. The solution I've found is to simply put it in the washer with a little bleach and soap. The liner is about the only thing I can identify in the house we bought at Walmart. It's cloth rather than plastic and has lasted us now something like 5 years. I hate wallymart, but this liner has been really good.

Otherwise I can keep the tub staining and such down with regular applications of scrub free after a bath/shower and some squeege work on the walls (the gunk seems to all be at the bottom). I don't know if this will work for you as I think what we've got is different?

I started using the Scrub Free while cleaning a beauty shop once a week, helping a friend who had a cleaning business.

IHTH!

Judi