Interior Home Maintenance

How to keep your bathroom looking clean with minimal effort

Bathrooms and wet areas are some of your most used spaces, making them also some of the hardest areas to keep clean. 

Pair the high traffic with warm, humid air and pools of water, and you risk the potential for bacteria and mould to accumulate in your bathroom as well as the rapid breakdown of materials. So, what’s the secret to a sparkling bathroom year-round? The answer is consistent cleaning and maintenance using the correct products.  

To help you achieve just that, Surface by Hynes Merchandiser, Catlin Twomey, steps you through her top advice for cleaning and maintaining your bathroom. 

 

Use bi-carb soda and vinegar on your shower screens 

Soap scum build-up on your shower screens is both unsightly and unsanitary. Luckily, you don’t need strong chemicals to cut through the grime. You can: 

  1. Take a spray bottle filled with white vinegar and spritz it over your glass screens.  
  2. Take a soft, damp microfibre cloth and dip it in bi-carb soda. Move the cloth in circular movements over your glass screens to clean them. 
  3. Rinse your screen with warm, hot water before drying with a clean microfibre cloth.   

‘The bi-carb and vinegar will begin to react and fizz, helping to break down and remove the soap grime,’ says Caitlin. 

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Top tip: Want to keep your screen looking cleaner for longer? You can pick up a shower squeegee from most department retailers. Clean your shower screen after every use to help keep soap scum at bay. It’s the oils and fats in soap that lead to scum, so switching to liquid body wash will also help.

Surfaces by Hynes Merchandiser | Catlin Twomey

Avoid liquid detergent on your tiles 

A common mistake is using household dish soap or detergent for floor cleaning.  

‘All it takes to clean the tiles in your bathroom or laundry is warm water and a mop,’ says Caitlin. ‘You can also add a small amount of methylated spirits to your mop bucket to break through tougher stains.’ 

‘Supermarket detergents or shampoos can leave a soapy residue on your tiles, causing dirt to stick and more noticeable footprint marks.’ says Caitlin.  

‘You should also avoid using acid-based or abrasive products, such as scourers, on glazed or polished tiles as it may damage the surface.’ 

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Top tip: Ensure you sweep or vacuum your tiles before mopping, and always change your mop water if cleaning a particularly dirty or larger surface area. If not, you’re just mopping your floors with dirty water.

Surfaces by Hynes Merchandiser | Catlin Twomey
Master Ensuite
Bathroom
Master Ensuite
Master Ensuite
Master Ensuite
Bathroom

Opt for phosphoric cleaners when scrubbing grout 

Like most home maintenance tasks, prevention is better than the cure when it comes to grout.  

‘Grout is a porous material, so dirty mop water is usually the cause of grubby grout,’ says Caitlin.  

‘Always vacuum before mopping and opt for a phosphoric cleaner in a clean bucket of water when you get to the bathroom and laundry tiles.’ 

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Top tip: Resealing your bathroom grout every year will keep your tiles looking their best.

Easy & pain-free ways to unclog the drain in your bathroom sink 

Hair and mineral build-up can cause your sink to drain at a slower pace. To unclog your drain: 

  1. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain followed by half a cup of vinegar. The reaction of the two ingredients will help dissolve the source of the problem.  
  2. Wait five minutes before flushing the drain with warm water. 

Avoid using scouring pads or abrasive cleaners on the bathroom sink and faucet. Instead, opt for warm water, a little dish soap, and a microfibre cloth. From there: 

  1. Wipe away any obvious hair or toothpaste on the bowl with a microfibre cloth. 
  2. Plug the sink and add a few drops of dish soap to the basin. Fill the sink with warm water.  
  3. Wait a moment before using a microfibre cloth to clean away any built-up minerals, make-up, or soap scum. Don’t forget the crevices around the drain! 
  4. Unplug the drain and rinse the bowl with fresh water.  
  5. Dry before following with an antiseptic spray.  
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Top tip: To ensure your sink sparkles in-between deep cleans, get into the habit of wiping and drying the bowl after every use. Pooled water is where you’ll find germs and unsightly stains.

Clean your bathtub  

How you clean your tub will depend on the material, so always check the manufacturer’s instructions. For most baths, mixing a solution of white vinegar, soap, and water in a spray bottle will suffice.  

  1. Place the plug in the bath and fill it with approximately 2cm of warm water.  
  2. Spray the entire bathtub with the vinegar solution before wiping down the sides of the bath with a microfibre cloth. Again, avoid using abrasive sponges or strong chemicals that may damage the surface material. 
  3. Leave the cleaning mixture on tougher stains or soap scum for up to 20 minutes before gently scrubbing with a microfibre cloth.  
  4. Use the same cloth to wipe down the bottom of the bath before removing the plug.  
  5. Rinse the tub with warm water and then wipe dry for optimal shine.  
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Top tip: Keep the edge of your bath free of bottles, soaps, and kids’ toys. Water can pool around such objects, housing bacteria and causing soap scum to build. Instead, store loose items in cupboards or place them in an overhead hanging basket.

Maintain your ventilation fans 

Your ventilation fan is your best line of defense against mildew and mould. So, it pays to make sure it’s clean to do its job: 

  1. Remove the vent cover. Soak the cover in warm soapy water before using a microfibre cloth to remove any dirt and dust. 
  2. Remove the fan motor and blades from the ceiling and use a damp microfibre cloth to wipe it down. If you can’t remove the blades, you can use a vacuum cleaner crevice attachment to reach stubborn dust and material build-up.  
  3. Air dry the vent cover and fan before reinstalling. 
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Top tip: Clean your bathroom exhaust fan at least twice per year for the best results.

Wipe down your benchtop daily  

Keeping your benchtop free of clutter and wiping it down after every use is the cornerstone of a hygienic bathroom. 

To clean your bathroom benchtops, always check the manufacturer’s instructions first.  

  1. For Caesarstone benchtops, wipe with warm soapy water or a specialist stone spray. 
  2. Follow with a clean and dry cloth.  
  3. Dab tougher stains with a little methylated spirits before rinsing and drying.  
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Top tip: Have a darker benchtop? Avoid using cream-coloured cleaning products as they can leave a visible stain.

Remove stubborn limescale in your toilet bowl  

Toilets can be a haven for germs, so we recommend weekly cleaning. 

  1. Coat your toilet bowl (including underneath the rim) with toilet cleaner.  
  2. Leave the solution to sit for five minutes before scrubbing it with a toilet brush. 
  3. Don’t forget to wipe down the toilet seat and exteriors with disinfectant wipes. 
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Top tip: Notice stubborn limescale in your toilet bowl? Pour undiluted white vinegar around the bowl and let it sit for three to four hours. You can then use a toilet brush to scrub away the limescale before rinsing.

Our industry-leading aftercare program, Boutique Assist, offers a superior 12-month warranty service so your new home has enough time to settle and experience all four seasons.

Our designated Home Care team can also answer any questions you may have. 

 

 

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