Eco-friendly tips for keeping your bathroom clean

As a homeowner, you can make virtually any choices you like when it comes to your bathroom. You can choose the tiles, the fixtures, the colour scheme and the towels. There’s only one non-negotiable when it comes to your bathroom: cleanliness and hygiene.

In the ongoing quest to avoid harmful chemicals and unnecessary use of plastic containers, homeowners have discovered innovative ways of keeping their bathrooms sanitary. Harnessing the power of simple household items like vinegar and lemon juice, you can keep your bathroom hygienic the eco-friendly way.

Your property inspiration

When you walk into the bathroom in this stunning Bonza Bay home, three things are likely to strike you immediately. Firstly, you’ll notice how space has been efficiently used with the side-by-side spa bath and shower. Secondly, your eye will be drawn to the stunning his-and-hers drop-in basins on the counter on the right. Thirdly, you’ll notice how, despite the bathroom’s light colour palette, the bathroom is sparkling clean.

Make eco-friendly hygiene a feature in your bathroom

Making your bathroom shine is a task that must be taken on regularly - both for obvious hygiene reasons and to keep your home ready for visitors and viewers. Cleaning a bathroom thoroughly may take some time, but it’s well worth the effort.

What needs cleaning in the bathroom?

Some things are obvious: the toilet, shower, bath and basin all need cleaning. However, other things are easier to overlook. For example, attention should be paid to your tile grout. A blend of baking soda, castile soap and essential oils will take care of the grime that’s darkening your tile grout. Castile soap, available in South Africa from various retailers including Faithful to Nature and Takealot, should be part of every eco-friendly cleaner’s arsenal. This vegetable-based soap is natural, non-toxic and biodegradable. It is made from various oils including coconut oil, castor oil and hemp oil.

A step-by-step guide to bathroom cleaning

Getting back to basics, there are the three ingredients that you’ll need for most eco-friendly bathroom-cleaning solutions: baking soda, distilled white vinegar and lemons. Here’s a guide to cleaning your bathroom using these products:

• Spray a hot water and vinegar solution onto your shower door and wipe it off using some old newspaper. You’ll have clean, streak-free glass in minutes.
  
  
• Clean your bath by cutting a lemon in half and wiping it around the tub. The antibacterial citric acid in the lemon will get to work disinfecting your bath, and when you’re done, simply use a cloth and some water to wipe away the excess lemon juice.
  
  
• Make a natural counter cleaner by mixing the juice of one lemon, a cup of vinegar and a cup of water in a spray bottle. Simply shake, spray and wipe down your bathroom counters.
  
  
• Clean your showerhead by mixing a cup of white vinegar with a third of a cup of baking soda in a bucket or bowl and adding hot water. Using an old toothbrush, scrub your shower head with the mixture to remove build-up. If necessary, you can soak your showerhead by putting the mixture in a packet or a strong compostable bag. Tie the bag around the showerhead so that it is immersed and leave it overnight.

Your home should inspire you

You deserve a bathroom that sparkles in the same way that our planet deserves a break from the onslaught of pollution, plastic and chemicals. By following these simple eco-friendly guidelines, you can make a difference. If your reason for wanting your bathroom to shine is that you’re putting your home on the market, then contact the team from Lew Geffen Sotheby’s International Realty. They will help and guide you through every step of the process of buying and selling property.