Environmentally Friendly Cleaning: Bathroom

If you are among the many people who are concerned at the amount of chemicals we use everyday, and the potential damage to our health, and the environment, below are some suggestions for natural, greener cleaning products that you can use to clean your bathroom.

Natural cleaners are a safer, cheaper, and equally effective alternative to harsh chemicals, and best of all, you know exactly what you have used. Home made green cleaners usually use only the main cleaning agents, while as commercial cleaners often also contain additives such as fragrances and bulking agents.

If your concerns include worries about the effects of chemicals on allergies - both skin sensitivities and breathing/asthma difficulties- environmentally friendly cleaners are much less likely to cause adverse reactions. However, with any of the stronger natural products, it is still advisable to wear gloves.

Natural environmental cleaners biodegrade more quickly and fully, are lower in toxicity, and therefore much less harmful to our waterways.

Here are some useful ideas for giving your bathroom a "green clean".

• Mould on grout can be removed by using Bicarb Scouring Paste (see below) on an old toothbrush. This can also be used on mouldy shower curtains. Alternatively, a paste made from lemon juice, vinegar and borax can be used.
  
  
• Soap scum can be removed from a shower screen by using a mixture of 2 parts salt and 1 part vinegar, and rubbing with a rough cloth or scourer.  Then, rub over with a few drops of almond oil to deter recurring build-up.

• To remove hard water or rust stains, mix 1 teaspoon of salt with 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and rub vigorously.

• 1/2 cup of vinegar and 2 litres of water makes an excellent window or mirror cleaner. Doesn't tend to streak like plain water.
  
  
• To help stop bathroom mirrors from fogging, wipe over with glycerine, then buff dry with a soft cloth.
  
  
• Instead of chemical air fresheners, burn off toilet odours with a scented candle or aromatherapy oil burner.
  (Be aware of fire safety!)
  Alternatively, bowls of pot pourri act as natural air fresheners.
  
  
• Clean toilets by sprinkling dampened bowl with borax, then spraying with vinegar.  Let soak, preferably for an hour or so, then scrub with toilet brush.
  
  
• To remove stubborn bowl rings/stains, soak overnight with a paste of borax and lemon juice.  In the morning, scrub and flush before use.
  
  
• Bicarb on a toothbrush is good for cleaning nooks and crannies, such as a round taps.  Toothpaste is also great for this!
  
  
• To remove grease and scale from around plug holes, rub with half a lemon.
  
  

Bicarb Scouring Paste
8 tablespoons bicarb
2 tablespoon water
Mix into a stiff paste.
Use for scrubbing tile grout or bathroom surfaces etc.
Rinse or buff off after scrubbing.

Bicarb Household Spray Cleaner
2 teaspoon bicarb
2 teaspoon pure soap flakes
large dash of vinegar or squeeze of lemon
2 cups warm water
Mix until all is dissolved.
Put into a spray bottle and use as a cleaning spray.
Wipe bath, basin, tiles etc with a sponge or cloth.


Mould Inhibiting Spray
2 teaspoons of borax
1 cup of white vinegar
Mix and put into a spray bottle.
Spray on shower tiles etc.
Leave for 30 minutes, then wipe off.

Fragrant Disinfectant

50 drops of essential oil eg. lavender, lemon, rose

4 tablespoons methylated spirits

1 litre distilled water

Combine methylated spirits and oil in a clean bottle.

Leave for 24 hours.

Add water and put in spray bottle.

Shake bottle before each use.

Spray on bathroom (or other) surfaces,

such as toilet, basin, shower recess

for wonderfully fragrant disinfected areas.

If you don't have time, or the desire, to make your own cleaners, then look out for products with Environmental Choice logos when choosing commercial cleaners.

See some of our other Environment Guides for more

environmentally friendly cleaning ideas.