Maintaining a clean bathroom is essential for any home or business owner. Not only is it a health and sanitary issue, but an aesthetic one too. It is rarely voiced out loud, but it’s extremely common for guests to notice the state of cleanliness of your bathroom. Trust us, we have been providing house cleaning services in Toronto for more than a decade.
What people often may not notice is the harsh and toxic chemicals that are commonly used to maintain this cleanliness. There are a number of reasons why we need to try our best to avoid using harsh chemicals not only in cleaning bathrooms, but in cleaning in general. In addition to toxic chemicals being health and safety hazards, they are adding to our global issue of preserving the environment for generations to come.
Can I achieve a clean bathroom without chemicals?
Simple answer is Yes. There are numerous natural ways to clean a bathroom without putting yourself, your family, your guests and the environment at risk. You may be wondering what chemicals are actually toxic, and how they affect one’s health and ecology. Here is a list of chemicals we need to avoid when choosing the right cleaning products to clean showers, sinks, mirrors, toilets and tubs:
- ammonia,
- ethylene glycol monobutyl acetate,
- sodium hypochlorite
- trisodium phosphate
While the list above may not mean much to you, studies have shown that they negatively impact your health and the environment. So next time you are choosing a cleaning product, try to keep in mind or use Google search engine, to avoid the chemicals listed above. They are toxic. And majority of shower and toilet cleaners (even some that are labeled as ‘Green’ or ‘Natural’) will contain them. So the question is…
How To Clean Your Bathroom Without Chemicals?
There are a number of products you can use to clean for a clean toilet without bleach, and clean sinks, tubs and showers without chemicals. Natural ways to clean include the following:
- Green Cleaning Products. While some products may claim to be all green and natural, as noted in section above, always check the ingredients for harmful agents. Another note to consider while using all green products are scented products. These can often cause allergies.
- Baking soda. This is a universal anti-bacterial and anti-septic all natural product, almost always kept in every house hold. Your best bet is mixing it with a bit of water to make a paste in order to get rid of grime, dirt and stains. It is especially helpful for lightening grout and getting rid of mold.
- Vinegar. This is another common household product often used as a natural bath cleaner, as well as toilet, shower and sink cleaner. This product can be combined with water and baking soda, or on its own. However, it is always best to dilute it in water to not damage any surfaces.
- Boric Acid (Borax). Another great safe and non-toxic cleaning product that can be used for toilet cleaning without chemicals, as well as for sanitizing and getting rid of mold. Similar to baking soda, it’s a natural salt, often used for sanitizing, disinfecting and cleaning.
Natural Ways to Clean Your Bathroom Mirrors and Shower Doors
While bathroom mirrors and shower doors don’t come directly in contact with your skin, if you prefer the natural and non-toxic cleaners, vinegar is your best bet. Mix in vinegar with water (1:2 ratio), and spray the surface all over. Before spraying the surface, it is a good idea to wipe it clean from dust with either a paper towel or a microfibre cloth. Microfibre cloth is also the best option for cleaning the solution off after you sprayed it. However, if you don’t have a microfibre cloth handy, soft paper towel will do too. If you find you have streaks on glass or mirror after you’ve cleaned off the solution, simply rinse it with warm water. And voila! You’ve got a clean mirror and a clean shower without chemicals!
Chemical Free Ways to Clean your Bath and Shower
For natural ways to clean tubs, grout and shower tiles, you can either use an all green product available at your local grocery or health food store, or use a household product mentioned above. Boric acid, baking soda and/or vinegar will do the trick in getting rid of stains, mold, dirt and grime. Here is our recommendation for best results in natural cleaning for your bathtub and shower:
- Step 1. Combine vinegar with water in a bucket. It is best to use hot water, as long as it is bearable to the touch.
- Step 2. Sprinkle baking soda all over the tub/shower.
- Step 3. Use a sponge to add vinegar water solution to thoroughly rub in baking soda info the surfaces.
- Step 4. Use a scrub brush or sponge to rub the surface of the bathtub or shower, thoroughly covering all of the surface. For stains and grout, you may need to apply some pressure to thoroughly scrub it.
- Step 5. Let the surface absorb the mixture, letting it sit for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Step 6. Clean the surfaces with warm water with a clean sponge, periodically rinsing the sponge from the baking soda and vinegar until there is nothing left but water on the surfaces of your tub and shower.
3 Most Effective Ways to Clean Your Toilet Without Chemicals
The right tools and products will help you get rid of stains in your toilet bowl without using toxic chemicals and bleach. Choosing the right tools is your number one step to get rid of disgusting stains on your toilet bowl. The next step is using the right non-toxic product, with the right ratio.
- The most commonly recommended natural and non-toxic way to clean a toilet is with vinegar and baking soda. Simply poor two cups of vinegar into a toilet bowl, and pour one cup of baking soda. When the solution stops fizzing, spread it over the bowl with a toilet cleaner brush. Leave for 10-15 minutes and rinse.
- Natural cleaning products. Sometimes called All Green, some are Organic, but all differ in quality and effectiveness. Look for recommendations on social media, or sites like Reddit, where people give their honest feedbacks for a product.
- Boric Acid, often sold under the name Borax can also be a very effective way to clean, sanitize and remove stains from your toilet bowl. Sprinkle two cups of boric acid all over the toilet bowl and scrub the bowl with a toilet brush. Leave the solution in the bowl overnight. Borax helps dissolve stains when left overnight. In the morning simply flush the toilet wiping it down with a toilet brush.
How Professionals Can Help You
If cleaning a bathroom with non-toxic, natural or all green products is new to you, you can benefit a lot from hiring a professional. Simple solution, of course, is if someone does it for you. After all, that what cleaning professionals are for. But what can be most effective is learning about the products and the processes yourself. A good professional will always be able to explain to you what they are using, how and why.
