Talk to Me Tuesday - Bathroom Cleaning 101
Bathroom, Talk To Me Tuesday, Cleaning Tips January 22nd, 2008As I mentioned in a previous post, I dread cleaning bathrooms. I hate the germy gunk, the smelly chemicals, and the overall time commitment. One area I particularly loathe is my shower. For the last several years I’ve had a shower with sliding glass doors. You know, those lovely glass doors that start out looking so bright and clear and slowly morph into cloudy, soap scum-covered eye sores? Well, I hate cleaning them. To begin with, it seems to take a lot of product to break through the soap scum. On top of that, in order to get to the pesky scum you have to be willing to climb into the shower, close the doors, ruin whatever clothes you’re wearing, and inhale toxic fumes. And to top it all off, no matter how hard you try, you can’t ever get to the pesky three inches of glass where the sliding doors overlap.
I’ve wrestled with my shower frustration for years now. Then last week a simple solution to my years of shower hatred hit me right in the face…literally. As I was scouring the scum-covered door, one of the glass panels popped out of its track and fell into the shower. I thought about putting it back on and then realized that the door would be much easier to clean if I left it off the track. Within ten minutes I had popped both panels off their track, cleaned both sides of the stubborn glass, and popped them back into place. As a bonus, while the shower doors were off the track drying, I was able to step into the shower and scrub the walls and floor. It was so much easier to get to all those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies now that the doors weren’t in the way. At last, I’d found an easy and effective way to get my shower clean.
Of course, immediately after figuring this out, I was kicking myself for not thinking of it sooner. I bet most of you figured it years ago. In fact, I bet you guys have tons of great tips for a lack-luster house-cleaner like me. So for today’s ‘Talk To Me Tuesday’ post, I’m asking for you for your favorite cleaning tips. Are there cleaning products or tools that you can’t live without? Have you found any tips or tricks that make your cleaning process easier or faster? If so, I hope you’ll share it with the rest of us. I can’t wait to hear what you come up with. As always, for those of you that comment, thanks - in advance - for passing it on.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
I so look forward to each of your posts!!! I have a clear shower door so I have found that if I squeegie the door when I’m done it rarely needs much cleaning at all. I also put a clorox toilet tabs in each of my toilets so I can avoid scrubbing the bowls. I too, hate, did I mention HATE cleaning bathrooms so anything I can do to make it take less time and effort, I’m all for it.
January 23rd, 2008 at 9:44 am
Ok girl. I want to know what product you use on your shower doors. I have a shower door that is clear or at least it is supposed to be. I have tried numerous different products and have been unimpressed. Am I using the wrong stuff or not doing it enough times? Suggestions?
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:58 am
My solution to the shower door problem is to save my money to have my bathroom remodeled. I’m still saving…. I will be checking back, though. I need shower tips. And the squeegie does work on the clear ones. We use those at my in-laws.
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:11 pm
We had sliding glass doors on a shower and I didn’t like it. Cleaning wasn’t fun, of course, but I really hated it because it made it hard to give my little girl a bath. We just took them out (frame and all!) and hung up a cute shower curtain. Worked for us!
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I so love this blog!
I guess I’m fortunate that I have a separate tub/shower but I still have glass on 2 sides of the shower and a walk in shower door. The only thing that I have found that keeps it looking nice and fresh is to make sure that after I’m done cleaning MYSELF, that I use my washcloth to wipe down everything. The tile/grout however — UGH… I get in there with Clorox Bleach spray cleaner and a scrubbie — I, too, however, feel like I need to wear a pair of waders and a gas mask to do it. Hate cleaning that. Someone needs to develop a waterproof dremmel type tool for cleaning grout quickly… or that guy that does the infomercials for that Oxy Clean or whatever that stuff is that just makes your bathrooms look like new — he can come shoot one of his commercials in my bathroom just to prove to me that it works >
January 23rd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
I agree with the squeegie bit. I have a suction hook in the shower that I hang the squeegie on. After “I” shower, I squeegie the doors and the walls. Somedays I don’t feel like doing it but I remind myself that it literally only takes 30 seconds and will save me many hours of scrubbing later.
I like Tilex Soap Scum Remover for shower doors (NOT Tilex Mold & Mildew). I spray it on the inside of the wet doors, let is sit for 5 minutes and then scrub it a bit with a scrubber or rough side of a sponge. Then rinse.
Lastly, Maria, you need to designate some clothes as cleaning clothes for when you clean the shower/bathrooms. Or, just clean the shower in your birthday suit before you shower.
Lisa, I too am saving up for a bathroom remodel. I hate, hate the double shower doors!
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
January 24th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
I’m excited to have a place to share my new discovery with the world. I have a cabinet full of bath tub/shower cleaning products I have bought over the years. Finally, I have discovered one which actually works: the Extra Power Magic Eraser. Even that took some scrubbing, though, until I combined it with one of my many bath tub cleaners. Right now I am using Scrubbing Bubbles. Just spray on and then wipe off using the Magic Eraser. I haven’t had any problem with combining the two, but I would suggest trying it on a small area first to make sure it doesn’t cause damage or create noxious fumes.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I have used “The Works” cleaner for years and love it! I buy it at the dollar store, so for a buck I don’t worry about using a whole bottle on my shower, and it really does make the cleaning easy.
January 25th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
I just happened upon this blog once and check it sometimes to get all your good ideas. I thought I’d just tell you something that I have found to work with tubs. I hate cleaning the bathroom too. This solution is smelly but works. Just put some baking soda and vinegar in your tub and let it sit for a few minutes. Then just scrub it off. It works really well.
January 25th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
In regards to grout cleaning: My family all got battery powered spinning toothbrushes for Christmas. It occurs to me that one of those might be great for cleaning grout. I can’t try it- I have flat walls in both showers. But someone might give it a try (I’d put a label on the toothbrush to avoid any gnarly dental moments.)
January 25th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I love using Lemi Shine for my shower. Fill a spray bottle with 1/4 cup of Lemi Shine, add water (about 16 ounces). Spray the solution on your shower door, let it sit, then clean with a sponge and rinse. Lemi Shine also works great for cleaning the toilet, and let’s not forget it’s power and wonder in the dish washer. I blogged about it here:
http://ajshermanfamily.blogspot.com/2008/01/household-product-i-can-not-live.html
I am huge believer in this stuff. I really love that it is all natural.
January 26th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I don’t have one right now because mine broke but I LOVE to use the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner. It’s really easy to use…just push the button when you get out and it sprays most of the shower (it doesn’t spray higher than itself). But it helps to keep the soap scum from building up. I used it on a shower door that wasn’t clear so I don’t know how it looks on a clear on but I LOVED it in mine! It helped the overall cleaning process…less to scrub in the long run. Maybe it’ll work for you!
February 5th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I will have to second the Magic Eraser (even the cheap ones from the dollar store) for shower doors. I don’t use a cleaner with it either. Just wipe down the doors a couple times a week with it does the trick.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
The best and easiest thing I have used for shower/tub surfaces is a wet dryer sheet. Just lather it up with water and scrub. It gets soap scum off well and costs almost nothing!