There are days that going into the tub or shower looks like a scene out of a bad horror movie. The stains hanging on the curtains, walls, tiles, and tub appear as if they were carefully placed like someone’s lab experiment gone awry. And, if your life is anything like mine, you‚re tempted to just give up and get whole new fixtures.
The good news is that there are items in your home right now that can help, and that also don”t break the bank. The primary solution to most issues is vinegar. It has a mild acidity that cuts through a lot of scum and lime with a little soaking. It also battles hard water deposits effectively, while deodorizing too! It doesn”t damage grout like some cleansers either. For those of you who don”t like the smell ‚ have no fear. Once vinegar dries, the odor dissipates.
The basic measure for vinegar to water for a cleansing solution to tackle kitchen and bathroom issues is one to one. If you know you’re tackling a tough stain or layers of goo, heat the blend on the stove top or microwave then spray on and wait a good 15 minutes.
The combination of heat and vinegar helps get under those stubborn spots and remove them. Note, however, that if you‚re dealing with some long-term build up, you may have to repeat the process several times to obtain significant results.
By the way, plain white vinegar without dilution helps clean out your showerhead too. Just remove it, and let it sit in vinegar for 8 hours. Rinse, and watch the results. You‚ll feel as if your water pressure’s improved at least 25 percent.
For areas that seem to need more scrubbing, look to baking soda as a friend and helpmate. It’s gentle but effective. Sprinkle it on a sponge even as you might with a cleansing powder and then get to work. If you find that’s not good enough, dampen a bit and paint it on, letting it set for a half hour then scrub.
Sprinkle baking soda onto a damp sponge to tackle grimy bathtub rings, scour vanities, or remove food deposits from the kitchen sink. For tougher grime, make a paste of baking soda ( I use Arm and Hammer of course. And water, apply to the tub or sink, and allow to stand for 10 to 20 minutes. Dirt, soap scum and deposits soften and are easier to remove.
bem
July 26, 2009
people are amazed once they try this solution even though it seems a bit unusual.
Fume Free Easy Off Oven Cleaner in the BLUE CAN. NOT the yellow can. The BLUE CAN FUME FREE is made with a non toxic solution that will not harm fiberglass, metal, stainless steel etc. The yellow can is acid based and can cause damage.
Spray the bottom of the tub first since the can will not spray properly when tilted once the can is more than half empty. Let it sit for a couple of hours, I myself let it sit overnight. Then, the amazing part! Get a medium stiffness nylon brush. I use one that is actually for scrubbing car tires, turn on the shower and rinse with the water and scrub(I use the term lightly!) with the brush and your jaw will hit the floor when you see how easily the scum comes off! The first time I tried it was out of desperation trying to clean a shower that a couple of tenants hadn’t cleaned in five years. I thought for sure the tub would have to be replaced until I found this secret scum destroyer. It was a tip I learned from a guy who runs his own cleaning business and said he has tried many different things over the years just to see what might and might not work and now this is all he uses in hard to clean bathrooms. Once you try this, you’re gonna want to hunt me down so you can kiss me!!
September 6, 2009
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I just returned from the store and am trying the oven cleaner now, just checking the website to see how long to leave it on. Will let you know results. Do you have any suggestions on how to remove oil stains from concrete? I don’t mean fresh stains….a storage room had motor oil spilled in it years ago and seems to have permanently seeped into the concrete making it look and smell bad. I’m going to try powdered laundry detergent and hot water, then maybe cat litter if that doesn’t work. Open for any other suggestions. Thanks.
September 6, 2009
Update: I used the no-fumes oven cleaner in the blue can on my fiberglass tub and it actually works. I even bought an off-brand at the dollar store. Anyway, I was so anxious to see if it worked that I only left in on about an hour then scrubbed with a cordless scrubber. I had already used several other cleaners so it wasn’t too bad at this point. After I rinsed and dried the tub with an old towel, I applied auto polish to the sides only and buffed it with an old t-shirt. Wow! I have the cleanest, shiniest tub ever!!! I’ve instructed everyone to wipe down the tub after each use to avoid future build-up. We’re getting the house ready to sell, and now I can actually pull back the shower curtain and not be embarrassed by the ugly white soap scum on my 35-year-old avocado green tub (I had even thought I would have to replace the tub….ugh! Expensive and difficult.)