Tiled tub/shower wall:
The grout on tub walls can collect gunk and minerals from hard water quite quickly. Simply wiping it down doesn’t always do the trick. Grab a silicone or stiff bristled brush and a bathroom cleaner – TileX or Scrubbing Bubble Foamer work well for mainstream cleaners. Or you can go the all-natural route and use a spray bottle with vinegar in it.
Spray your choice of cleaner on and walk away for 10 minutes. You could also go shine the bathroom mirror at this point. After 10 minutes, scrub the wall well, focusing on the grooves. If you haven’t paid attention to those grooves for awhile you may be surprised just how much nicer it looks.
Cleaning Bath Crayon off the tub:
Have you ever bought the bathtub crayons for your kids and discovered what a pain they are to clean off? Spray well with a bathroom cleaner (most any work) and walk away for 2-5 minutes. Come back and wipe away with a damp rag. Most of the crayon should now wipe right off rather than need a hard scrubbing. If some residue is left, spray again and let sit 1 or 2 minutes. I may re-think my ban on the bath crayons in my house. Maybe.
Shower head, handles and overflow:
Water can make the shiny metal dull and water spotted. Spray a little white vinegar on and shine with a microfiber cloth or paper towel. Wait until the rest of the shower is clean though.
Inside of the tub:
Germs and bacteria lurk in your tub. Dirt and soap scum from previous use tends to build up quite easily. Just wiping the tub down doesn’t actually get that gunk off. Use a cleaner made to dissolve soap scum and scrub that nastiness off. I have found that foaming Scrubbing Bubbles and cleaners with slightly abrasive textures like Scrub Free work the best at cutting away this build up. Once place I do not go “all natural” since nothing else has worked for me yet. Make sure to rinse the tub a few times to get all cleaning residue off. You don’t want that added to your next bath time.
Tub Mat:
When was the last time you pulled it up and cleaned the bottom of it (or checked to make sure your housekeeper is)? Between the tub mat and bathtub bottom is a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew since moisture gets trapped there and it doesn’t dry out well or quickly. It takes less than 5 minutes to keep it safer for your family. If it has been awhile it may take a little longer to get it where it needs to be but once you are ready to maintain it it will take little to no time. You will need a scrubbing brush, disinfectant, mildew remover, and water. Flip the mat over, bottom up. Spray with cleaner and let sit 5 minutes. Scrub well, making sure to clean really well around any suction cups. Rinse and let dry. Actually, my REAL recommendation is to throw it out if it already has mildew spots on it. Start fresh. That $7-$12 is well worth it. Maintain the tub mat by attaching the suction cup mat to the wall of the shower/tub to drip dry. If it doesn’t have suction cups, try to prop it against the inside of the tub on its side. Spray with cleaner and wipe down weekly.
Glass/plastic glass doors:
Spray with peroxide or vinegar and wipe down, inside and out. If you do this every week it will cut down on the amount of of elbow grease it requires to get it back into shape when there has been a lot of water mineral build up.
Follow these steps and soon you will have a sparkling shower or tub. Once you have done “catch up” work on it it will take just a few minutes to maintain each week.