How to Clean the Bathroom with Non-toxic Supplies
Naturally Clean the Bathroom
(and a homemade soft scrub recipe)
Cleaning the bathroom doesn't have to be complicated. It also doesn't have to be toxic. You can clean the bathroom the natural way.
This post contains affiliate links to 3rd party sites where purchases may be made resulting in paid compensation to this blogger.
Most of us know that the cleaners lining the grocery shelves are full of toxins, harmful to our health, and bad for the environment. Chemicals such as chlorine bleach and ammonia may clean well, but they can also damage the nervous and respiratory systems (as noted in Make Your Place by Raleigh Briggs, page 46).
We do our best to stay away from these chemicals, but when it comes to killing germs or tough cleaning jobs, it can be tempting to give in and reach for the bleach (or other toxic cleaner). One place this often happens is the bathroom. I like to reach for my homemade toxin free disinfecting spray to solve the toughest disinfecting jobs.
Let’s face it; the bathroom is one area that we want to keep as fresh as possible!
How can we clean the bathroom effectively without using chemicals?
Arm yourself with the right tools:
Ingredients such as vinegar, castile soap, baking soda, essential oils, and water will allow you to make all manner of non-toxic cleaners.
Tools such as a scrubby sponge, a decent toilet brush, and a microfiber cloth help get the jobs done when a little extra elbow grease is needed.
How to Clean the Bathroom toilet
For daily cleaning/sanitizing, fill a spray bottle with vinegar and add a few drops of essential oil. I like to use lemon or tea tree; both have anti-bacterial properties and smell great. Use approximately 5 drops of essential oil per cup of vinegar. Spray on toilet seats and wipe.
When additional cleaning power is needed, add a tablespoon of to the vinegar and shake to blend.
For an extra thorough toilet cleaning: pour in a ½ cup of baking soda and 10 drops of tea tree oil. Get the toilet brush ready and add ¼ cup of vinegar to the bowl. As it fizzes, scrub the toilet.
Because of the reactive nature of this combination, it is not possible to make a big batch to save for future use. But you can pre-measure the baking soda into a container and add the essential oil (10 drops per ½ cup) and have that stored in the bathroom. Then you only need to add the vinegar each time.
To Clean the Bathroom Grout
To clean grout in between tiles, sprinkle baking soda over the tile and grout, and spray with undiluted hydrogen peroxide. Scrub with a toothbrush and rinse with water.
To Clean the Bathroom Mirror
Make your own window/mirror cleaner.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 6 drops lemon essential oil, optional
Method:
Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake to blend. Spray on mirror and wipe off with a dry cloth.
Make your own Bathroom Odor Eliminator
Simple Odor Absorber
A very simple air freshener and odor absorber can be made by opening a small box of baking soda, and adding 15-20 drops of essential oil. But that's not overly pretty. . .
Instead, add 1 cup of baking soda and 15 drops of lavender essential oil to a pretty jar.
Add a lid and poke holes in it to allow the lavender scent to escape.
Secretly Fresh Bathroom Scent
Add 5 drops of lavender or lemon essential oil to the inside of the cardboard tube of the toilet paper roll. When the roll is turned, the scent will be dispersed.
How to Clean the bathroom Tub and shower
Prevention is key to keeping the bath and shower clean.
Here are two things you can do a couple of times a week, right after taking a shower:
Spray the shower walls with vinegar to prevent mildew.
Keep a spray bottle filled with scented vinegar right in the shower stall to make this an easy job.
Use a squeegee to wipe down the walls.
You will be amazed at how much this cuts down on cleaning and scrubbing, especially if you have glass doors in the shower. We have a squeegee that suctions to the wall. That way it’s easy to reach (and right in front of my face to remind me!).
While prevention may be key to keeping the bathroom clean, it is still necessary to give the tub a thorough scrubbing once in a while. When that time comes, make your own Soft Scrub!
Clean the Bathroom Homemade Non-Toxic Soft Scrub
for Bath and Tile
This recipe is adapted from the recipe for Earth Paste in Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan (page243). It is quick and easy to put together and effectively cleans the bath (hooray). Make this in small batches because it can dry out and harden when stored. This recipe makes enough for two to four uses. Keep any remaining mixture in an air tight container.
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup baking soda (slightly heaped)
- ¼ cup castile soap (I use Dr. Bronners Peppermint)
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 1 Tablespoon vinegar
Method:
In a bowl, combine the baking soda and castile soap. Add the water and stir with a fork.
Lastly, stir in the vinegar. The mixture will fizz a little. Stir to make a nice soft, paste-like, consistency. (This is important – the vinegar must go in last or else the scrub will be like sludge instead of a creamy paste.)
Scoop out the scrub with a sponge and start cleaning.
This scrub can also be used to clean the toilet.
The recipes in this post will enable you to clean the bathroom from top to bottom without using chemicals. The vinegar spray will also clean the mirror and door handles. Add soap to the vinegar mix, and it will get the counter top, sink, and walls clean. If you own a microfiber cloth, use it to clean the mirrors with water.
Emily has a recipe for homemade disinfecting wipes which are nice to have on hand for extra messy moments.You might also enjoy my favorite floor cleaner.
What tips do you have for using non-toxic cleaners in the bathroom? Share your best tips in the comments.
