Surprising Hacks That Will Make Your Bathroom A Better Place

10 Surprising Hacks

That Will Make Your Bathroom A Better Place

By Kate Auletta -  07/19/2013

We're always looking for the easiest, fastest and most effective ways to clean our homes... who isn't? And this is especially important when it comes to cleaning our bathrooms.

So we've rounded up 10 awesomely inventive, totally useful bathroom lifehacks that will make dealing with this space so much easier.

1. Clean your bathtub with grapefruit.

Scrubbing the bathtub can be a dreaded task, especially if you’re using harsh chemicals that irritate your skin and smell unpleasant. Fortunately, Apartment Therapy found a way to clean your bathtub naturally.

First, cut a grapefruit in half and sprinkle it with salt. Then, wet your tub and salt the bottom. Next, simply use the fruit as a scrubber and run it along the entire surface. Finally, rinse the bath completely.

We knew grapefruits were good for your health but who knew they could help make your bathroom gleam?

2. Place an extension rod in the shower for more storage.

Unless you live in a mansion, chances are your bathroom is a small space. And if that's true, then you know there never seems to be enough storage for all of the things you need. Often times we try to force catch-alls into the shower with shower head racks and suction cup containers. But they just never seem to work out because they're prone to slipping and before you know it, you're getting hit in the head with a bottle of shampoo. But one Reddit user found a really interesting organizing tip for the bathroom.

 

Teruterus added a second shower rod to their space and was able to hang loofahs, caddies and even children's toys from the pole. 

We think this is a pretty cool idea because it saves space, keeps things tidy and everything is within reach. Plus, the rods tend to be sturdier than hanging something on a shower head.

But if you're not exactly into the idea of having two, another great way to save space in your bathroom is by repurposing spice racks. Blogger Aileen Barker spray painted Ikea racks and created a shelving unit right by her tub.

3. Remove toilet rust stains with a pumice stone.

We've come across some great ways to clean the loo but because it's not exactly the most pleasant job, we're always looking for new and easy solutions to help the process. And Bright Nest offered a tip that will help you remove rust stains from your toilet by repurposing a pumice stone.

First, soak the pumice is warm water. Then, using rubber gloves, start scrubbing the rust with the object. As Bright Nest points out it’s very important make sure the surface and pumice are always wet to avoid scratching the porcelain. 

Next, once you see the stain is gone, flush the toilet and your throne should be sparkling.

You can use this trick on other porcelain fixtures around the house -- just make sure you're using it for particularly stubborn stains so your surface stays intact.

Be sure to check out our other cleaning and organizing tips.

4. Use petroleum jelly to increase the suction of a toilet plunger and keep it in good shape.

One of the dirtiest jobs in the home is unclogging a sink or worse, the toilet. But sadly, it’s a task we all must do from time to time. If you’re having a little difficulty getting proper pressure with your plunger, Horizon Services found a really neat trick to get good suction from a plunger.

 

All you have to do is rub some petroleum jelly around the edge of the tool. This should increase the suction and also aid in keeping your rubber tool crack-free.

This is a nifty little trick we weren’t privy to, but luckily Horizon Services has a ton of great information on how to properly use a plunger -- some of which may surprise you. And let’s face it, any help in this department is very much appreciated.

5. Drop some Alka-Seltzer tablets to unclog your drain.

One of the more disgusting chores out there is when you have to unclog your drain -- especially if you don't have any handy tools. But we came across this tip from One Good Thing By Jillee on how to conquer this task with ... Alka-Seltzer.

First, drop four tablets down the drain. Then, pour a cup of vinegar down there, too. Wait about 10 minutes, and then rinse with boiling water. Apartment Therapy notes that this won't work for serious blockage, but will do the trick if it isn't severe.

6. Vacuum around the toilet bowl and other small spaces with a straw.

For 20 years, Bruce Lubin and his wife Jeanne have been collecting tips and hints to save time, money, and make everyday tasks easier. Their book "Who Knew?"by TeleBrands includes thousands of money-saving secrets for cooking, cleaning and other tasks around your home.

As you move from room to room, you'll discover how to affordably clean your home using all-natural, homemade cleaners; get rid of any kind of stain on the planet; organize like a whiz; keep your car at its best; and perform simple household repairs. We are republishing a fabulous tip from the book on an easy way to help you clean small spaces.

Trying to clean super-small spaces around the house? Don't buy additional vacuum equipment if your attachments are too big. Instead, grab a straw -- preferably one of those giant straws from a fast-food chain -- and insert part of it into the smallest attachment you have. Tape it in place, and you'll be able to suck up dirt and dust in the tiniest of spaces.

7. Use cotton coil to help you remove mold from your bathtub.

There’s nothing that can ruin the clean feeling you get from showering quite like stepping into a tub that is lined with fungus. Not only is mold unsightly but it can also be hazardous to your health. Luckily, Jessica from This Blessed Life let us know that there is an easy way to remove mildew from your tub's grout.

All you have to do is pick up an inexpensive pack of cotton coil from a beauty supply store (used to protect your skin during the application of a perm) and soak it in bleach. Then, just let this sit on the mold overnight around the perimeter of the tub, working its magic and when you awake and pull the material away you should be left with a clean area.

We’ve tried endless times to scrub away the infected spots with bleach but it never seemed to do the trick. But letting it set for a couple of hours gives results we’ve all been looking for.

8. Stop your shower curtain from sticking with a little Vaseline.

There’s nothing like stepping into a warm shower after traveling in the cold. Yet the experience can often be ruined when your shower curtain rings get stuck and you find yourself fighting with the curtain just to close it. But fortunately, there is a way around this sticky problem. Helium found a great tip on how to stop a shower curtain from sticking.

All you have to do is apply a thin coat of Vaseline to the shower rod. This should allow for smooth movement the next time you hop in for a good scrub.

We like this idea because it saves you money and you don’t have to run out and buy a new fixture or rings. Plus, it repurposes petroleum jelly!

9. Get rid of cobwebs with a balloon.

While fake cobwebs make great Halloween decorations, there’s nothing scarier than having real ones lurking in the corners of your home. Unfortunately most of the time we can hardly see them, let alone remove them completely. Luckily, Howcast found a great way to clean cobwebs.

Simply run a helium balloon along ceilings and walls to catch any spider webs that may be lingering.

This is an easy way to get rid of the creepy dust-collectors without straining yourself. Plus, it allows your birthday balloons to function as something other than a reminder of how old you are.

10. Clean soap scum with cooking spray.

While we love our wonderful body washes and sweet-smelling soaps, it’s unfortunately these products that cause unsightly white grime on our shower doors and walls. Removing this harsh build-up can be a pain but Daily Organized Chaos found a very unusual way to clean soap scum.

Simply spray down your shower with nonstick cook spray. Allow this to sit for five minutes and then wash it off with water.

If you’re tired of scrubbing and scrubbing without getting any results, this trick is definitely worth a try because, let’s face it, you definitely don’t want to get yourself clean in a less than gleaming shower.

 

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