As we are at the start of 2019 it is a good idea to get yourself into any habits that you wish to continue, I’m not talking resolutions, however the beginning of a new year makes you feel like you can accomplish anything. I am going to try and make a rota for housework so that when it comes to a weekend I don’t feel as though cleaning and tidying up is all I am doing. The girls are wanting to go places and do things, scheduling in some time out means that I need to have a regular routine of keeping the house tidy.
I will be sharing lots of cleaning tips over the coming months and want to focus on more environmentally friendly ones rather than using an abundance of chemicals! With a surge in cleaning accounts using high fragrance and bleach based items on Instagram I think we should focus on taking it back to basics. The whole idea of the single use plastic ban is useless if we are spending a fortune on bottled cleaners that not only hit the pocket but hurt the environment too.
Having been asked by Better Bathrooms for my ideas on keeping a bathroom tidy here are my five eco friendly top tips.
Toilet: You don’t need to use lots of bleach based products to get your toilet looking clean. A simple mix of water, bicarbonate of soda, white vinegar and a couple of drops of essential oil are all you need. Combine into a spray bottle and administer to the toilet bowl liberally, leave to sit for a while before flushing the chain. The good thing about this home made cleaner is that you don’t need to worry about children or pets being around while in use.
Sink and Bath: To clean out the plug holes in both sinks and baths firstly remove any visible hairs etc. Pour 3/4 cup of bicarbonate of soda down the drain, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Pop the plug in to create a vacuum and leave for approx 30 minutes, the bicarb and vinegar will react together and break down and dirt, grease or remaining gunk! After about 30 minutes, pour a kettle full of boiling water down the drain to rinse clear.
Taps: Baby oil is a great way to bring out the sparkle on taps and chrome accessories. Using oil means that the water will not leave splash marks either so you will have a cleaner looking bathroom for longer! Dab a little onto a cleaning rag and wipe over the taps etc. Simple!
Tiles: A 50/50 water vinegar mix is a great cleaner for tiles and will reduce smears too. The smell does not linger and it will leave the tiles sparkling clean, simply spray the mix onto the tiles and use a light scrubbing pad for any stubborn stains. Bicarbonate of soda on a toothbrush is the ideal solution for bringing dirty grout back to life. The bicarb will make the grout whiter than ever and because it is a natural cleaner will not damage at all.
Towels: Contrary to popular belief towels do not need to be washed after every use! When you get out of the bath or shower your skin is the cleanest it will be so drying yourself is literally removing the water, which when the towel is hung back up, will dry out. My main issue is remembering to hang it back up, thankfully I have now installed one of those over the door hooks which makes it easier to remember. Popping it over the radiator works well too as it dries quicker and gives that lovely warm feeling when used again!
I really hope this helps cut back on some of the chemicals we tend to use every day, I know I am going to try and make more significant changes this year throughout the house. Let me know if you are doing the same and what you have planned, I would love to share tips!
XOXO
Debbie
This is a collaborative post
