Bleach makes for an amazing cleaning product used for more than just whitening your clothes. Due to its germ-busting and sanitizing composition, bleach is powerful enough to clean out your bathroom, and give it the shine and sparkle it deserves. It is a versatile cleaning agent that can be used for a wide range of purposes, and comes in many different forms: regular whitening bleach, colour-safe bleach, and even bleach gel.
What Makes Bleach a Cleaning Super Agent
Bleach is a powerful cleaning agent that works wonders in removing stains, mold, and mildew on white, non-porous surfaces. Colour-safe bleach is available for coloured surfaces, but it is are slightly less effective than regular bleach. Bleach gel and pens, on the other hand, are terrific for vertical surfaces as their viscosities allow them to stick on the surface.
While bleach is great for cleaning, keep in mind that bleach is also corrosive. Use proper precaution when handling bleach, particularly preventing contact with skin, eyes, and inhalation. Wear gloves to prevent your skin from reacting to bleach, and don a mask to prevent inhalation of bleach fumes. Don’t use bleach on natural stone surfaces, like marble and granite.
Additionally, NEVER mix bleach with any other cleaning product. Bleach has been known to create toxic gases when mixed with popular household cleaning solutions like vinegar, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide. When in doubt, best not to mix bleach with anything but water.
For Toilets
First up on our list is the star attraction of every bathroom — the toilet! You can use bleach to clean your toilet effectively without the use of any other chemicals. To clean your toilet with bleach follow these steps:
- Make a solution by mixing one tablespoon of bleach with a gallon of hot water
- Spray the bleach solution onto the toilet and begin the cleaning with the region outside the toilet bowl. Slowly work your way into the toilet by spraying each section with the bleach solution
- Once the bleach solution has been applied everywhere, you can scrub the inside of the toilet with a toilet brush to let the bleach spread evenly
- Allow the solution to sit for five minutes
- Wipe the exterior clean with a clean cloth after the bleach has sunk in
- To rinse the interior of the bowl, simply flush the toilet
For Molds
Bleach can be a handy cleaning tool when it comes to removing mold from your bathroom, along with other forms of dirt such as mildew stains. Pure or diluted bleach is powerful enough to kill mold and mildew at the roots, and remove stains as a result of mold growth. Follow these steps to clean your bathroom mold:
- Make a cleaning solution with bleach and warm water mixed in the ratio 1:1
- Clean the moldy area of the bathroom with the cleaning solution
- Allow it to stand for at least 10 minutes
- Scrub the moldy region with a bristle brush
- Rinse the sections with warm water
- Allow it to air dry by offering ventilation in the bathroom
For Grouts
Due to its tendency to grow mold, grout is tough to clean, but this material needs to be properly cleaned in the bathroom to prevent it from harbouring germs and bacteria. Fortunately, the power of bleach is capable of cleaning out the dirtiest of grout as well. You can do this by:
- Making a mix of 1:1 bleach and warm water for cleaning
- Apply the cleaning mix to the grout
- Allow it to sit on the grout for at least 10 minutes
- Use either a toothbrush or any other small brush to scrub the grout clean
- You can finish the cleaning by washing away the cleaning solution on the grout with warm water
For Stains
Bathroom stains tend to develop on various regions in the bathroom including on the sink or your countertop. Bleach does an amazing job in removing bleach on white fixtures, as the solution loosens dirt, whitens, and kills mold. To do this, follow these steps:
- Add a tablespoon of bleach to a gallon of warm water and stir the mix to dissolve the bleach entirely
- Use the solution to wipe the surface of the regions of the bathroom with stains on them
- Allow the bleach to sit on the stains for at least 10 minutes
- You can use a bristle brush to scrub the stains off the surface
- Rinse the area with warm water
- Alternatively, you can use a spot-clean bleach gel or bleach pen for hard-to-reach areas, and vertical surfaces. Tiles, grout, and walls can be cleaned with bleach gel.
For Shower Curtains
Shower curtains are exposed to a lot of moisture, humidity, and germs, and this can make them extremely filthy over time. If you have a white shower curtain, bleach can bring back its stunning whiteness. For coloured shower curtains, use colour-safe bleach to keep that vibrant colour preserved. To clean with bleach, follow these steps:
- Take down your entire shower curtain set along with the liners as well
- Place them in your washing machine along with your standard cleaning detergent and a half cup of the bleach
- Using bleach while washing the curtain helps to kill any mildew or developing odors
- If you have plastic curtains, you can use a few towels when placing them in your load to avoid wrinkling
- Allow the curtains to air dry before placing them back in your bathroom
For Bath Rugs
Bathroom rugs are placed in dark and damp regions, which is why they tend to attract a lot of mildew and mold. Bleach is a powerful mold killer, and works well in brightening white fabrics. You can clean your bathroom rugs with bleach with these simple steps:
- Place the bathroom rug in your washing machine along with a half cup of the bleach and your ordinary laundry powder
- If you have plastic mats that you use in your tub or shower, you will need to manually clean these
- To do this, soak the plastic mats in a mix of ⅛ cup of bleach and a gallon of water
- Allow the mats to rest for an hour in the liquid before you rinse them thoroughly
- Air dry the mats before placing them back in the bathroom
For Trash Cans
Cleaning your trash cans with bleach can be easily done, and prevents waste from staining your receptacle. Bleach can also deodorize and cleanse your trash bin to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and mold. All you’ll need to do is:
- Fill a spray bottle with a mix taken from one gallon of water and a tablespoon of bleach
- Allow the solution to sit in the trash can for at least 10 minutes
- Wipe the can clean with a soft and dry cloth
For Bathtubs
The bathtub is the ultimate self-care bathroom fixture. Nothing is more relaxing than soaking in a warm tub after a long, busy day. But a dirty bathtub can put a damper on your plans. Don’t fret! Bleach can get rid of those unsightly stains and rings that come from hard water and soap scum. Just follow these steps for a clean, sparkling tub:
- Fill a spray bottle with half bleach, and half water.
- Spray the bleach around your bathtub, making sure to cover all areas and stains evenly.
- Let the bleach solution dry, and re-apply another layer as needed.
- Scrub any heavily-stained areas.
- Rinse with tap water, and wipe the bathtub dry to prevent the regrowth of mold.
For Bath Toys
Your children’s bath toys have a large amount of bacteria on them which is why you’ll need to clean them frequently. Mold and mildew can grow in the interior of your children’s toys, and these can make your kids sick. To do this, follow these steps:
- Fill a bin with all the bath toys.
- Make a mix of a half cup of bleach and a gallon of water.
- Allow the toys to sit in the mix for at least 10 minutes.
- Rinse the toys with warm water carefully, making sure to remove all the bleach.
- Remove water from inside rubber toys (like rubber ducks and other squeaky toys), and allow them to air dry before using.
Final Words
Cleaning with bleach is the ultimate method when it comes to scrubbing the various elements of your bathroom. It works as an excellent substitute for commercial detergents, and cleaning with bleach is just as effective as store-bought options. For more genius cleaning hacks such as cleaning with bleach, make sure to visit our blog today!