Cleaning the bathroom isn’t my idea of fun, but no one wants to look at mold (or deal with the health repercussions of living with it), so this week we’re going to share our favorite recipes for making your own mold and mildew cleaners.
Last week we shared our favorite DIY toilet cleaner. After the toilet, scrubbing down the shower, tub, and sink is at the top of my “please don’t make me clean it” list. Who wants to scrub a huge area with that nasty chemical smell smothering you? Not me! Luckily, I discovered there really is a better alternative for just about every cleaning project. For mold & mildew, I have 2 recipes I like to use.
The first is great for cleaning around the tub and the shower walls. The second is a homemade tea tree spray you can use daily (or however often you wipe down the bathroom)
Heavy Duty Grout Cleaner
- ½ cup vinegar
- 1 cup baking soda
- An old toothbrush
- 1 gallon hot water
- 2 Tbsp castile soap, liquid
- Bucket (or your sink)
- Cleaning cloth
Carefully mix baking soda and vinegar. Add the vinegar to the baking soda slowly or it will fizz everywhere. Once it’s well-mixed, grab your toothbrush and cake it on over any mold spots. Let it sit overnight.
In the morning, use the toothbrush to scrub the dried paste in. Fill your bucket (or sink) with hot water and add your castile soap. Wet your cloth and wipe down everywhere you used the paste. Then, rinse it all off.
Tea Tree Oil Spray
Items you will need:
- Empty spray bottle
- 2 tsp. tea tree oil
- Warm water
- Cleaning cloth
Fill the spray bottle with warm water and add your tea tree oil. Spray any mold/mildew and let sit for about 1/2 hour. Wipe down with your cleaning rag. Tea tea has a strong scent, but it will fade over a couple hours.
Note: It’s recommended that you hire a professional for mold that covers more than three square feet. For your average bathroom, you should grab a pair of gloves and if you have any respiratory issues, you may want to use a mask to be on the safe side.
And to keep the mold away wipe down the shower after cleaning with salt on a wet rag or sponge…keeps it away for TONS longer than anything else I’ve ever tried.
P.S. I’ve only ever used canning salt – and be careful if you have cuts or scrapes on your hands – ouch!