Shower your stall with cleanliness

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/08/2007 (6871 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

LAST week you learned how to keep shower doors looking new, now grab your sponge and head inside the shower.

1 Before cleaning the shower, loosen dirt by running hot water for a few minutes.

2 Shower stall cleaner (option 1): Combine 1 tablespoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon liquid detergent and water to fill spray bottle. Spray and scrub until clean. Rinse.

3 Shower stall cleaner (option 2): Pour 1/2 cup Dawn dish soap into a bottle and fill the remainder with vinegar. Spray, leave for 20 minutes and wipe.

4 Shower stall cleaner (option 3): In a ventilated bathroom, combine (into a spray bottle) 1/2 cup vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 gallon water. Spray, leave for 10 minutes and wipe with a sponge. Tip: Wear gloves when using this recipe.

5 Remove yellow stains that appear on showers and tubs by gently wiping with a mixture of salt and turpentine.

6 Bath oil rings on showers will disappear with a solution of 50/50 ammonia and water.

7 Cleaning a clogged showerhead (option 1): Remove the showerhead. Fill a bowl with vinegar and place the showerhead inside. Leave overnight. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the deposits on the holes of the showerhead. Rinse with water.

8 Cleaning a clogged showerhead (option 2): Measure 1 cup white vinegar into a plastic bag. Place the bag over the showerhead, secure it with a rubber band, making sure the head is immersed. Leave overnight and then take it off the next morning.

9 Use a fungicide spray for mould growth that you find in the shower area. Or make a homemade recipe: Combine 1 teaspoon of bleach with one quart cold water. Spray and leave for 5 minutes. Wipe (test to make sure the bleach will not damage shower fixtures or finish).

10 Mould problems collect where the shower walls meet the floor or where the tub meets the wall. Cut rolled cotton into long strips, place around the perimeter, soak cotton with undiluted bleach, let stand a few hours, remove and discard.

11 Sprinkle salt on half a lemon and rub on copper and brass fixtures to get them clean.

12 To break up stubborn soap scum from your shower fixtures, apply a non-sticking cooking spray to a cloth and wipe the troublesome area clean. You can also clean the scum with a used dryer sheet by rubbing the area with a little pressure until clean.

13 To clean grout, in a spray bottle combine 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/3 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar and seven cups of water. (Do not use this in conjunction with chlorine bleach or where chlorine bleach has been used). Spray solution on and wipe with a damp sponge, old toothbrush or cloth. No rinsing required.

14 When unsealed, grout absorbs the dirt, grease, water, or whatever else comes near it. Seal grout with a sealer that repels moisture to prevent discoloration and keep it looking new.

15 Keep your exhaust fan running at least 30 minutes (1 hour is even better) following a shower to reduce mould and mildew.

Solutions, is compiled from various sources: totallyclean.com, sg.answers.yahoo.com, essortment.com, howstuffworks.com, ehow.com. Similar information may be found elsewhere.

Test all recipes on a small inconspicuous area first.

Reena Nerbas is the author of two national bestsellers: Household Solutions 1 with Substitutions and Household Solutions 2 with Kitchen Secrets. She can be heard biweekly on the CBC radio show-Up To Speed and the TV show Living Winnipeg.

householdsolutions@mts.net