How To Clean Bathrooms with Vinegar

Bathroom maintenance is important to keep on top of, but it can still feel overwhelming. It’s frustrating enough tackling stubborn stains and keeping your bathroom sparkling, but when there’s a multitude of cleaning products on the market, it can be hard to find one you can rely on. 

But what if we said that humble vinegar can be just as effective at keeping your bathroom clean as those rows of spray bottles and cleaning agents at the supermarket? 

From its numerous uses to exactly why it’s so good at keeping the dirt away, we’re here to show you just how versatile vinegar really is…

Why Vinegar is Good for Cleaning? 

Vinegar makes a great household cleaner as it’s made from acetic acid  - an ingredient in store-bought household cleaners - however vinegar is more eco-friendly and a lot cheaper. Vinegar is good for cleaning because its acidic which means it’s able to dissolve dirt, grease, grime and kill bacteria, making it perfect for cleaning your bathroom.

What Vinegar is Best to Use for Cleaning? 

White distilled vinegar is the best for cleaning as it doesn’t contain a colour agent, like dark coloured vinegar, so it won’t leave any stains. White distilled vinegar has about 5% acidity which is the same as many store-bought household cleaners, making it the best cheap alternative, hidden in everyone’s kitchen cupboard. However, if you don’t like the smell of the white vinegar, there are alternatives. 

You can either use diluted apple cider vinegar, which doesn’t smell as strong but may leave a stain, or you could add a few drops of scented oil to your white vinegar to remove the smell. White wine vinegar is also great for cleaning, working best when it’s heated up.

What to Mix With Vinegar for Cleaning? 

When cleaning with vinegar you may need to mix it with something else to clean different things.  

Most of the time, a mixture of vinegar and water in a 50/50 solution will suffice, but not always. Shower heads only require white vinegar, add sprinkles of baking soda when cleaning a toilet or a bath, water it down to clean tiles. Shower glass will work with a common 50/50 water/vinegar solution, taps require a splash of lemon juice and you can add some rubbing alcohol to keep shower panels sparkling and streak free.

Cleaning Bathroom Mould With Vinegar 

Bathroom mould is a common problem, caused by lingering moisture and lack of ventilation, especially around the bath and shower. The best way to clean bathroom mould with vinegar is simple and easy to do! 

1. Fill a spray bottle with white distilled vinegar. 
2. Spray the white vinegar directly onto the mould.
3. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. 
4. Once it has been sat, use a soft damp cloth to wipe away the vinegar and the mould.
5. If any stubborn mould is left, make a paste of distilled vinegar and baking soda and rub it onto where the mould is left. 
6. Then use an old toothbrush to scrub away the mould. 
7. Next wipe with a damp cloth.  
8. To finish, rinse the now mould free area to remove any paste which is left.

The toothbrush is the perfect tool to use as it can reach into small hard to clean areas, ensuring that you’ve got rid of every single bit of mould.

Cleaning Bathroom Tiles With Vinegar 

Bathroom tiles can easily become dirty, but they’re easy to clean, even when there’s no cleaning products in the house. Using what, you ask? White vinegar and water. 

1. Mix 125ml of white vinegar and a litre of warm water into a bowl. 
2. Dip a soft cloth into the mixture then scrub the tiles well. 
3. If the water becomes cold or dirty, then change it to get the best results. 
4. After that rinse the tiles. 

The best thing about this is that this vinegar solution is ideal for use with both bathroom wall and floor tiles. 

Cleaning Bathroom Grout With Baking Soda And Vinegar 

The grout in between tiles can be extremely hard and frustrating to clean. The good thing is that cleaning bathroom grout is simple with baking soda and vinegar and it gives great results. 

1. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar. 
2. Spray the vinegar directly onto the grout. 
3. Sprinkle baking soda on top of the vinegar. 
4. Leave the vinegar and baking soda to work for at least 10 minutes. 
5. After that scrub with an old toothbrush. 
6. Then wipe away using a damp cloth and rinse. 
7. Repeat as many times you feel necessary.

The baking soda on top of the vinegar makes a big difference and helps speed up the process. Once you have finished cleaning your tiles and grout your bathroom will look like new!  

How To Clean Bathroom Floors With Vinegar 

Keeping your bathroom looking clean starts with the floor, so it needs to look good. Fortunately, cleaning the bathroom floor with vinegar is sure to keep it sparkling, and it’s easy to do. 

1. Mix 125ml of vinegar with a litre of warm water into a bucket. 
2. Sweep and hoover the bathroom floor to remove dust and dirt. 
3. Then mop the floor using the vinegar and water mix. 
4. After that rinse the floor and dry.

Of course, cleaning the bathroom floor with vinegar may be quicker using a mop, but a soft cloth works just as well.  

How To Clean Bathroom Taps With Vinegar 

Limescale and dirt can build up on taps becoming an eyesore and if not cleaned will become even worse. Luckily cleaning bathroom taps with vinegar is effortless and straightforward. That said, it’s not recommended for gold plated or chrome plated taps as it can damage the finish. 

1. Soak a cloth in lemon juice and white vinegar. 
2. Wrap the cloth around the tap. 
3. Leave it on overnight. 
4. In the morning remove the cloth and wipe down the taps with a different damp cloth and then the taps will come out like new.

Unclog Bathroom Sink Drains With Baking Soda And Vinegar 

A clogged drain can be extremely annoying and unclogging a drain with a poor method can be even worse. Thankfully, you can use a solution of baking soda and vinegar to easily unclog drains. 

1. Pour boiling water down the drain. 
2. Mix a solution of baking soda and vinegar. 
3. Pour the solution down the drain. 
4. Cover the drain and leave it for 15 minutes. 
5. Pour down more boiling water. 
6. It should then start to bubble.  
7. Rinse

Using Vinegar For Ants In Bathrooms 

Ants can be a problem in any room, but they can wreak havoc in a bathroom. One of the most common areas for infestations, they’re attracted to the smells coming from your drains, chemical odours from household cleaners and even fermented hair. Thankfully removing them is uncomplicated and effortless. 

1. Firstly, if you see the ants wipe them up with a cloth covered in white vinegar. 
2. Cover a cloth in white vinegar. 
3. Wipe the floor with the cloth. 
4. Let it dry and then leave it.

Ants don’t like the smell of the vinegar and they can smell it long after it has dried so it will repel them. 

What Not To Clean With Vinegar 

Though it’s a cheaper alternative to store-bought cleaner and can be found in most households, vinegar shouldn’t be used to clean everything in your bathroom. It can cause damage to different things in your bathroom and it pays to be careful.  

What not to clean with vinegar:  

• Mirrors
• Wood / stone flooring 
• Stone / granite countertops  
• Electronic screens

How To Clean A Shower Head Using Vinegar 

Shower heads can be hard to clean, filling with grime over time and in extreme cases, restricting the flow of water, but luckily this method makes it easy.  

1. Pour white vinegar into a plastic bag. 
2. Secure the plastic band around the shower head using an elastic band. 
3. Leave the bag on the shower head over night. 
4. Remove the bag in the morning and then rinse over the shower head.

That said, cleaning a shower head using vinegar is not recommended on chrome or gold-plated showers as it may damage the finish. 

How To Clean A Toilet Using Vinegar 

Toilet stains can be an unsightly, but not unavoidable, wrinkle in your pristine bathroom and after a while you may notice stains appearing. It’s a common problem, however while it doesn’t look good there is a way to fix it. 

1. Add 250ml of white vinegar to a bowl and let it sit overnight. 
2. Sprinkle the toilet bowl with baking soda. 
3. Then scrub using a brush which has been dipped into the vinegar. 
4. Add more baking soda then scrub again with the brush which has been dipped in the vinegar. 
5. Pour the vinegar down the toilet and the flush. 
6. You may need to use the toilet brush to remove any baking soda that’s left.

How To Clean Shower Glass Using Vinegar 

Showers are notoriously a nuisance to keep clean, with fingerprints, soap suds and scuffs threatening to ruin the finish. Cleaning shower glass using vinegar couldn’t be easier or give any better results. Use the following tips and your shower is sure to come out looking better than new. 

1. First mix white vinegar and water into a 50 / 50 solution. 
2. Pour the mix into a spray bottle and shake. 
3. Then spray on the glass. 
4. Wipe with damp cloth and then rinse.

How To Clean a Bath Using Vinegar 

A centrepiece in any bathroom, a bath is arguably the most important – and annoying – fixture to keep clean. There are countless methods and mixtures you can use that promise the world, but while the thought of cleaning the bath may put some people off, cleaning a bath with   vinegar is simple and gives great results, making your bath look like new. 

1. Put white vinegar into a spray bottle. 
2. Sprinkle baking soda into the bath and then spray the vinegar on top of it. 
3. After that scrub hard with a brush. 
4. Then rinse.

Vinegar can be an invaluable tool in your repertoire and hopefully  the methods above have found their way into your bathroom cleaning routine 

If you’ve found any other tips and tricks when it comes to keeping on top of your bathroom maintenance, then let us know!