Clean, limescale-free bathroom

In this post, we explore how to clean the bathroom effectively and safely without having to use harsh chemicals. We discuss the importance of using the right tools and methods to keep tiles, floor tiles, and grout clean and free from mold and limescale deposits. We also present step-by-step instructions for achieving a sparkling clean result using soap and vinegar. Finally, we share some tips for avoiding the spread of microbes in the home by using separate cleaning tools for the bathroom and kitchen.

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A clean, limescale-free bathroom is of course wonderful, but it is not always easy to achieve. With the right things and a few tips and tricks, however, it is easy as pie, and no harsh chemicals or brutal methods are needed. Soap, a brush, and a little vinegar work perfectly well.

  

Tiles and floor tiles need to be cleaned a little more thoroughly from time to time than simply “spraying on and wiping off.” Limescale, soap residue, skin deposits, and various fungi settle in the grout and can actually start to grow there. 
It is common for bathrooms to be affected by fusarium, a fungus that usually appears as a slimy red or pink coating in joints, grout, or around the floor drain. It thrives in a damp and slightly acidic environment, so alkaline soap is a good choice for keeping it away.

 

This needs to be scrubbed away, and soap works excellently for this. There is “advice” claiming that soap should not be used, or that it cannot be used on tiles, floor tiles, and grout, but I would argue that this is wrong. Soap is a type of detergent; they are very “closely related,” and surely no one has ever heard of building bathrooms where soap cannot be used?!
I would dare say that the whole point of having a bathroom is to use soap there!

  

If you are still hesitant, I can reassure you with these pictures of our old bathroom. It has wall tiles and floor tiles, including in the shower, and the grout is light gray. This bathroom has been scrubbed with soap for 24 years and is still quite nice ;)
Here, I deliberately refrained from scrubbing for a while so I could show in pictures and video what it looks like and how it works.

 

Here, the left side shows the area before scrubbing with soap, and the right side shows it afterward. A soft brush and bathroom soap were used here. 


Step by step

 

1. Scrub the grout and tiles with liquid bathroom soap in a bottle, a scrubbing brush, and a little warm or lukewarm water. Rinse. The tiles will not be slippery at all if you rinse them, but if you leave product on the surface, they may become slippery. This applies to almost any product left on the surface.

 

2. I clean other surfaces with a scrubbing sponge and soap to make sure that everything other than limescale has been removed. Once that is done, it becomes clear whether there is limescale embedded in the surface layers.

 

3. If there is limescale, which is common on shower walls and faucets, simply apply vinegar to a sponge or cloth. Do not spray vinegar, as it can irritate the airways. Be very careful if you use a strong vinegar solution and/or vinegar in a glass bottle. It is very easy to break glass bottles while cleaning and injure yourself or crack bathroom porcelain. Vinegar should be kept well away from children and animals and must not be ingested. 

I use Västerbottenssåpa’s vinegar in a plastic bottle, which is 15% and just right for cleaning. I apply it directly to a sponge or cloth and wipe. If there are very large and old limescale deposits, the vinegar may need to remain on the surface and work for a while.


We have put together a package with everything you need to clean the bathroom. You can find the package here.

 

 

4. For the remaining surfaces in the bathroom, it is usually enough to spray with bathroom soap and wipe. Remember to use a special cloth for the toilet; it must not be used anywhere else. If the toilet seat can be removed, I always do so. I place it over the shower floor drain and scrub it with soap as well. The seat fittings in particular are easiest to clean this way. Rinse and put it back.

• TIP: Areas that are often forgotten include the underside of the toilet tank and the base of the toilet. 
  
  
  

5. Polish the mirrors and faucets, and you are done ;)

• TIP: The spread of microbes in the home is a common cause of illness and something no one wants to experience. A simple and effective way to avoid this is to have separate cloths, bottles, and brushes for the bathroom and kitchen. This way, you never risk spreading microbes between the rooms.

(Microbes can include anything from parasites such as pinworms to viruses and bacteria)

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Questions and Answers

 

Why is alkaline soap a good choice for keeping fungus away from bathroom grout?
Alkaline soap is a good choice because fungus thrives in damp and acidic environments, while alkaline soap creates an inhospitable environment for fungal growth.

Which tool and product are recommended for cleaning bathroom tiles and floor tiles?
To clean tiles and floor tiles, a scrubbing brush and bathroom soap are recommended, as they effectively remove dirt and keep the surface clean.

Why is it important to use separate cleaning tools for the bathroom and kitchen?
It is important to prevent microbes from spreading between rooms in order to prevent illness. Using separate cloths, bottles, and brushes reduces the risk of microbes being transferred from one surface to another.

Clean your entire bathroom with Västerbottenssåpa Clean & Limescale-Free Bathroom Kit 
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