Natural Ways to Clean Your Bathroom

Who doesn’t love a freshly cleaned bathroom? The problem is, the bottles you keep under the sink usually contain harsh chemicals and packaging that ends up in landfills. If you’re trying to keep things a little more natural, we’ve got good news. With just a few pantry staples, you can get rid of soap scum, water spots and smells just as well as store-bought cleaners. Even better, these options are kinder to the environment, your wallet and your home.

The benefits of using natural cleaning products

Let’s clear this up once and for all. Natural cleaning products work just as well as chemicals.

Cleancorp CEO Lisa Macqueen says that with the right approach, your home concoction will be up to the job. “A lot of people assume that using natural or sustainable products means compromising cleanliness or hygiene,” she says.

“But with the right methods, you can keep your bathroom sparkling clean while knowing you're making the planet a healthier and more sustainable place.”

As Macqueen hints, there’s another big win: natural cleaners don’t just work, they also reduce your impact on the environment. CottageCare Chief Marketing Officer Scott Schrader adds that using organic cleaning ingredients is an easy way to be more eco-conscious.

“From a sustainability viewpoint, natural cleaning products keep chemicals out of the chemical runoff into rivers and oceans, and also often come in refillable or compostable containers to reduce plastic waste.”

The last benefit? Making natural bathroom cleaners couldn’t be easier. Evergreen Cleaning Company owner Jon Riding suggests keeping things simple.

“You don't need a shelf full of different specialty cleaners. Just a few natural basics, used consistently, will keep your bathroom fresh, clean and eco-friendly,” he says.

Natural bathroom cleaning supplies checklist

Many of the ingredients you need, like vinegar, bicarb, and lemon, are probably already in your pantry. Here’s what to keep on hand to tackle a dirty bathroom at any time.

What you need

• White vinegar
• Bicarb soda
• Castile soap
• Lemon juice
• Microfibre cloths
• Scrub brush and an old toothbrush
• Squeegee
• Spray bottles
• Tea tree or eucalyptus essential oils (optional)

How to clean your bathroom sustainably

Switching to gentler bathroom cleaning products is a simple step to a healthier home. Here’s how to clean different parts of your bathroom without harsh chemicals.

Walls, floors and grout

Cleaning your floor and wall tiles regularly keeps them looking fresh and helps them last longer.

Start by sweeping or vacuuming to pick up dust and hair. Then spray a castile soap and water mix over the bathroom tiles and wipe down with a damp microfibre cloth or mop.

For stubborn marks, switch to a vinegar-and-water mix.

Remember to pay attention to your grout. If it looks dull, sprinkle bicarb soda along the lines, spray with vinegar and scrub once it foams. Use an old toothbrush for corners, then rinse everything with warm water.

For more helpful tile cleaning hacks and how to clean different tile materials, read our blog on tile maintenance for busy homeowners.

Vanities, sinks and tapware

These high-use bathroom surfaces collect toothpaste splatters, soap build-up and water spots fast.

Wipe down your vanity and sink with a damp microfibre cloth, then scrub with a mix of castile soap and warm water. For marks around drains or tapware, sprinkle bicarb soda, spritz with vinegar and scrub gently to bring back shine.

Make sure you dry the area thoroughly with a clean cloth to avoid new water spots.

Shower glass and mirrors

Spray shower glass and mirrors with a homemade cleaner with half white vinegar and half water, letting it sit for about ten minutes to dissolve soap scum and marks.

Rinse everything well, then use a squeegee on glass panels and buff mirrors with a microfibre cloth for a streak-free finish.

Toilets

Sprinkle bicarb soda into the bowl, spray with vinegar and scrub with a toilet brush. Wipe the seat, lid and base with vinegar spray, then add a drop or two of tea tree oil to keep it smelling fresh between cleans.

How often should you clean your bathroom?

Having a schedule helps you stay on top of your bathroom upkeep. Breaking it down into daily, weekly, and monthly jobs reduces stress and saves you hours of scrubbing later.

Daily

Quick jobs go a long way. After you shower, squeegee the glass surfaces and mirrors and pick up any hair you’ve left behind. At the sink, all you’ve got to do is wipe down the sink and mirror if you get toothpaste or other products on them.

Weekly

Give the shower a proper scrub, including grout with bicarb and vinegar. Mop the floors with your natural cleaner, wipe the toilet inside and out, clean mirrors and give the sink and vanity a good once-over.

Monthly

It’s time for a detailed clean. Wipe walls, skirting boards and exhaust fans, scrub grout if needed and refresh drains with bicarb, vinegar and hot water.

Natural cleaning tips

Now that you’ve mastered the basics, these simple tips will keep your bathroom looking its best with less effort.

Think about your tile materials

Porcelain and ceramic tiles are durable and easy to look after, but stone tiles are a little trickier. Schrader says, “The biggest mistake I see? When people use vinegar on natural stone because it can etch marble, granite, etc.”

For natural stone tiles, swap vinegar for a pH-neutral cleaner to protect the surface. If you're unsure, you could also go for a specialised cleaner designed for stone tiles.

Let the solution sit

“A lot of people don't let natural solutions sit long enough,” says Schrader. “Vinegar on soap scum for instance needs a minimum of a 10-minute dwell before you go to scrub it.” Giving it time to work makes the job much easier and saves you from putting in extra elbow grease.

Wash off solution properly

Rinseroo founder Lisa Lane explains, “Even green cleaners can leave behind residue if not rinsed away properly.” Always follow up with a clean water rinse to ensure you’re not leaving behind streaks, film or smells.

Thoroughly dry all areas

Water sitting on tiles or tapware can cause marks and build-up. After cleaning, use a microfibre cloth to dry surfaces like glass, mirrors and vanities. This keeps them shiny and stops new water spots from popping up straight away.

Air it out

If you can, open a window or switch on the exhaust fan while you clean. It helps dry out the space faster, keeps humidity down and stops mould from getting a chance to grow.

Clean bathroom – clean planet!

Keeping your bathroom clean doesn’t have to mean harsh chemicals or strong fumes. Whether you prefer to stick with pantry staples or mix in a few store-bought products, there are ways to keep every surface looking fresh while being kinder to the planet.