You don’t need to invest in expensive commercial cleaners to rid your home of dirt, mold and grime. Rather, with a little research you can turn your every day products into cleaning tools.
For example:
Toothpaste: Standard, white toothpaste, not the gels, can come in handy when cleaning bathrooms. Toothpastes that contain whitening products, such as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, work especially well at cleaning soap scum from glass shower doors. Simply dampen a sponge with warm water and apply a nickel-sized portion of toothpaste on it. Next, gently scrub the door with the toothpaste and water mixture. When you are done, rinse and dry the door. If the soap scum is particularly thick, you will have to use some elbow grease to loosen it. Start at the top of the shower door and work your way down using even strokes. The combination of scrubbing and rinsing with clean water should leave a streak-free shine with no water spots.
Baby Oil: A little bit of baby oil goes a long way when cleaning the bathroom. You can use the oil to remove soap scum from tile, shower doors and sinks. The trick to using baby oil instead of traditional bathroom cleaners is to thoroughly rinse it off once the scum is removed. If you are working on large surfaces, such as a shower stall, then you might consider adding some vinegar to the mix as well. Simply soak a clean cotton cloth into a bowl of vinegar and use it to wipe off any excess baby oil from shower walls or doors. The vinegar will cut right through the oil, dirt and grime.
Kool-Aid: If you are a frugal homeowner, then you likely know that Kool-Aid is much more than just a popular kids’ drink. The powder can actually help clean the inside of your dishwasher. The citric acid in products such as Kool-Aid and Tang help to eliminate dishwasher rust stains. To use this technique, simply fill the dishwasher soap dispenser with two tablespoons of orange-flavored Kool-Aid or Tang, and then run the dishwasher through a normal cycle. If the rust stains are severe you may have to run an additional cycle to remove all of the spots.