Green Shower Cleaners
Clean and disinfect your shower with natural products and essential oils to remove lime deposits, mold, mildew and soap scum. Green products contain no harmful toxic chemicals, so they are safer for your health and the environment. These eco-friendly products will save you money and clean your shower better than many of the chemical products on the market. Does this Spark an idea?
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Disinfectants
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Natural products combined with essential oils will disinfect your shower, destroying the bacteria that create germs and viruses. Create a mixture with 2 tsps. of borax powder, 4 tbsps. of vinegar, 1/4-tsp. liquid castile soap and 3 cups of hot water. Wipe the mixture over the entire shower, including the faucets and shower doors, to disinfect. A number of essential oils have effective disinfectant qualities such as tea tree, eucalyptus, lemon and grapefruit. Add 10 to 20 drops of one of these oils to your disinfectant mixture to clean your shower and make it smell fresh. Alternatively, add 10 to 20 drops of the essential oils to a spray bottle filled with water, spray down the shower and then rinse.
Mineral Deposits
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The key ingredient to removing calcium and lime mineral deposit buildup on your faucets and shower head is white vinegar. For removable, hand-held shower heads, submerge the shower head in a bucket filled with 1 pint (16 oz.) of white vinegar and 1 pint of hot water. Let it soak for at least an hour and then rinse. To remove lime from attached shower heads, faucet and spigots, soak a towel in white vinegar, wrap it around the hardware, and leave it for an hour. Dip an old toothbrush in white vinegar, and brush the holes in the shower head to remove buildup.
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Mold and Mildew
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Remove unhealthy mold and mildew buildup from grout and tiles by mixing a spray bottle solution of one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with two parts water. Spray areas with mold, let it soak one hour and rinse thoroughly. Alternatively, apply white vinegar or lemon juice directly to a scrub sponge, scrub the mold area and let it sit for an hour and then rinse. Sprinkle baking soda over the white vinegar or lemon juice to turn them into scouring powder. For maintenance, make a solution in a spray bottle of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water. On a daily basis, after showering, spray the solution over the entire shower area and then rinse it thoroughly to help prevent mold and mildew buildup.
Soap Scum
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To clean the soap scum rings in a tub, add 1 tsp. of salt to a solution of 50 percent white vinegar and 50 percent water. Spray the solution over the soap scum; scrub the area with a scrub brush and then rinse. Alternatively, make a mixture of 2-tbsps. borax, 1-tsp. castile soap and five drops of pine, lemon, citronella or lemongrass essential oil, scrub and rinse. For tough soap scum stains, make a paste of cream of tartar and 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Apply the paste to the stubborn areas, leave it for one hour and rinse.
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References
Resources
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