Posts

How Removing Stubborn Buildup with Baking Soda?

/in /by


Use baking soda as a last resort. Although it is very mild compared to other abrasive cleansers, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) can still scratch up your sink. Use it only if you can’t take off the dirt with soap and water or lemon juice.


Apply baking soda to dirty areas with a shaker. You can use a repurposed sugar shaker, or make your own shaker by punching a few holes in the lid of a jar. Shake on a generous quantity of baking soda. Make sure the sink is only slightly damp when you apply the baking soda. Baking soda dissolves quickly in water, which makes it ineffective as an abrasive.


Use enough water to make a paste. If you don’t mix in enough water to make a baking soda paste, the cleaner won’t work. The paste requires the power of scrubbing just as much as it does the power of baking soda.


Carefully scrub with a sponge. Use a slightly damp (not soaking wet) scrubber to gently rub away the dirt. The baking soda should form small clumps that take the dirt with them as they come up. Use a non-scratch scrubbing sponge. Avoid steel wool or pumice stones for this purpose, as both can do a lot of damage to ceramic or porcelain sinks.


Rinse away the baking soda. Run some cold water into the sink and rinse away any remaining dirt and baking soda. Wipe down with a clean, dry towel or rag. Attach the grille. Return to the bathroom and install the motor blower assembly by plugging it into the receptacle and screwing to secure. Attach the decorative plastic grille, then turn the power back on to test if your new bathroom fan is working.

How Attaching the Grille?

/in /by


Twist the same color wires together (usually white to white and black or red to black) and add the connectors. Wrap the bare copper wire around the green grounding clip or screw and tighten to secure. Place the wires back in the electrical splice unit and reattach the cover.


If you don’t feel confident about doing the wiring yourself, don’t hesitate to call in a licensed electrician to install the fan or simply inspect your work when you’re done. Also be aware that aluminum (rather than copper) wiring requires special handling and any electrical work involving this type of wiring should be undertaken by a professional.


Attach the grille. Now you’re almost finished. Plug the blower motor into the electrical receptacle and secure it with the screws provided. Install the decorative plastic grille by slipping its mounting wires into the available slots in the housing unit. Make sure it sits snugly against the ceiling — spread the mounting wires a little to create more tension, if necessary.


Turn the power back on and test your new bathroom fan to make sure it’s working. Attach the duct. Once the fan is in place, connect a 90 degree duct elbow to the fan’s exhaust port using sheet metal screws. Then attach a new 4 to 6 inch (10.2 to 15.2 cm) duct pipe to the duct elbow.


It is possible to use the duct pipe from the old fan, but if it is less than 4 inches (10.2 cm) in diameter you will need to install a duct pipe reducer before reattaching the pipe. However be aware that using a smaller, older duct pipe will prevent the fan from working as efficiently.

How Maintaining Fiberglass Surfaces?

/in /by

Spray the surface with vinegar 2-3 times per week. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and use it to spritz the fiberglass surfaces a few times a week. This can minimize odors in addition to cutting down the amount of time you’ll spend scrubbing the fiberglass clean later.

Avoid leaving items suctioned to the surface. If you have items in your tub or shower that adhere to the fiberglass with suction cups, remove them. They leave residue stains that are difficult to remove and clean properly.

Polish and wax fiberglass surface twice per year. Use a clean cotton cloth to first apply an automotive white polishing compound to any dull or scratched areas, and then buff with a white automotive cream wax. Repeat this routine twice a year to keep your fiberglass tub or shower looking shiny and new.

Keep your fiberglass surfaces dry. After each use, squeegee your shower or wipe it dry with a bath towel. Doing this regularly will get rid of the particles that allow soap scum to form, which will give you fewer stains to scrub off in the long run. Open the window or turn on a fan when your bathroom surfaces are drying to avoid mildew growth.

Soften your water. Install a water softener to filter minerals out of your water, which contribute heavily to soap scum buildup and rust. Additionally, put epsom salts in your bath water each time you take a bath to help soften it.

How to Cleaning Surfaces Before Clean a Bathroom?

/in /by

Clean the walls, windows and/or ceiling. If you have mold on the ceiling start with spraying a water bleach/disinfectant solution on it and let it rest for a couple of minutes, do the same with the walls ( if they are tiles) or use another cleaning product. With a sponge or a clean rag, scrub the tile surfaces you’ve sprayed. Rinse it carefully to avoid any stripes and dry it with a clean rag. It’s a good idea to wear rubber gloves while you’re scrubbing, to keep your hands from drying out if you’re using harsh products.

Clean the shower. Spray cleaning product on the shower walls, and the shower head and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Spray cleansers made especially for getting rid of soap scum work very well on tubs that haven’t been cleaned in a while.

For hard water areas that are prone to green and rust-colored stains, a cleanser made for eliminating calcium, lime and rust is probably what you need. Never use abrasive cleaners or green abrasive scrub pads or steel wool on porcelain fixtures, as they will quickly dull the finish. Soak the showerhead. If eventually the showerhead becomes quite clogged with hard water build up or soap scum, you can remove it and soak it overnight in a vinegar/water mixture, and then clean with a toothbrush.

Go back over the shower and scrub the walls, faucet and shower head, rinse well with the hottest water and or dry with a towel. You can shine the faucet with a paper towel or a towel. Don’t forget the shower curtain; it is also prone to mildew. A solution of about 2/3 water, 1/3 bleach in a spray bottle can be handy for getting rid of mildew spots. Or you can take it down and wash it in hot water with a small amount of soap and bleach.

Clean the sink and counter area. Scrub all the soap scum and toothpaste off with a small amount of cleaner, rinsing your sponge thoroughly as you go along. Don’t forget to clean your trashcan, tissue holder and other items which regularly remain in your bathroom. An old toothbrush or cotton swabs can be handy for getting the junk out from between the tap and handles.

Be sure never to clean the sink and counter area with the same rag or paper towel you used to clean the toilet. This can spread leftover disease-causing germs to your sink and counter area. To prevent this you can use a specific rag which you use to clean only the toilet. Wipe off the fronts and tops of cabinets and drawers. You’ll probably want to use hot, soapy water for this purpose. If you’re worried about germs on these surfaces, add a bit of bleach to your soapy water.