Handy home remedies for a cleaner bathroom

Cleaning your bathroom is a necessary evil. Bathroom sinks and tubs, in particular, need to be cleaned regularly, as lime and soap will leave their traces in both.

If you use time-tested cleaners and cleaning methods, you won't need harsh chemical cleansers to keep sinks, tiles and fixtures spotless. To keep your bathroom sparkling clean, try some of these surefire tricks:

• Achieve a scent-free shine by rubbing plumbing fixtures with a mixture of five to 10 millilitres (one to two teaspoons) lemon juice and about 500 millilitres (two cups) water.
• Remove lime residue on fixtures by wrapping an old rag moistened with vinegar or lemon juice around the fixture and letting it work for a couple of hours or overnight. Remove the softened lime deposits with a toothbrush.
• Get rid of lime buildup in faucet aerators and showerheads by letting them sit in a solution of vinegar and salt. Clean the holes in the showerhead with a nailbrush or toothbrush.
• Make old tiles gleam like new by gently rubbing them with a piece of old newspaper or a chamois cloth moistened with an ammonia solution of five millilitres (one teaspoon) ammonia in about 500 millilitres (two cups) water. Polish with a little cooking oil to add shine and protect against moisture.
• Rub away stubborn stains with straight ammonia solution.
• Remove rust spots by rubbing them with a mixture of water and vinegar.
• Scour discoloured grout between tiles with ammonia solution or baking soda. Dab it on with a moist cloth or old toothbrush, let it work and rinse it off.
• Whiten grout by scrubbing it with a little toothpaste on an old, soft-bristled toothbrush.
• Clean silicon caulking with powdered yeast dissolved in water.
• Use very fine sandpaper to rub severely discoloured grout — but be sure you don't damage the glaze on the tiles.