• Baking soda: a natural scourer and odour remover
• Lemon/lemon juice: a natural degreaser and lightener for stains
• Vinegar: another good degreaser

• Shaving cream prevents the build up of steam on your bathroom mirror.
• White vinegar, rubbing alcohol or dish washing detergent can be used to clean a mirror. Wiping it clean with newspaper or a coffee filter will avoid streaky residue.

Alkaline in water causes water marks.

Car wax can be used to remove staining

Orange and lime based cleaning products are effective on bath and shower grime. Cleaning is effective on a weekly basis.

Heavy Soap Scums can be cleaned by the following:

• Apply hot white vinegar and continue to scrub until it dissolves, OR
• Sponge with solution of 1 cup of hot water, 2 tablespoons of rottenstone and a cup of water softener, OR
• Use 1-2 tablespoons of trisodium phosphate in 1 gallon of hot water.

To treat bathtub rings, try wiping it with undiluted ammonia or a sponge sprinkled with baking soda. Stubborn stains can be cleaned by scouring with dish washing detergent or rubbed with a white vinegar covered cloth.

If the shower head is particularly clogged, remove it and soak it in vinegar. This will both clean and sanitize it. Blocked holes in the shower head can be freed by poking out the dirt with a pin prior to the soak.

Once the shower base has been cleaned, don't forget to give attention to the shower door or curtain. Lemon juice wiped clean with newspaper will provide a streak-free shower door, while plastic shower curtains can be machine washed. Alternatively, spray it with an orange based cleaner or baking soda solution and wipe clean. Air drying will prevent further mold and mildew build up, and as a further prevention try cutting off the seam at the base of the curtain, as this is where mildew is likely to collect.

Rings in the toilet are again created by the alkaline water. To combat this and other stains, there are several methods you can try:

• Pour in 1-2 cups of white vinegar on a monthly basis. Leave it for an hour to overnight and then brush and flush.
• Drop in a couple of Alka Seltzer tablets and leave for an hour before brushing.
• Cola poured into the toilet bowl and left for an hour has the same effect.
• Vitamin C capsules or denture cleaning tablets can be left in the toilet overnight.

A sponging solution that is effective contains 1 tablespoon of detergent to 1 gallon of hot water. For stubborn stains, gently buff the surface with a pumice stone and flush to see the results.

To prevent scum and blockages in the sink, pour a cup of baking soda and a cup white vinegar down the plughole on a monthly basis. Leave it for an hour and rinse with warm water.

Shaving cream wiped clean with newspaper is a good general cleaner for the bathroom sink. To tackle stains; rubbing lemon can treat light staining, while borax and lemon juice can remove darker stains like rust.

Taps can easily appear dirty as water deposits collect round these areas. To dissolve this, soak a paper towel in white vinegar and wrap it around the tap, allowing about an hour to loosen the alkaline. Then scrub the tap with a stiff toothbrush.

Orange based or powder cleansers should not be used on brass or gold plated taps and fittings as it can scratch or corrode the surface. To prevent damage, always dry them after use.

To make tile cleaning easier, run the shower on hot for a few minutes so the steam will loosen the dirt.

Ceramic tiles can be regularly maintained with detergent and water or with commercial cleaning solutions that are specific for the job. A general polish and mildew removal can be achieved with either a water and ammonia or water and vinegar solution.

For a more thorough clean, especially concerning tile grouting, sponge on a solution of water with chlorine bleach and leave for several minutes. Do not use bleach on coloured grout. When it is washed clean, you can apply lemon oil or an acrylic sealer to protect the grout.

Mildew - To ensure that mildew does not become as issue in your bathroom, treat your ceiling and potential problem areas every six months with a 50/50 solution of water and hydrogen peroxide. Spray the solution and leave it alone. If you are already affected by mildew, re-spray the area after 24 hours and repeat as necessary