The last chore you want is to clean the bathroom. With a busy family, it’s difficult to even get in the bathroom let alone give it more than a once over. But, every so often, you need to set aside time to give your bathroom a deeper clean. It will improve the function of your fixtures, increase the life of your plumbing, and when you’re all done you can take that spa-like bath and know you’re in a pure environment.
Toilet tank
You may clean out the toilet bowl frequently, but how often do you clean out the tank? Depending on where you live and your incoming water, that tank may house anything from bacterium to moss and a few things in between. To add insult to injury, sometimes those stains in your bowl actually come from the tank. Try this first: Add a cup of distilled white vinegar to your tank. Let it sit for a while to loosen crusted on hard-water deposits. If necessary, use a clean toilet brush to brush the vinegar and water mixture up the sides of the tank too. When you’ve gotten the crusty stuff off, flush your toilet several times to remove all the vinegar residue.
If your tank still has stains, add some oxygen-based bleach to the tank and stir it up. Let it sit overnight, if possible so that it can work on those stains.
Tile hacks
Periodically, your tile and grout need some extra lovin’. If you use a tub and tile cleaner, leave it on a little longer one day and then wipe it all down and reseal your grout. If you prefer less harsh methods, make a paste with oxygen bleach or use hydrogen-peroxide and put is on the grout to whiten it before using the sealant. One other natural product option is a mixture of vinegar and baking soda. Make a paste and use a toothbrush to scrub into fine grout or a cleaning brush for wider grout.
Mirror, mirror
Get your mirrors squeaky clean with a solution of water, isopropyl alcohol, ammonia, and dish soap. Spray the solution on your mirrors and glass shower doors and enclosures and rub with a paper towel or microfiber cloth for a streak-free reflection.
Faucet funk
If your faucet sprays out the side or in a strange pattern, you probably have hard water nuggets built up in the aerator. Your faucet aerator helps reduce waste and makes your water flow more efficient, so when it gets plugged up with hard water deposits, you need to clean it out. In very hard-water locations, do this every couple of months. Unscrew the aerator from the end of the faucet. If you do it frequently, it should come off quickly. If it’s stuck on, use an adjustable wrench or pliers, but wrap a washcloth around the aerator first so that you do not mar the surface. Soak the aerator screen in a solution of water and vinegar to dissolve the deposits, then brush them away with a soft toothbrush. Take care not to damage the screen.
Taking care of your home maintains its value and improves your chances of selling it for a higher amount. If you have questions about which maintenance projects to tackle before you put your home on the market, seek the advice of your real estate professional.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
