Cleaning bathroom furniture from different materials

Before we moved to our current home, we had the bathroom renovated. The style in which it still did not fit completely with this time, and certainly not with us. This new bathroom has become real wellness with, for us, all the trimmings. On average a bathroom lasts 15 years and if you maintain it properly it will last even longer. That is also my goal and that is why I figured out how to clean the different materials of bathroom furniture separately.

Topics in this article

70s bathroom
Our new bathroom
Cleaning the bathroom
What you should NOT do
Keeping all bathroom furniture clean
Trend: black faucets
Tips to prevent limescale

70s bathroom

Green flowers on a brown/ecru background; this is how the old bathroom wall tiles looked. With a green bathtub and two green sinks. In the 70s this was without a doubt a very modern bathroom.

Although I love green, I could not get used to this composition and, moreover, the furniture was so outdated that you had to be careful when you opened a cupboard door.

Our new bathroom

The decision to have a new bathroom installed was therefore not a superfluous luxury. We immediately let him meet all our wishes and made a design ourselves, from bathroom furniture to showerhead. Click here to know more on the bathroom mirror.

Cleaning this bathroom is a breeze thanks to the simple layout and the chosen material. To keep it nice and easy, you must know how to maintain it. I am not in favor of chemical agents and that is really not necessary if you keep track of it from the start.

A new bathroom is a big investment and you want to enjoy it for a long time. That is why it is important to clean and maintain the plumbing and tiles properly.

Cleaning the bathroom

Use only neutral and soluble cleaning agents.
Always use a chamois, sponge or soft cloth.
Pay close attention to whether the product you want to use is suitable for the material you want to use to clean it.
Always dry everything thoroughly after each use or cleaning of your bathroom.

What you should NOT do

Do not use any chemicals or abrasives in the bathroom. The use of these types of agents can cause irreparable damage.
Do not use microfiber cloths. These wipes contain tiny abrasive particles that can scratch your materials.

Also Read: 6 tips for refurbishing the living room

Keeping all bathroom furniture clean

In a bathroom, you have to deal with different bathroom furniture and these all have different materials. To keep all these materials beautiful you need to know a number of things.

Maintenance of ceramics

The ceramic products in a bathroom can be the sink, the toilet, and the bidet. Ceramic products can last for years. With good maintenance, they shine just like on the first day after 10 years. Limescale is the largest polluter. This way you keep this kind of bathroom furniture clean and shiny.

Use a non-abrasive soft cloth or sponge.
Do not use abrasive cleaning agents. A citric acid-based agent can be used for limescale deposits.
Drying the ceramic after every use prevents limescale.

Maintenance of wall and floor tiles

Wall and floor tiles are used in every bathroom. They largely determine the appearance of your bathroom.

Do not use agents with a PH value of less than 7. Lower than 7 is, in fact, acidic and then the substance can affect the joint.
Do not use abrasives.
Do not use microfiber cloths.

Maintenance of glass

A glass walk-in shower or shower door are beautiful elements in a bathroom. Glass and lime just don't go well together. For this reason, we have deliberately not opted for glass in the bathroom.

If you have glass in your bathroom, it requires extra attention.

Rinse daily with cold water after use.
Always dry the glass well after use.
Do not use abrasives or rub too hard.
Glass with a special anti-scale treatment may only be cleaned with a non-abrasive, soft cloth.

Maintenance of mirrors

In every bathroom, you will find a mirror, in whatever shape. Many people do not know how to keep a mirror clean in a damp room, while moisture can make a mirror very ugly.

Use a soft cloth or chamois with lukewarm water.
Never spray the glass cleaner directly on the mirror. Spray it on a cloth and then wipe the mirror off.
Do not use abrasive, acidic or descaling agents or agents with a lot of ammonia.
Make sure the edges of the mirror are always clean and dry.
Make sure that no condensation remains on the mirror.

Maintenance of plastic

Nowadays almost all baths and shower trays are made of plastic (acrylic). Nowadays, more and more washbasin tops are made of plastic furniture.

Because I am not in favor of 'plastic' and because of the durability of ceramics, in terms of maintenance and lifespan, we have consciously opted for a ceramic washbasin top. I also like to work with a natural product such as vinegar and this is not recommended for plastic bathroom furniture.

If you have plastic bathroom furniture, these are the tips to keep it clean.

Plastic can be cleaned with a mild detergent.
Do not use cleaning products based on vinegar.
Do not use a steam cleaner.
Do not use abrasives.
You can optionally treat your bath or washbasin tray with car wash a few times a year. This eliminates small scratches and improves the water-repellent effect.

Maintenance of wood

Wood is a natural product and is often used for bathroom furniture. Every wooden piece of furniture is different. This makes a wooden bathroom cabinet so beautiful and unique. However, wood is more vulnerable than plastic or melanin and therefore requires extra attention.

Wipe off dirt immediately and do not let it penetrate the wood. Do this with a damp cloth in the direction of the possible wood grain.
Wood can withstand moisture. So make sure that you ventilate well if the room is very damp.

Maintenance of natural stone

Just like wood, natural stone is a natural product. The different designs and / or color shades make a natural stone so beautiful. Just like wood, natural stone is also fragile and therefore requires the necessary attention during maintenance.

Impregnate your natural stone top or tiles. Go to a bathroom or natural stone specialist for the right impregnating agent.
Do not use acidic or corrosive cleaning agents.
Only use a damp cloth.

Maintenance of faucets and other chrome parts

Faucets determine a large part of the appearance of your bathroom. That is why it is important that you ensure that they remain beautiful. Nothing is more ugly than faucets affected by lime.

Dry/clean daily after use.
Do not use any aggressive, abrasive or chemical cleaning agents.
Use a mild lemon-based cleaning agent against limescale and rinse off thoroughly after cleaning.
Never apply the detergent directly to the tap, but first put it on a cloth.

Maintenance of stainless steel

Stainless steel in the bathroom is very beautiful. It is only bad for lime. That is why there are a number of specific points for attention with stainless steel surfaces.

Daily cleaning is recommended.
Do not use any aggressive, abrasive or chemical cleaning agents. If you still want to clean, use a special stainless steel cleaner. Make sure that you thoroughly rinse and dry the stainless steel surfaces afterward.
Use a soft damp cloth to wipe clean.
Use a dry cotton cloth to dry.

Trend: black faucets

The newest trend is black, matte faucets. These can be cleaned normally like any other tap. And although limescale occurs on every tap, you will, of course, see it even faster on these types of faucets. You can, therefore, better prevent scale deposits.

There are many types of black faucets available and the extent to which you keep them clean and beautiful also depends on the quality. The cheaper version has a somewhat poorer quality. They are sprayed with a powder coating and on this, you can see every stain and get scratched very quickly. The more expensive ones are more scratch-resistant and therefore more durable and have a galvanized finish. Whatever quality you have, it is always important to properly clean and maintain.

Tips to prevent limescale

Choose green soap as a cleaning agent. Rinse everything thoroughly after cleaning, so that no cleaning agent is left behind.
Dry everything thoroughly with a soft cloth. For example, use your towel if you have just showered. This means you don't have to pull multiple towels out of the cupboard.
Do you already have limescale? Never clean it with chlorine or acetic acid, but a citric acid-based agent. And never use scouring pads, abrasives or a microfiber cloth. These scratch your cranes, etc.
Do you already have scratches on your black faucets? Then use a permanent marker to get rid of the scratches.