With significant emphasis on the importance of good hygiene practices being advised by medical professionals in these uncertain times, we wanted to share some tried and tested cleaning tips to help you keep your home safe and free from harmful bacteria whilst caring for your brassware. Your taps are just as important to keep clean as your hands at this time.
Considering we are all spending an increased amount of time at home our bathrooms are experiencing more traffic than usual. As bacteria thrives in warm, damp conditions our bathrooms can become some what of a ‘hot-spot’ for germ multiplication if we aren’t vigilant with our methods of cleaning.
Whilst it is vital that we regularly and thoroughly clean our bathrooms, it is also important to take good care of your brassware’s high polished surface. Harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaning tools can damage the protective chrome layer on the brassware, so it is important to avoid any cleaning methods that can scratch and compromise this chrome coating. If the chrome becomes damaged, the application of a number of household cleaning products can have a rapid and irreversible effect on the underlying material.
What to use on your brassware:
Lemon is a powerful citrus with a refreshing and invigorating scent, it also boasts excellent, natural cleaning properties. Here is a great way to use this natural cleaner to help spruce up your bathroom:
To remove hard water/limescale stains on brassware and soap residue on your tiles; the natural acidity in lemon can help break down the hard water stains on your taps and showers. Cut a lemon in half then rub the flesh of the fruit on the hard water marks in your bathroom. Leave for 30-60 seconds to allow the lemon juice to break down the marks, thoroughly rinse with clean water and then dry off with a clean cloth.
What about stubborn limescale build up?
Shower heads and taps can quickly and easily build up limescale and grime. The acidic properties of white vinegar act as a powerful limescale remover and restores the bright surface of your brassware quickly and effectively.
Unscrew your shower head and soak it in a mixture of white vinegar and water overnight, this should restore the surface so it is brilliantly clean. However, please don’t forget to rinse the head thoroughly in clean water before attaching back onto the shower arm!
To remove limescale from taps, simply soak a soft cleaning cloth in the water and white vinegar mixture and gently clean the tap until the limescale is removed. Or add the vinegar and water solution to a plastic bag and attach to the end of the spout and leave overnight to soak. Please don’t forget to rinse thoroughly with clean water once finished though.
Diluted lemon juice and white vinegar are both great cleaning agents, however as both are acidic it is important to thoroughly rinse your products with clean water to avoid damage.
Keeping limescale to a minimum is essential in preventing harmful germs multiplying in your bathroom as it provides the ideal habitat for multiplication to occur.
Commonly touched surfaces to pay attention to:
It is essential to pay close attention to areas of our bathrooms that are touched multiple times every single day by a number of different hands. Door handles, toilet flushes, tap handles, shower door handles and waste bin lids all of which are all touched regularly, so it is a good idea to be extra thorough and more regular with cleaning up these areas. Keeping on top of these areas not only helps you and your family stay germ-free, it saves you time and effort in the long run. Plus, it is inevitable you will enjoy using your bathroom all the more when it feels fresh and squeaky clean.
Handwashing best practice:
Washing hands is one of the best ways to prevent illness and spreading harmful germs to others. Medical professionals suggest that we clean our hands regularly with soap and water for at least twenty seconds. Try singing a twenty second song whilst at the sink to pass the time and make sure you’re scrubbing for long enough. ‘Happy Birthday’ twice over should do it, but if that gets tiresome why not try the chorus for Bon Jovi’s ‘Living on a Prayer’? Alternatively, eighties party anthem ‘Love Shack’ also works exceptionally well in handwashing karaoke. If you find yourself in a situation where you have no access to soap or running water, keeping an alcohol-based gel to hand is the next best way to keep clean on the go.
If you have any questions regarding any of the information or tips we’ve shared in this article please consult our website FAQ page or contact our Aftersales Department by completing our online enquiry form. We will endeavour to respond to any urgent queries as quickly as possible, however please bear with us at this exceptional time. Thank you for your patience and understanding in these times of uncertainty. Please stay safe, look after one another and keep those bathrooms sparkling and germ free.
