I’ve been giving you many cooking and food preservation tips but thought I would try some general, household tips. Since the bathroom is my least favorite chore, I decided to start in that area first.

Not only do I try to save money with cooking, I also try to save money throughout the house. Being a supporter of using natural when possible, many of my tips center on using nonchemical items for cleaning. Several of these tips do not involve any chemical products.

We have hard water with many added chemicals causing our showerheads to become clogged. To clean the mineral deposits from my metal showerheads, I boil them in 1 ½ quarts of white vinegar for about 30 minutes. Drain then run clear water over showerhead to cool before replacing. I do this once a month to keep our showers flowing smoothly. For plastic showerheads, soak in hot vinegar, not boiling, then rinse. This also helps prevent mildew.

Bathroom tile can become dingy from the water minerals very quickly. To get tile looking like new, rub plain car wax into your tile and let stand for 10 minutes. Buff and polish with a clean, soft cloth and your tile will look shiny and new. Try using a typewriter eraser to clean between bathroom tiles. You can also use bleach but I prefer a less harsh method.

To remove soap scum from the shower or bathtub, use a piece of “very” fine steel wool. The steel wool must be the finest available to avoid scratches.

Restore the whiteness to a yellowed tub by rubbing a turpentine and salt solution on the surface. Wash well with warm soapy water.

Place a sponge in a nylon stocking leg and knot the end. Use this for scrubbing your sinks, tub, tiles and counters.

For rust stains, make a paste of cream of tarter and hydrogen peroxide. Spread over rusted area and add 5-6 drops of ammonia. Let stand 2 to 3 hours then wash with warm soapy water. Be sure to keep anyone from breathing the ammonia fumes.

To remove mildew from shower curtains, wash in soapy hot water then rub lemon juice on the curtain. Place in sun to dry.

To clean buildup from shower doors, wet a sponge with white vinegar and rub doors to remove soap residue. Remove the water spots from shower frame with lemon furniture oil. For the shower walls, mix 1 gallon warm water with, 1 cup ammonia, ½ cup white vinegar and ¼ cup baking soda.

Clean fixtures with rubbing alcohol to remove spots and scum. Alcohol will also remove the haze from mirrors.

Prevent filling your bathroom with steam by running 1-2 inches of cold water before adding hot water to the bathtub.

Try cleaning your bathroom after a hot steamy bath or shower. The steam loosens the dirt, making the walls and fixtures easier to clean.

Commercial cleaners are expensive as well as toxic to your family and the environment. The price of one, store bought bathroom cleaner will make several months worth of homemade cleaner while the right bathroom cleaner recipe works better than major brand cleaners. Once you try making your own, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner.