A better, cheaper cleanser.

Let me say this off the bat – I hate cleaning the bathroom. Hate it. It’s my least favorite chore. I’d bake a 100 loaves of bread if it meant getting out of scrubbing the bathtub. A 1000 if it meant not scrubbing the toilet.

That being said, my bathroom is also a little bit tricky to clean. We have hard water that leaves mineral deposits on our tub. Our 90 year old cast iron tub has been refinished, which means that we cannot use abrasive cleansers or it will damage the finish and cause it to peel off.

I’ve been working my way through the cabinet full of cleansers that I misguidedly bought when I first started keeping house. Large quantities of Pine Sol and 409. They stink at taking off mineral deposits, that’s for sure. I finally found out why. These cleansers are slightly alkaline, whereas hard water stains require an acidic cleanser.

I had tried using white vinegar before but I didn’t have much luck. However, when I mixed equal parts vinegar and lemon juice and let it stand for awhile – voila! Hard water stains removed with just the passing of a clean rag, no scrubbing required.

I can tell you how happy this little discovery has made me. I’m ecstatic. I mixed up a large batch of my new favorite cleanser in a spray bottle and now it’s resting happily in my refrigerator. An effective, environmentally friendly cleanser for less than $0.50 per bottle? That makes for a happy mama.