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These four easy tips will help you clean even the grimiest bathroom
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It’s that time of year: We're all looking at our homes and thinking it's time for a top-to-bottom, front-to-back renewal...and then getting overwhelmed and cranky about the job ahead of us. Well, we're here to help you spring-clean efficiently, and without losing your mind.
Even the bathroom comes in for an especially thorough scrub-up and wipe-down as the longer, warmer days beckon. It's a job that's rewarding to finish, but no fun to do. These clever tips for cleaning the bathroom will get it sparkling and even help you clean less often in the long run. Now that’s a winning strategy.
A royal(ly nice-smelling) flush
If you love a great-smelling bathroom and you want to spend a lot less time cleaning it, try this trick. Pour Pine-Sol or another scent-heavy bathroom cleaner into the reservoir of your toilet brush holder to help you scrub the toilet faster without any trips to grab supplies.
This keeps the brush itself cleaner so it cleans better while keeping your bathroom smelling great in the long run!
For an extra-clean scented boost, try a reed diffuser! They're like a classier-looking alternative to incense (and you don't have to light them on fire!). Just place a couple of reeds in the jar of fragrant oil and wait for the fresh, flowery (but not too flowery) aromas to permeate the air. I love these because they double as chic decor, and they last for months.
Shop it: Binca Vidou Cotton Reed Diffuser, $19, amazon.com
Steam unseen
Here's one of my fave who-woulda-thunk-it? bathroom hacks. Use shaving cream to clean your mirrors! Sounds weird, I know, but believe it — they won’t fog up, streak, or sweat from the steam of your showers ever again.
Here's how: Get a small, golf ball-sized dollop and begin to ‘wax on, wax off’ in a circular motion directly on your bathroom mirror. As you continue, you’ll find that the white foamy finish begins to blend into the mirror, becoming transparent. Keep buffing!
If you find that getting a glossy, transparent finish is tough, spray on a bit of glass cleaner and wipe clean. A tiny fraction of shaving cream residue on your mirror is all you need to keep it from fogging up. That de-fogging result can last up to a month.
Want clean fixtures? Get cooking
Ready for another from-out-of-nowhere genius hack? Q: How can you get rid of soap scum and shine up faucets? A: Cooking spray! Qs: Why? How? A: The oil helps to break down lime deposits and will make your faucets gleam.
Simply spray cooking oil directly onto soap scum, stainless steel faucets, or shower valves and wipe clean with a soft cloth or paper towel. Allow to sit for a few minutes on tougher grime.
Now you've got them clean; how to keep them that way? For easy maintenance, try stainless steel wipes. These are pH-neutral cloths that make it crazy-easy to touch up all your stainless steel fixtures and appliances in a flash.
Shop it: Weiman Stainless Steel Cleaner Wipes, $20 (was $21), amazon.com
A brush with greatness
You might not think of makeup brushes as a bathroom-cleaning target. But they're in your bathroom, and if they look icky, it adds to the overall ickiness you're looking to vanquish. Besides, they ain't cheap, so you don’t want to compromise the life of your makeup brush! You might know that these brushes build up residue and bacteria, but did you ever stop to think that they also become dry and brittle from the everyday use of bronzers, blushes, and setting powders? The trick to long-lasting bristles and a smooth makeup application is simpler than you think: Just like your hair, your natural-bristled brushes need to be conditioned post-wash.
First up, clean them with antibacterial soap, then rinse. Next, in a small bowl with hot tap water add three to four drops of coconut or olive oil. Give brushes a swirl in this mixture, allow it to penetrate for 30-60 seconds, then rinse again in hot water to remove excess oils. Voila! Now your brushes are ready for their close-up.
Feeling fancy? I also love this luxe makeup brush cleaner. It’s electric and comes with everything you need including a charger and cleaning solution. Also: It even dries the brushes!
Shop it: Luxe Electric Makeup Brush Cleaner, $26, amazon.com
Read More from Yahoo Life:
These clever laundry hacks will save you loads of money — and time
The 6 best tools for deep-cleaning your home, according to a leading expert
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