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How To Get Rid Of Hard Water Stains In A Toilet!

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Cleaning a toilet is not the most pleasant chore. So, it’s no wonder many homeowners just want to put off this task as much as possible.

However, procrastinating may not be the best strategy. The minerals in hard water cause water spots, and they harden over time. 

But don’t worry! While avoiding hard water may be impossible, cleaning mineral stains can be done easily! Just follow these methods to have a spotless toilet.

How to clean water stains using vinegar and baking soda

Does it surprise you that you can clean a toilet with vinegar and baking soda? It shouldn’t! 

These regular household products are versatile and commonly used for many cleaning chores. Also, they’re natural, so you can forget all the harsh chemicals usually required to clean a toilet. Here’s how to use them in your toilet:

Step 1. Pour the vinegar

Pour a cup of white vinegar into the toilet bowl and spread it around the bowl with a toilet brush. Then, let the vinegar settle for around one minute.

Step 2. Add the baking soda

Pour a cup of baking soda into the bowl and add two more cups of vinegar. Leave the mix for ten minutes—it should start bubbling.

Step 3. Scrub the stains

Use your brush to swish the mix around the bowl. You should get the liquid to reach the stains above the water line (don’t flush the toilet just yet.) If there’s any visible stain, scrub it with your brush to loosen the deposits.

Step 4. Let the solution do its job

All that’s left to do is wait. Give the vinegar and baking soda mix 30 minutes to work on the water stains—you can swish the solution around the toilet a couple more times.

After time’s up, rinse the toilet by flushing it. The solution should have taken care of the hard water stains by now!

Clean the toilet using a pumice stone

Are there still any stubborn stains in the toilet? A pumice stone can take care of them! With this method, you might need to put more effort into the task, but it’s very efficient. 

Before you start, just one warning: keep the stone and toilet wet throughout the process. Besides, scrubbing your porcelain toilet with a pumice stone is not risk-free, so don’t do it too often, and always be careful.

Are you ready to start? Follow these steps, and you’ll have a spotless toilet!

  • Wet the pumice stone and every stain you want to remove. 
  • Then, scrub the stains in a circular motion with the stone. You may notice a gray paste starting to form. Don’t worry! It’s nothing weird, just residue from the stone. You can even rub that paste on the stains to clean the water spots easier.
  • Rinse and check if the stain is gone. If not, repeat the process.

Prevent water stains with regular cleaning

Cleaning your toilet once a week is the best way to avoid repeating this process too often. As simple as it sounds: constant scrubbing will stop the minerals from building up and hardening in your toilet.

However, we understand that setting time aside for chores is easier said than done. Luckily, CHRIStal Clean can help you! We offer quality cleaning services for people in Waukesha County. Let us take care of cleaning your toilet and the rest of your home. Get a quote here.

The Best Tips To Get You Motivated To Clean Your Home

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You stare at all the clutter and chaos that once was a house, asking yourself, when did this happen? All that mess fatigues you mentally and physically, draining your willpower. The longer you let the mess grow, the less you seem to want to clean—it is a vicious cycle.

You should know you’re not alone in this. It happens to people more often than you think for many different reasons. However, there are ways you can manage to find the motivation to clean, even in easy and rewarding ways. Read on to find out how!

How to motivate yourself to start cleaning

It may not be the easiest thing in the world, but with a bit of effort, you can overcome the dread that seeing all the mess causes. Follow these tips and get to work!

Find your own reason to clean

If knowing about the numerous benefits of cleaning doesn’t cut it for you, find a personal, maybe practical reason to maintain your surroundings clean and tidy.

It doesn’t need to be because you have to, but because you need it, like clearing tabletops or furniture to access your belongings easily. You can even “force” yourself to do it; for example, you can invite a friend or a family member to come over to your house.

Once you start doing it, you’ll find a new sense of control and significance that will help you move forward.

Tackle one area at a time

There is this obsolete idea that everything must be done at once when cleaning. Although some people do it that way, it is unnecessary.

Define places (either by classification, area, or difficulty) that you can tackle in a relatively short time. Your brain will feel the rush of dopamine every time you finish a task, giving you the impulse to keep going—you can even rest between tasks!

Keep the mood going

A great way to make cleaning time easier is by listening to something you like. You can put on a playlist with upbeat songs or one with your favorite themes. Podcasts are also great; you can listen to something interesting or have a good laugh while you clean.

On the other hand, unless you are on a break (still, be careful, though), try to avoid things that might distract you, like social media or your computer. Finish mopping that floor first!

Reward yourself

Congratulations! You’ve overcome the obstacles within you and achieved a tidy house! 

It was not an easy task, and you deserve acknowledgment and validation for it. So, pamper yourself with a meal at your favorite place or by going out with your friends—you’ve earned it!

This positive reinforcement will improve your disposition to do it again and help you get the discipline you need to make cleaning a habit.

It’s ok to ask for help. Let CHRIStal Clean lend you a hand!

Having a helping hand is a good motivation too. And what better help than professional help? Ask for our special cleaning services, and our reliable cleaning staff will carry on the job with the utmost quality. Besides, our flexible schedules will adapt to whatever you need. Get your free quote now!

How To Clean Light Switches (And Remove Hidden Grime!)

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What are your priorities when cleaning your home? Kitchen, bathroom, refrigerator, stove, sweeping floors, and the list goes on and on. With so many items and surfaces, it’s understandable that light switches are way down on the list, but maybe you need to reconsider.

Light switches are one of the grimiest things in your house. They are used countless times daily, transferring germs and bacteria back and forth. So, the next time you clean, you’ll know how crucial it’s to focus on these tiny plates.

Read to learn how to clean your light switches, whether you want to remove any visible stains or keep them bacteria-free.

Be careful and avoid accidents!

Since electricity is involved, you’ll have to be careful to avoid the risk of an electric shock. Of course, you could clean the switches carefully, but it’s better to turn off the main supply before beginning.

As your house will be without power while you clean the switches, choose a time of the day where you have a lot of light, so morning or early in the afternoon is a good idea.

How to clean light switches

You won’t need expensive products to do the job since you may have the necessary items already in your house.

Prepare a cleaning solution

Fill a container with 1 cup of vinegar, ˝ cup of rubbing alcohol, and ˝ cup of hydrogen peroxide. If you like, you can add a few drops of essential oil. Then, mix everything to make your cleaning solution.

Remove the grime

Next, grab a microfiber cloth and dampen it with the cleaning solution. Here you can do two things: wipe the switch and the cover directly or unscrew it to have an easier time cleaning the switch. Note that removing the plate will be safer than applying the solution directly.

If you choose not to unscrew (or can’t remove the cover), dampen the cloth just enough to avoid water filtering through the crevices. Rub the cover and then the switch making sure to cover all the surfaces.

Note: If there are hard-to-reach spots, you can use a q-tip to clean them.

Finishing touches

Once grime-free, remove the excess moisture and solution with a clean, dry soft towel. Be sure to leave it completely dry to avoid damaging the electrical components and causing an accident.

Brass-type light switches

If you have brass switch plates, you’ll want to try a method that doesn’t damage them. The recommendation is to remove the plates from the wall, as you’ll need to sprinkle them with salt or baking soda.

Then, cut a lemon and rub the previously sprinkled cover to start removing the stains. Wipe away the paste every time you need to check for stains. Repeat the process as necessary. Finally, polish the plate with a microfiber cloth, dry it, and get it back in place.

Keep your light switches clean!

Have you finished cleaning but wouldn’t like to do an in-depth cleaning again? CHRIStal Clean is your best option! Don’t worry about grimy switches, as our professional cleaners will leave them spotless every time. No hidden fees, no surprises.

Book with us now!