Ed Madan

Last week, I received a call from a young lady by the name of Mandy. Mandy wanted to know how to stop the bathroom tub rubber mat from molding. She wanted to know how to clean the mat safely without a lot of harsh chemicals and she also wanted to know how to clean her bathroom walls without a lot of bending. I thought I would share with you my comments to Mandy about her bathroom dilemma.

Bathroom rubber matting can be challenging because they have all of those little suction cups that have to be cleaned. I told Mandy to place two large bleach safe bath towels loosely around the rubber mat and place them into the washer. Fill the washer with hot water, add one cup of bleach and one cup of laundry detergent, washing using the normal wash cycle. After the mat has been cleaned, take it into the bathroom, stick it to the fiberglass wall and leave it there until it's time for the next bath. At bath time, pull it from the wall and insert it into the tub. After the bath, pull it up and re-stick to the wall again. It will dry quickly, preventing it from mold growth.

I told Mandy that I really didn't like sponges because they collect and spread lots of bacteria. However, they can provide a service if taken care of properly. I told Mandy that for those of us with back problems, a sponge floor mop will save the day. The mop can be used to clean bath tubs and shower walls. Just dip the sponge mop into the cleaning solution, scrub the walls clean, then rinse with bleach, wring damp and then hang up to dry.

If you are allergic to any of the above products, please don't use them. Always test fabric and paints before using any chemical compounds. Please remember to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands and eye protection for your eyes. If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, please call Ed at 255-2266 or send them to Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864, Attn: What Would Ed Do?

Copy written by Ed Madan, certified executive housekeeper, Northwest Environmental Services, specializing in commercial, residential and disaster cleaning.