I tried a natural 45p bathroom cleaning hack

Western Telegraph

08-07-2025

But have you tried making your bathroom sink, bath and tiles sparkle like new, using a piece of fruit? I have, and it blew my mind.
I'm the first to admit that I get sucked into these ridiculous trends on social media when it comes to household hacks – the cheaper (and weirder), the better, in my honest opinion.
Because let's be honest, cleaning your house with the same old anti-bacterial spray, such as Flash or Zoflora, can get pretty boring, and that's coming from someone who cleans for a hobby.
Can you make cleaner out of grapefruit? 45p bathroom hack that blew my mind
So, when I came across a cleaning expert who recommended giving your bathroom suite a rub-down with a grapefruit and some salt, I quite literally jumped (up from the sofa) at the chance.
My first thoughts were, is my bathroom going to turn into a giant bucket of Pimms-like sticky syrup, and will it attract every flying insect (I'm looking at you, wasps nest across the road) surrounding my house?
I just had to find out, because there was no way a humongous 45p grapefruit from Tesco could replace my trusty method army – I was adamant this was even too weird for me.
But do you know what, Nigel Bearman at Daily Poppins was right, it does clean your bathroom surfaces and it does one hell of a job without any harsh chemicals in sight.
I actually ate the other half of grapefruit which wasn't used to clean my bathroom - don't judge (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) What stood out to me the most was how much it made the likes of my bathroom taps shine like they were straight out of a Wickes showroom. It even managed to get rid of a small build-up of limescale.
Plus, I can't tell you how refreshing it was to have a natural, zesty scent take over my bathroom, a difference from the usual pungent anti-bacterial sprays.
Although it looked a bit of a mess at first (I found it quite satisfying squeezing the inner grapefruit flesh over my sink and bath), it all washed away within seconds of pouring warm water on top.
Best of all, after letting the grapefruit juice and salt soak, there wasn't a speckle of sticky residue, which was my ultimate fear.
All that was left was a gleaming sink, taps and bath without any dust, grime or stains, and it only took 10 minutes to achieve.
What do you usually clean your bathroom with? (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest)
How to use a grapefruit for cleaning
When cleaning my bathroom with grapefruit and salt, this is the method I followed, thanks to Nigel's instructions:
Cut the grapefruit in half and sprinkle it with coarse salt (like Epsom or sea salt) - I used normal cooking salt and it worked just fine
Take one half of the grapefruit and lightly scrub it over the surface of your bath and shower
Let it sit for a few minutes to help the citric acid work even harder on the stains (optional)
Rinse the area with warm water and wipe clean if necessary
So, what's the science behind grapefruit and salt being an excellent bathroom cleaner?
Nigel explained: 'Grapefruit contains citric acid which helps to quickly break down soap scum and grime found in baths and showers. It acts as a natural cleaning agent and dissolves through tough stains while eliminating germs and bacteria.
An unbelievable transformation if I do say so myself (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest)
'The salt works as an abrasive to help scrub the grime away while you use it, while the grapefruit uses its natural acids and antibacterial properties to break down the buildup and leave your bathroom sparkling clean. It's a simple, eco-friendly solution that gives you a fresh, citrus-scented finish.'
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Additionally, you can also make an all-purpose grapefruit spray – just squeeze the juice from the grapefruit into a spray bottle, add 1-2 tablespoons of vinegar, top it up with warm water, and give it a good shake.
You can also use the leftover grapefruit peel to deodorise your bathroom bin or pop it in a pot of boiling water to naturally scent the whole room.
If you fancy giving your bathroom a clean using this cheap grapefruit hack, let us know how you get on in the comments below. What a zest-tastic idea from Nigel, I owe you one.