Scrubbing a bath is one of the most dreaded chores in any household. It’s time-consuming, back-breaking, and usually involves harsh-smelling products that leave your hands dry and your nose burning.
But thankfully, there’s a cheaper, more natural way to get your tub looking brand new without all the elbow grease. According to cleaning expert Nigel Bearman from Daily Poppins, there is a simple 55p hack that can slash your scrubbing time in half – and it comes straight from your fruit bowl. Bearman recommends using grapefruit, a fruit packed with citric acid that naturally breaks down soap scum and grime. He said: “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.”
Grapefruit also smells incredible and won’t leave your bathroom reeking of bleach.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Cut a grapefruit in half.
- Sprinkle the flesh generously with coarse salt. Epsom or sea salt work best.
- Use the grapefruit like a scrubber, rubbing it over the surface of your tub or shower.
- Optional: Let the juice and salt mixture sit for a few minutes to give the citric acid time to break down deeper grime.
- Rinse with warm water and wipe clean if needed.
Bearman added: “The salt works as an abrasive to help scrub the grime away while the grapefruit uses its natural acids and antibacterial properties to break down the buildup. It’s a simple, eco-friendly solution that gives you a fresh, citrus-scented finish.”
Other than your bath, you can also use a grapefruit to clean other parts of your home, such as tiles, taps, shower doors and even your toilet bowl.
To make the most of your grapefruit, you can also make your own all-purpose grapefruit spray. Just mix grapefruit juice with a tablespoon or two of vinegar, top up with warm water in a spray bottle, and shake well, and you’ve got yourself a powerful natural cleaner that smells as good as it works.
Save the peel and toss it in your bathroom bin to neutralise odours, or simmer it in water on the stove to naturally scent your whole home.
So next time you’re gearing up for a big clean, skip the chemical-laden sprays and reach for nature’s freshest secret weapon.
