If your bathroom's staring at you, willing you to give it a once over, then follow our cleaning guide. You'll find tips and suggestions for all those tricky places.

THE BATHROOM

Walls

PREVENT MOULD: Paint walls and ceilings (especially in moist or humid rooms or rooms which aren't well ventilated) with a mould-inhibitor paint or a paint with a mould additive. Be realistic, deal with ventilation problems by installing an exhaust fan, roof window or skylight to help prevent future mildew growth.

Tiles

QUICK FIX: For an eco-friendly solution to cleaning bathroom tiles, use bicarbonate of soda, vinegar or diluted eucalyptus oil. Mould and soap scum can be kept in check in the shower recess by scrubbing with diluted chlorine bleach and a plastic kitchen scourer a couple of times a week. Use an old toothbrush to get right into the grout, especially around the floor waste.

GO WITH THE PROS: Several cleaning companies offer a tile and grout cleaning service. They'll also seal joints after cleaning to prevent future build-up of dirt and grease.

Bath


QUICK FIX: Remove hard-water stains from porcelain or enamel baths by covering with a paste of bicarbonate of soda and vinegar.

TRY THIS: If your bath is only slightly scratched, resurfacing kits for DIY maintenance can help. For faint scratches on porcelain or enamel baths, wipe over with glycerine.

GO WITH THE PROS: Have a badly stained or worn enamel bath resurfaced on site by restoration professionals. Taking about 2-3 days, the repair process involves prepping, bonding and top-coating built-in baths that would otherwise be costly to rip out and replace. A standard resurfacing job costs about $550 with the bath ready to fill again after 24 hours.

Taps


QUICK FIX: Grab an old toothbrush and cream bathroom cleanser and brush out the dirt around the base of the tap and also the hair and mould that gets caught in the basin's water waste. Polish chrome with a soft cloth and methylated spirits, or if you prefer, an anti-streak, glass cleaner. An eco-friendly hint: keep a spray bottle filled with soda water to remove grease on both chrome and stainless steel taps.

Toilets

QUICK FIX: Toilet cleaners, such as powders, liquids and clip-on flush dispensers, can cause problems with the bacteria balance in our waterways. Never mix toilet cleaners with other household chemicals as a dangerous gas will form. Use less-harmful cleaners - try vinegar and hot water with a toilet brush to kill bacteria.