How do you make your faucets sparkle? We'll tell you how! Cleaning bathroom taps is a dirty business — literally. Taps are always a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. A mixture of soap, dirt, shampoo and even toothpaste often accumulate inside the water reservoir, causing that awful smell. 

Cleaning bathroom taps is not a fun job, but somebody has to do it. If you're that someone, then save yourself some trouble and follow this quick guide on cleaning bathroom taps and faucets following the rule of 4H – handy, helpful, healthy and happy bathroom habits. 

Before we share some precious hacks with you, it’s important to know why taps get dirty:  

• Dirt on the knob: Knobs are the most commonly touched parts of the tap and it gathers dirt over time. 
• Grime: Tap joints are a difficult to clean area and are often the dirtiest. 
• Limescale deposit: A hard chalky, calcium deposit may accumulate over time on your taps and cause the flow of water to slow down. 

Here are some quick ways you can clean them:  

Lemon: Limescales can be a big problem since they slow down the flow of the water. A quick way to deal with it is right in your kitchen. Take a slice of lemon and place it over the calcium deposits. You can tape the lemon slice on the area for a few hours. The acid in the lemon works its magic and dissolves the deposits that your ordinary soap can't clear.  

Enzymes: Enzyme-based cleaners like The Better Home's multi-purpose cleaners are great to gently breaking down the dirt and grime. Just take a few drops of the solution and place it on a wash cloth to wipe your taps clean. Enzyme cleaners are especially great for hard-to-clean bolts and joints. 

Baking soda: Sometimes less is more! A little baking soda and some water can go a long way when it comes to fighting nasty stains on knobs. The gentle abrasive particles of baking soda gently buff away the stains and dirt with ease! 

What not to do:  

We know dirt and stains can be difficult to deal with but it's important to not get impatient. Here are some things you shouldn't do if you want your taps and faucets sparkling clean:  

- Do not use a toilet cleaner to clean them. Toilet cleaners can be too harsh and damage the surface of the taps. 

- Do not use acidic cleaners on metal fittings. 

- Do not scrub the fittings with any rough material. 

Happy cleaning!