What Is the Bathroom’s Grossness?
According to Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona who has conducted numerous research on home germs, the bathroom is filthy.
What’s the first rule for keeping your bathroom clean? Keep things dry—as you’re cleaning, make sure to thoroughly dry all surfaces.
Implementing these practices every couple of months will be like flushing your troubles down the toilet, whether you divide your antibacterial blitz into several sessions or complete your bathroom thorough clean in one single swoop.
You’re aware of the situation.
Cleaning the Shower Head
What you should do is: Let’s start at the beginning: Fill a plastic shopping bag halfway with white vinegar (enough to thoroughly submerge the shower head nozzle) and knot it in place for an overnight soak. Remove it in the morning and rinse it under running water.
Why? Because Mycobacterium avium, a pathogen linked to lung illness, can be found in the shower head. Turning on a neglected shower, according to Gerba, can drive millions of bacteria right into your lungs.
Shower Curtains and Doors Should Be Cleaned
What to do: Toss your plastic shower curtains and liners in the washer with ordinary detergent and a few old towels to help scrub away the grime. Mildew and soap scum Hang to dry again.
Make a paste by mixing a few drops of distilled white vinegar with a cup of baking soda and applying it straight on the shower door (it’ll stick because it’s thick). Allow an hour to pass before rubbing with a microfiber cloth. Rinse thoroughly and dry thoroughly with a clean, dry microfiber cloth.
The tub is usually not a problem; a weekly scrub is usually sufficient. But if you want it to shine even more, fill it with hot water and then drain it. Before scrubbing, apply a bathroom cleaner and let it sit for 15 minutes.
To keep it in good shape, wipe condensation off all surfaces after showering and leave the window open for one hour each day to reduce the humidity level in the room.
Why? Because the bacteria from your shower head (and your body) can stay in your tub.
Dingy Grout Should Be Refreshed
What you should do is: Scrub any discolored areas with a grout brush dipped in plain bleach; rinse thoroughly. Make sure the room is well ventilated.
Grout should be sealed every six months to keep moisture and filth away.
Grout is permeable, making it a breeding ground for microorganisms.
Bathroom Tile, Walls, and Ceilings Cleaning
What to do: Spray all-purpose cleanser on the tile, counters, walls, and ceiling, then turn on the shower and crank the hot water until steam builds up (about five minutes).
Turn off the water and leave the room for 20 minutes, allowing the steam and cleanser to mingle. Then use a clean cloth to wipe down all surfaces. Use a clean, dry microfiber mop to reach high places. Wipe the tile floor as well, but only after the rest of the nasty labor is done.
Apply a coat of auto wax on ceramic tile once a year to prevent water streaks. Water will condense and roll off the surface. On untiled walls and ceilings, mildew-resistant paint can also help.
Why: Soaps leave a microscopic film behind, along with the dirt and skin cells they slough off.
How to Clean the Toilet Effortlessly
What you should do is: Fill the bowl with a cup of baking soda. Allow to sit for a few minutes before brushing and flushing. Still seeing blemishes? A damp pumice stone is rough enough to remove lime scale and mineral deposit stains while being mild enough to avoid damaging surfaces.
Invest in a tiny, light-duty electric pressure washer if you have a lot of grime (or if you’re afraid of toilet crevices). It allows you to blast hard-to-reach regions from a safe distance, such as the areas where the hinges meet the seat. Start with the lowest setting and see what you can come up with.
When flushing, close the lid and utilize the vent fan (it sucks up bacteria before they can settle). Start placing toothbrushes and contact lenses in the medicine cabinet immediately if you haven’t already.
Why: According to Gerba, a flushing toilet resembles a fireworks display when watched in slow motion. Bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella can fly into the air and land on the seat, the handle, and other surfaces because pathogens persist in the bowl even after flushing.
What Is the Best Way to Clean a Bathroom Sink?
What you should do is: Flush the drain with hot water after pouring white vinegar or baking soda down it. Disposable disinfection wipes are recommended for the faucet, according to Gerba, because they considerably reduce microorganisms. (On the other hand, cloths may simply transport germs from one location to another; Gerba has even discovered bacteria from the toilet bowl living in the kitchen sink.)
If you must use cloths, pay close attention to how and where each one is used and stored. After you’ve finished with the handles, floss the faucet (yes, you read that right). The stringy substance is ideal for cleaning the tight, filthy area where the faucet’s base and taps meet the sink.
Why: Get ready to shiver: the sink drain has the highest bacteria level in the bathroom, surpassing even the toilet seat. Gerba discovered as many bacteria down there as he would find on a cutting board used to chop raw meat during his studies.
The Correct Way to Wash Hand Towels
If your washing machine has one, use the sanitizing mode (or bleach them). Every three to four days, replace with fresh towels.
Rather than hanging wet towels on a hook, where folds form, spread them out on a bar where air may circulate. Remember to wipe the towel bar as well; it gathers bacteria as well. Also, don’t leave wet towels near the toilet. (Remember how we talked about slo-mo spray?)
Why? Because they’re widely used and trap moisture, they’re a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.
De-germ the bathroom exhaust fan
To begin, turn off the circuit breaker. The cover should then be removed and soaked in warm water with dish soap. To clean the fan blades, use the vacuum’s nozzle attachment and a moist cloth. With a firm, clean paintbrush, remove dust from the motor and other nooks and crannies, then vacuum up the debris. Replace the cover when it’s entirely dry.
Later, set the fan on a timer (a simple job for a handyman) and operate it during each shower and for 30 minutes afterward to keep moisture (and energy use) under control.
Why: While the fan aids in the reduction of mold and mildew, it also inhales a smorgasbord of airborne particles, which can cling to the blades and vent.
Cleaning Supplies for the Bathroom
What you should do is: Take on the toilet brush, which should be cleaned after each use. Here’s how to do it: Place the brush handle between the already-clean seat and the basin, hovering over the bowl, and pour bleach over the bristles. Allow to sit for a few minutes before dousing with clean water from a pitcher. Fill the brush canister with warm, soapy water and let it sit for a few minutes before emptying the unclean water into the toilet.
Why: If you don’t clean your toilet brush thoroughly, it could become a breeding ground for bacteria.
