12 common bathroom habits that are unhygienic
Cleaning the bathroom isn’t usually high on anyone’s favourite things to do list. But luckily, compared to other rooms in your home it is usually one of the cleaner spaces.
Most likely it’s the fact that the surfaces of a bathroom show up dirt and grime faster, and we are more aware of the need to clean them up compared to say your bedroom or lounge room.
But if you’re guilty of any of these bathroom “no-nos,” you might be exposing yourself to germs, bacteria and viruses.
1. Not replacing your toothbrush
After you’ve been sick, it’s important to replace your toothbrush to avoid reinfecting yourself or others who share your bathroom. All the germs from your saliva go into the bristles and can survive for several weeks.
2. Storing toothbrushes in one cup
So many households keep all of the family’s toothbrushes in one small cup, which means the bristles will intermingle at some point. This quickly transfers germs from one family member to another, and also causes the bottom of the cup to become slimy and mouldy. A better solution is to store the brushes separately in their own cups or in a holder with individual spaces for each brush. Wash the holder regularly by popping in the dishwasher.
3. Using a soap dish
When soap just sits in a plastic dish without being able to drain water away, it is inevitable that it will become a haven for germs. One side of the soap will always be wet and this will allow the germs to grow and multiply. So either store your soap on a wire shower caddy where it can drain excess water, or toss it all out and use shower gel instead.
4. Living with a mouldy shower curtain
Don’t wait until you can see the mould to clean your shower curtain. As mould spores are so tiny it’s likely that if you wait you will have billions of mould spores sharing the shower with you. Either replace the curtain if it’s really mouldy, or scrub it with undiluted bleach and leave in the sun to dry.
5. Sharing one hand towel
Towels are a breeding ground for germs, as they are often moist. Sure, most people use the towel after washing their hands, but you just don’t know how good everyone is at washing their hands – and what if someone has also used it to dry their face after brushing their teeth? It’s best to have a towel for each person in the home to use and get him or her washed once a week.
6. Leaving damp towels in the bathroom
If your towels are all on the same hook or towel rack, it’s virtually impossible for them all to dry properly. Mildew breeds rapidly and you get the dreaded ‘towel smell’. Sharing the space also allows germs to spread from person to person, so it’s best to dry each one in their own space and launder them once a week at the minimum.
7. Storing razors in the shower
You may not have thought of this one but a razor kept in a wet shower will quickly become covered in bacteria and go rusty. Try drying it off after use and storing in the bathroom cupboard instead.
8. Using razors for too long
Nobody likes forking out for the expensive disposable razors, but many of us are guilty of using them well past their best. Ideally we should be replacing them after five uses, so that we avoid rust and germs accumulating.
9. Not replacing loofahs and sponges regularly
Another item that can quickly build up a whole host of germs and bacteria is your loofah or sponge. They remove skin cells when you scrub and these can stay on the sponge. They are best replaced every three months, and ideally should be dried outside of the shower between uses.
10. Living with a dirty toilet bowl
Don’t wait until you can see that your toilet bowl is dirty before you give it a scrub. The inside of the toilet causes as much illness as the toilet seat itself. Every time you flush, the droplets of water from the toilet will spray almost 6 feet from the bowl, meaning your towels, taps and toothbrushes are all at risk of contamination. Scrub your loo at least once a week with bleach or toilet cleaner to keep it safe.
11. Not cleaning the doorknob and light switch
So often we forget to clean these often-touched surfaces when we scrub the bathroom. But everyone touches them, and if you think about the fact that you are sharing germs with someone who just forgot to wash their hands or threw up from a stomach bug – it can be enough to make your stomach churn. Use an antibacterial wipe once or twice a week, or more regularly if any household member is ill.
12. Not scrubbing the bathroom floor regularly
It’s not just the shower that can spread athlete’s foot or other fungus from your feet. Your bathroom floor is a breeding ground for mould and fungus as it is generally wet from the shower and also coated in droplets from the toilet (nice). If you fail to mop and scrub it regularly it can mean that germs are walked all around your home, leaving you at risk of disease. Do a weekly mop with disinfectant or bleach to kill most of the germs.
Related links:
The ultimate house cleaning schedule
15 clever uses for apple cider vinegar
10 items to remove from your bathroom