Amid reports that a shower curtain is the germiest item in the home, containing 60 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat — new research from shower enclosures retailer Showers to You reveals that there are many bathroom items that we are not cleaning enough. With this in mind, the experts have revealed the dirtiest places in the bathroom and how often each item should be cleaned
1. Toothbrush handle and holder
Frequency: Wash weekly with soap and hot water, and look to replace the toothbrush bristles every three to four months.
Toothbrush handles are frequently exposed to water and toothpaste residue, which can harbor mold and bacteria coming from the toothbrush bristles, with more than 12.6 million colony forming units. In addition to the handle, the location in which a toothbrush is stored is also crucial to the amount of bacteria formed.
Dr. Jordan Brown, a Florida dentist claims that if your toilet and toothbrush are in the same area, there’s a 99 percent chance of fecal matter on your toothbrush, due to the fecal particles in the air when flushing. To keep toothbrushes with minimal bacteria, consider a toothbrush cover or placing the toothbrush in a contained cabinet in the bathroom.
2. Bathroom basin tap handles
Frequency: Wash daily with a sanitizing wipe or spray.
Bathroom tap handles are regularly touched with unwashed hands and can accumulate germs and bacteria. One of the quickest ways for Norovirus to spread is through contaminated surfaces, therefore it is crucial to keep this area as clean as possible. Bacteria associated with a range of infections, are represented by nearly 95 percent of germs found on tap handles. Taps are touched before and after washing hands, therefore, germs are transferred very frequently. They have been found to contain a whopping 6,267 counts of bacteria per square inch, which is even more than those found in the basin itself.
3. Bathroom switches
Frequency: Wipe down weekly with disinfectant, avoid spraying solution directly onto the switch.
These highly touched areas are often overlooked when cleaning. Due to touching the light switch upon entrance and exit of the bathroom, it can harbor a shocking average of 217 counts of bacteria per square inch.
4. Shower head
Frequency: Clean monthly with a vinegar soak or specialized cleaning product.
A showerhead can accumulate limescale, mold, and bacteria such as Legionella, especially in damp and warm conditions if not cleaned regularly. Regular cleaning helps prevent the buildup of harmful pathogens, ensuring your shower water is cleaner and healthier.
Biofilm—a layer of bacterial fungi—can develop on bathroom shower heads, which can lead to infection of the hair follicles when in contact with skin, causing rashes and irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin.
The best way to clean your showerhead following a vinegar soak is to use a toothbrush with fine bristles to scrub the shower head nozzles. For bathrooms with detachable shower heads, it is recommended to disassemble for thorough cleaning.
5. Bathroom towels
Frequency: Wash after every three uses in hot water.
Shockingly, freshly washed towels contain 190,000 counts of bacteria — increasing to 17 million after just one day of use, and soaring to as high as 94 million after a week. A recent Showers to You survey found that almost 1 in 10 people only wash their bathroom towels twice a year, which can lead to an increased number of bacteria living on used towels in bathrooms. Damp environments encourage bacteria and mold growth, so it is best practice to wash towels after every three uses.
6. Loofahs and shower sponges
Frequency: Replace monthly or disinfect weekly by soaking in a bleach or disinfectant solution.
Due to trapped moisture and dead skin cells, loofahs are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Bathrooms typically provide a warm and humid environment perfect for bacterial and mold growth. Infected loofahs can lead to skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are associated with inflammation of hair follicles.
7. Shower floor
Frequency: Clean weekly with disinfectant.
Surprisingly, a bathroom floor can harbor 60 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, with an estimated 61 to 80 percent of people having urinated before in the shower. Not only this, but the shower floor catches all dirt from feet and even stray toilet water droplets. Shower floors are frequently wet and warm, making them an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew. Regular cleaning prevents the buildup of these harmful fungi, which can trigger respiratory problems, allergies, and unpleasant odors.
8. Shower curtain
Frequency: Wash monthly and replace every 6 to 12 months.
It may be surprising to many that fabric shower curtains should be changed every 6 to 12 months, and plastic or vinyl material should be changed every 6 months, or sooner if they show signs of mold, wear, or stubborn odor. Shower curtains can accumulate 60 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, and it is recommended changing to a glass shower door due to their non-porous surface properties.
9. Toilet flush handle
Frequency: Disinfect daily with wipes or spray.
The toilet flush handle is often neglected during bathroom cleans, but doing so is key in reducing the risk of gastrointestinal illness, respiratory infections, and other common diseases caused by pathogens found in bathrooms. The toilet flush handle is one of the most touched places in the bathroom, therefore regular cleaning will reduce the risk of germs spreading.
10. Toilet seat
Frequency: Wipe down weekly.
The toilet seat can also be forgotten, despite accumulating dust, urine splashes, and bacteria. The best practice is to always close the toilet lid when flushing to restrict invisible germs from traveling. The toilet seat itself forms 235,143 colony-forming units, including Bacillus, which is often found in soil and can be harmful to humans.
