Bathrooms are essential spaces for personal hygiene, but they can also be the best places for bacteria to hide out! While you may often focus on cleaning obvious surfaces like sinks and toilets, there are several overlooked sources of germs hiding in plain sight. Even if the source is far away, the bacteria it carries can find a way into your mouth through contact. This can spell disaster for your oral health!
If you want to know the five dirtiest items in your bathroom that you should clean right now, continue reading.
1. Toothbrush Holder
Your toothbrush holder may seem harmless, but it can accumulate a lot of bacteria over time. This is especially true if it’s too close to the toilet where flushing can spray bacteria onto nearby surfaces. Regularly disinfect your toothbrush holder by washing it with hot, soapy water or running it through the dishwasher—if safe.
2. Towels
Bath towels are meant to keep you clean and dry, but they can become like bee hives for bacteria if not washed often. Moist environments, like bathrooms, provide an ideal habitat for germs to thrive. Be sure to wash your towels in hot water with detergent at least two to three times a week. This will prevent bacterial buildup and ensure they remain clean and fresh.
3. Shower Curtains
Shower curtains are constantly exposed to moisture, creating a perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. Over time, they can develop gross stains and start to smell. To clean your shower curtain, spray it down with a solution of water and white vinegar to kill bacteria and remove stains.
4. Toilet Brush Holder
While the toilet bowl itself is often cleaned regularly, the toilet brush and its holder are…not. These two fixtures can hold on to fecal bacteria and other harmful pathogens if not cleaned regularly. After each use, fill a bucket with hot water and add bleach. Let it soak for an hour before returning it to the holder. To clean the holder itself, wash it with hot, soapy water at least once a week.
5. Cell Phone
While not a common fixture, your phone is probably with you at all times—even in the bathroom. Most people don’t clean the screen or the case very often, if at all. Everything you touch during the day deposits germs on your fingers which then get transferred to your phone.
From there, these germs can easily make it to your face or mouth through touch. Use an antibacterial wipe to go over your screen and case at least once a day to decrease the risk of sickness or infection.
While the subject of germs can be off-putting, it’s important to keep your space clean. The pathogens and bacteria hiding in your bathroom don’t sit still, they can be moved by contact or spread invisibly from surface to surface. Cleaning often and well can help eliminate these bacteria and create a cleaner, healthier environment for you and your family.
About the Author
If you want phenomenal oral health, you need a great dentist to guide you. Dr. Julie Young has been practicing for decades and has all the knowledge and skill to bring your smile to the next level. She graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and has since then expanded her abilities through multiple professional organizations. Call (415) 924-5300 to schedule an appointment at Corte Madera Dentist – Dr. Julie Young, DDS, or visit the website to discover other services they offer.
