Tips to Have a Healthy Bathroom
by Jo Oliver on Sep 04, 2008 with 9 Comments
When it comes to bathroom cleaning, we all know to scrub the tub and toilet seat, but what about the stuff we overlook?
Sink drains
Sink drains have the most germs of any place in the bathroom. During a study by Tufts New England Medical Center researchers showed that sink drains contain more germs than the bathroom toilet seat. An environmentally friendly method of cleaning drains is to pour one to two cups of household vinegar down the drain. Vinegar kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). You can also do this for the tub drain. One cup of household bleach could also be used. Never pour vinegar and bleach together.
Shower Drains
Soak shower heads every three months in vinegar. This will cut the mildew, mold, dirt, and bacteria that collects on the shower head.
Toilet Lids
Close those toilet lids ! Every time you flush your toilet bacterial and viral aerosols float around the bathroom for at least two hours. This toilet spray lands on toothbrushes, hand towels, etc… and then is transferred into or onto our bodies. According to Charles Gerba, a professor at the University of Arizona who specializes in environmental microbiology, this is “not just a scare tactic to get men to put the top down.”
Bath Towels
Hang up bath towels. Spread them out, so that they dry quickly. Germs love moist and dark areas and a crumpled up towel provides just such. Be sure you are changing your hand towels and bath towels after two uses. Dr. Obaji ,on wbztv, suggests using a fresh washcloth each time you take a bath.
Shower Curtains
Change out shower curtains every 6 months. Mold, mildew, and germs collect on the plastic and cloth. See how to reuse here. Just be sure to wash the shower curtain with two parts vinegar before reusing.
Excess Water
Wipe the excess water of the floor and countertops after you shower. Pools of stagnant water will cause bacteria that can soak into porous surfaces to breed and multiply.
Mascara
Mascara should be thrown out after 3-4 months. Most mascara has an antibacterial agent in them, but they only are effective for the shelf life of the product. The wand collects bacteria from the air and eyelashes. The tube harbors these germs and gives them an environment to breed. You can get conjunctivitis or pinkeye from using old mascara. Worse yet, if you happen to scratch your eye, you can get a corneal infection. If the texture or smell changes, throw it out.
Underwear and Soiled Linens
Wash underwear and any soiled linens separate from other clothes. Make the underwear your last load. You might as well take off your dirty underwear and wipe your face with them, if you wash a towel with underwear. Ecoli from fecal material frequents underwear. Always put a cap full of bleach in with underwear or fecal soiled items to kill any bacteria.
Soap Dishes
Soap dishes can create “bacterial soup.” The stagnant water sitting in the bottom of a soap dish is full of the germs off your hands and can be one bad concoction. Make sure all soap dishes have drainage slats in the bottom with a second container that can be regularly emptied. Better yet, invest in a liquid soap dispenser.
Rinsing Cup
A recent study showed that 1/3 of parents admitted that their bathroom does not have a rinsing cup for tooth brushing. This means their little ones are using their hands to scoop up their rinsing water. Another 2 of 5 parents have one “common” use cup. Yikes, this is a nasty one. I can not even count the ways this transfers germs. Invest in those tiny disposable paper cups! To be eco friendly, label a cup for each family member and wash with soap and water daily.
Toothbrushes
Store toothbrushes in the upright position and away from high traffic areas. This means get those toothbrushes off the countertop. Who wants to brush their teeth after germy hand washing water splashes on it? Put them on a shelf away from sink and toilet. Remember that germs like moist and dark environments. So, avoid enclosing your wet toothbrush in a cabinet. If you do not have a toothbrush sanitizer, wash your toothbrush monthly with soap and water. Discard the toothbrush after three months.
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Published in: Home Improvement
Ruby Hawk | Sep 4, 2008 | Reply
You have some important bath room rules we should all follow for our families health.
Chris Stonecipher | Sep 4, 2008 | Reply
I enjoyed this one. Yuk! Wiping our faces with our underwear, but so true. I never thought of drains being so disgusting. Last week I took my vent fan apart to clean it. I never thought something could be so gross.
Thanks for sharing. Thanks also for reading and commenting on my papers.
Chris
sara | Sep 5, 2008 | Reply
I find this post a bit neurotic, to be honest. I mean, yes, some of these items can harbor dangerous microorganisms, but how many? and are they anything that someone with a functioning immune system can\’t handle? Yes, it\’s yucky to think about germs and mold, but not everything will kill you!
Liane Schmidt | Sep 11, 2008 | Reply
This is a good article. It’s important to keep your health in mind and always try your best to do things that will only improve it.
Blessings & best wishes.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
grover | Oct 3, 2008 | Reply
Two uses for the towels?
Are we trying to encourage wasteful habits here? I’m all for cleanliness, but some of these just seem silly.
Lindalulu | Oct 3, 2008 | Reply
What a great informative article….loved it!
Gaila Spears | Nov 3, 2008 | Reply
I had no idea that all this could be possible. Well now that i know..i will be making some changes lol
TAM | Mar 24, 2009 | Reply
i have tried to explain to my friend the importance of getting wet towels off the floor and hung up to dry until ready for the wash. and she wonders why her towels always smell weird and she gets offended because i bring my own towels to use at her house. hmmmm… seems i was right once again…
Jerry | Jun 10, 2009 | Reply
If we all have colored undies, then what!