10 Simple Ways to Keep Your Bathroom Germ Free
Materials:
Hydrogen Peroxide
2 Spray Bottles
Eco-Friendly Paper Towels
Vinegar
Baking Soda
Rubber, Silicone, or Plastic Gloves
Preparation:
Fill one spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide. Then, fill the other spray bottle with vinegar. Have your paper towels and baking soda handy. Put on your gloves. The cleaning rituals described below should be performed at least once per week, but preferably more often.
Tip #1 – Treat For Mold
Even when mold is not visible, it is still important to treat for it. You can do this easily by using your hydrogen peroxide spray bottle. Spray all around the cracks of the bathtub, shower, and sinks. Spray all around the cracks of the toilet and be sure to get behind it as well. The tiles in the bathtub and shower and any other tiles on the walls should also be sprayed down. Corners and crevices need a spraying, too. Once you are done spraying, let the peroxide soak in for about 15 minutes. Then, spray it again and wipe clean with a paper towel. Do not rinse it. Wiping instead of rinsing helps the peroxide disinfect for the mold-causing agents. If there is already mold damage, I suggest spraying the affected area with the peroxide spray bottle instead and leaving it on for 24 hours. Then, treat it using the other method described above. Instead of cleaning it once per week, if mold is visible, I suggest rotating the two methods every day. In other words, the first day should be the cleaning day. The second should be the day you leave the peroxide on for 24 hours. The third day should go back to cleaning and so on. Do this until the mold is no longer visible. Then, just use the normal cleaning method as often as necessary to keep your bathroom clean.
Tip #2 – Keep The Toilet Germ-Free
The toilet is arguably the place where you leave the dirtiest messes. After all, you are using it to get rid of your body’s waste. You certainly wouldn’t want that waste building up inside your body, so why would you want it building up inside your toilet and around your bathroom? First, you need to shut off the water in the toilet. Usually the shut-off valve is located directly behind the toilet. Once you have turned the valve off, flush the toilet. All of the water should go down. If not, flush it until it does. Now, lift the toilet seat. Spray your vinegar all over the inside of the toilet. You are choosing vinegar because its acedic properties break down food materials and also kill bacteria. Leave the vinegar there for 15 minutes. Next, spray your peroxide in the same area and wipe clean with paper towels. The paper towels will need to be disposed of right away. I recommend using a grocery bag to collect all your paper towels from the bathroom. Then, when you are finished with the whole process, take the grocery bag to your dumpster or outdoor trash can. Turn the water back on and flush the toilet.
Another important factor to remember with the toilet is that every time it is flushed, the unseen germs float into the air, settling on all the other surfaces, even those that are five to seven feet away. To help prevent this, always flush the toilet with the lid down. Once it has stopped “hissing”, if you’re concerned about the contents, lift the lid to be sure everything went down. If not, repeat with the lid closed.
Tip #3 – Keep Floors and Throw Rugs Dry
Floors and rugs are one of the biggest harborers of mold and mildew in the bathroom. They are likely tied with the cracks in the shower and tub. Wet rugs and floors cause mold quickly and easily. To keep your floors and rugs dry, each time a shower is taken, you should check underneath your rugs. If the rug is damp underneath or on top, simply hang it up to dry over the shower curtain rod. You can spray it with your vinegar spray bottle for disinfection. If it is dirty, follow the fourth tip instead. If you have carpeting in your bathroom, you should really consider taking it out. Carpeting in the bathroom can cause unseen mold damage and germs.
Tip #4 – Keep Floors Disinfected and Throw Rugs Clean
Bacteria thrives in dirty and wet environments. To help prevent this, your floors need to be clean at all times and your throw rugs also need to be kept clean. Sometimes the throw rugs don’t get washed as often as necessary because people simply forget about them. All rugs that are kept on the bathroom floor should be cleaned at least once per week. The best kind to use are ones which can be placed in the washing machine. Use the hot setting and 2 cups of vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda to wash the rugs. If you like it to be scented, you can also use your favorite laundry detergent, but, otherwise, laundry detergent is not needed. The vinegar and baking soda will do the job. The vinegar acts as a cleanser, disinfectant, and fabric softener. The baking soda acts as a cleanser and fabric softener. Liquid fabric softener is not recommended because it will sometimes ruin the fibers in rugs. You may need to use the gentle cycle cycle, depending on your rugs. If the rug has backing, you may or may not be able to use the washer. Most rugs cannot be placed in the dryer, so they will need to air dry either outside or in, being careful to allow for plenty of air circulation to prevent mold from forming on the wet areas. Be sure the rugs are completely dry before placing them back in their proper locations.
Tip #5 – Keep Sinks/Tubs/Showers Clean
Since these are the areas you will use to keep yourself clean, you need to keep these areas as clean as possible. For this job, you will use the vinegar spray bottle. Plug the drains and spray away. You need to cover the entire area. Let it soak for a few minutes. Then, use eco-friendly paper towels or a cloth to wipe the surface clean. Repeat if necessary until the area is clean. The first time you do this, it may take more than one time, but afterwards, it should be much quicker.
Tip #6 – Keep Countertops Dry
Wet countertops can lead to mold and bacteria. The water and other liquids sink into the cracks, crevices, and pores of the areas, causing a great home for the mold to live. To prevent this, always wipe away any wetness from all surfaces immediately.
Tip #7 – Keep Countertops Germ-Free
Germs from other areas, such as the toilet, settle onto countertops and they are also invisible, so it is important to clean countertops often. Using your vinegar spray bottle, spray the countertops and other surfaces daily and wipe them clean with a cloth or the eco-friendly paper towels. Depending on the size and habits of your household, you may need to do this more than once per day.
Tip #8 – Avoid Carpeting
Carpeting is a bad idea for a bathroom because mold and mildew can build up underneath the carpeting. Even if you cannot see it, it may still be there. Steam and other wetness from the bathroom absorbs into the carpeting and goes underneath the surface creating an ideal environment for mold spores to survive and thrive.
Tip #9 – Disinfect Walls Completely
Like the countertops, walls are a resting place for bacteria. Because many people are focusing on the other surfaces in the bathroom, the walls are often neglected or forgotten. To clean your walls, use the vinegar spray bottle and the eco-friendly paper towels. This should be done at least weekly, more often if there are visible stains to the wall.
Tip # 10 – Disinfect Hard-To-Reach Areas Frequently
Areas that are hard to reach, such as celings, the tops of mirrors, shelftops, and on top of the medicine cabinet are often neglected in the bathroom. Be sure to clean these weekly with the vinegar spray bottle and eco-friendly paper towels.
