10 Simple Steps to Keep Your Bathroom Germ-Free

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

Image © Lyn Lomasi; All Rights Reserved

The bathroom is one place that should not be dirty. It is the room that is used to get clean in, therefore to get you the cleanest, it should be as clean as possible at all times. As a cleanliness-conscious as well as natural-conscious mother, I have researched and experimented with several different cleaning methods for all areas of the house. Some were better than others, healthwise as well as in regards to cleanliness. Here are ten simple ways to keep the bathroom germ-free, plus instructions on preparing the products you will need.

Materials:

Hydrogen Peroxide
2 Black or Brown Spray Bottles
Eco-Friendly Paper Towels
White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Vinyl 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.

Treat For Mold to Help Keep the Bathroom Germ Free

Even when mold is not visible, it’s still important to treat for it. You can do this easily by using your hydrogen peroxide spray bottle to spray all around the cracks of the bathtub, shower, toilet, and sinks. Spray all around each and be sure to get behind them where possible.

The tiles in the bathtub and shower and any other tiles on the walls should also be sprayed down. Don’t forget about corners and crevices. 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. This helps the peroxide disinfect the mold-causing agents.

If there is already mold damage, I suggest treating it as suggested above, then respraying and leaving it on for 24 hours. If mold is visible, rotate the two methods every other day. 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.

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 acidic 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 the 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.

Every time a toilet is flushed, the unseen germs float into the air, settling on all other surfaces, even those 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.

Keeping Floors and Throw Rugs Dry Helps Avoid Bathroom Germs

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.

Keep Floors Disinfected and Clean Rugs Often

Bacteria thrives in dirty and wet environments. To help keep your bathroom germ-free, 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 or sanitary setting, using 2 cups of vinegar and 1/2 cup of baking soda as your detergent to wash the rugs.

Put the baking soda in the powdered detergent dispenser and the vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. If you like it to be scented, you can add a tablespoon of tea tree oil. 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, depending on your rugs. If the rug has backing, you may or may not be able to use the washer. Some 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. If the rug has a backing, spray the backing with hydrogen peroxide and allow to air dry before placing it back on the bathroom floor.

Keep Sinks, Tubs, and Showers Clean to Help Keep the Bathroom Free of Germs

Since these are used to keep yourself clean, you need to keep them 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. If you use cloths, throw them in the wash immediately, following the same washing instructions as the rugs, minus instructions for backings.

Keeping Countertops Dry Helps Keep the Germs Away

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. You can use either the vinegar or peroxide spray bottles to do this. Both will be effective in helping keep your bathroom countertops free of germs.

Keep Bathroom Countertops Germ-Free By Keeping them Clean

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. One helpful memory trick is to wash these surfaces each time you need to use the toilet. This way, it gets done often.

Avoid Carpeting in the Bathroom to Help Dispel Germs

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.

Carpets are also an easy environment for things like urine and spills to collect because they get stuck deep in the fibers, even with regular cleaning. This creates a big problem with germs in the bathroom.

Disinfect Bathroom 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 or you have a large number of household members.

Disinfect Hard-To-Reach Areas Frequently

Areas that are hard to reach, such as ceilings, tops of mirrors, shelf tops, 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. The more surfaces you can keep clean and disinfected, the less you will need to deal with bathroom germs.