Waging war on germs in the bathroom
Public toilets are teeming with all sorts of germs. But surely it’s possible to keep them under control in your own bathroom. And yet, bacteria can thrive in a bathroom at home, too. The reason for this is frequently that when you clean your bathroom, you tend to concentrate on the toilet bowl, the washbasin and the bathtub. But there’s no need to panic. After all, a completely germ-free bathroom is neither possible nor necessary. In a private bathroom, simple hygiene can keep these unwanted co-inhabitants at bay.
Tips for reducing germs in your own bathroom
- Bacteria love moist hand and bath towels. So always hang them up freely to dry and wash them at least once a week at a temperature of at least 60 degrees.
- Toothbrushes should not be underestimated as potential habitats for bacteria, which is why they should be replaced every two or three months and stored in such a way that they can dry properly.
- Always close the toilet lid. Whenever you flush the toilet, bacteria are catapulted into the air, where they spread out across the entire bathroom.
- As bacteria love moisture, it is important to let plenty of fresh air into the bathroom or to make sure that the ventilation system is working properly.
- Shower curtains tend to attract fungus and mildew. So it’s important to make sure that they can dry properly after you use the shower. In addition, they should be washed from time to time. In the long term, a shower partition wall made from glass is generally more hygienic.
- Don’t neglect door handles, actuator plates and light switches when you clean your bathroom.
- Always rub bathtubs and showers dry after use to make it as difficult as possible for microorganisms to settle there.
- Plenty of germs accumulate in the silicon seals even though they look clean enough at first glance. That’s why you should regularly clean them with a vinegar-based detergent and hot water.
- Don’t forget the shower head. Germs quickly accumulate in the shower head. So, it’s a good idea to let hot water run through the jets before showering. Ideally, this water should have a temperature of 60 degrees.
- Cloths for cleaning should be regularly washed at 90 degrees in the washing machine and separate cloths should be used for the bathroom. And as a special precautionary measure, you should use a separate cloth of a different colour for cleaning the toilet.
- Hair and dirt also quickly collect in bathroom mats. Shaking them out regularly and washing them in hot water can help.
- Bathroom sponges used when you have a bath are no better than kitchen sponges and should therefore be replaced regularly.
- Cosmetic and hair brushes also need to be cleaned. Ideally, they should be washed occasionally with shampoo.
