Avoid these bathroom cleaning mistakes if you want your space to shine!
Most folks think that they know how to clean their bathrooms properly. After all, it’s something we’ve done so many times in our lives, right? But what if I told you that how you’ve been spraying, scrubbing, and disinfecting your bathroom may not be as effective as you thought or even the most hygienic?
Many unknowingly make some vital bathroom cleaning mistakes that leave behind mold, bacteria, and grime despite all the efforts they put into their cleaning process.
That’s why today I’ve decided to reveal the 11 most common bathroom cleaning mistakes you might be making. Plus, I’ll fill you in on some professional techniques and tips to help you get the sparkling, germ-free bathroom you want.
Scrubbing around your bathroom with paper towels
Have you noticed that you can go through an entire roll of paper towels before you’ve even finished cleaning the bathroom? Paper towels are a huge bathroom cleaning mistake because not only are they wasteful, but they’re not as effective as a microfiber cloth.
Microfiber cloths are created from ultra-fine synthetic fibers that pick up dust and dirt, preventing you from using so many sprays. And because you can wash them, they’re environmentally friendly as well!
You can use a microfiber towel that’ll be reused over and over again and save you from going through many rolls of paper towels and less cleaning solvent. So it can effectively reduce overall materials used.
As for washing them, cleaning experts recommend only doing so when necessary. Limiting the amount of times you put it in the washer will limit how much you chafe some of these fibers.
You use caustic drain cleaners
Caustic drain cleaners are highly corrosive to organic materials and many metals. And even though they get the job done, they can also damage everything else they come in contact with. So this is a bathroom cleaning mistake.
If you have drain lines made of PVC or any other type of plastic, you shouldn’t use a liquid drain cleaner because it can eat its way through the plastic. And even if you have old metal pipes, the caustic drain cleaner could still settle in the pits and corrosion found in the metal, which will eat away at your pipes.
You’re not dusting
Yes, your bathroom gets just as dusty as the rest of your home and needs to be dusted regularly. Not dusting your bathroom before you clean is a big bathroom cleaning mistake because it means that instead of cleansing it, you’re only pushing all that dust somewhere else.
The bacteria hiding in this dust will create even more of it over time. So dusting should always be your first step to cleaning your bathroom properly.
You’re not cleaning behind your toilet
You’re frequently cleaning the toilet, but have you considered cleaning BEHIND it? If not, you definitely should be! The buildup of fecal matter and urine likes to sit behind there. So, to avoid this bathroom cleaning mistake, now’s the time to use a paper towel.
Roll up a few, dip them in some antibacterial cleaner, and use a floss-like motion to reach behind the toilet. Let the solution sit for a couple of minutes, floss again, and then wipe it dry with a clean paper towel.
Over or under-cleaning
Cleaning the bathroom once a week should be fine, experts say. Many microbes grow gradually, especially when we’re talking about mold and yeast in bathrooms. That can take days or maybe even weeks to grow.
The exception would be if you happen to be sharing a living space with someone who has an infectious disease. If you do, try not to share the bathroom with them, and if you must, then clean it daily.
You skip vacuuming
Even though you’re more likely to find less mess on the bathroom floor than in another room of your home, like the kitchen and other heavily frequented living spaces, remember that the bathroom could also use some TLC from the vacuum as well.
Just because it’s not carpet doesn’t mean you should go straight to mopping. Vacuuming the bathroom floor before mopping ensures debris and loose dirt is eliminated and allows for a more efficient floor wash.
You’re not allowing enough time for cleaning products to do their job
You may be tempted to spray and wipe away immediately to do the job in record time, but don’t because it would be a huge bathroom cleaning mistake.
By doing so, you’re not giving the cleaning products enough time to kill bacteria. Your best bet is to read the instructions on the products you use. Let it sit for the recommended period to guarantee they have time to disinfect the way intended.
You’re not ventilating your bathroom properly
You should always ventilate your bathroom after using chemicals. If the space has an exhaust fan, it’s there for a reason. So avoid this bathroom cleaning mistake, and don’t forget to turn it on when the cleanup job is done.
If you don’t have an exhaust fan, leave a window open. This will eliminate the rest of the lingering chemicals out of the room, and it’ll secure your health and cleanliness afterward.
Neglecting your shower curtains
Forgetting to properly clean your shower curtains would be a huge bathroom cleaning mistake. Yeast, bacteria, and mold love a moist area, like the shower curtain.
Whether it’s cloth or plastic, it can hold onto bacteria and, in damper conditions, even grow mold. In fact, the shower curtain carries more bacteria than anything else in your bathroom, with more than 16 million colony-forming units. Sounds nasty, right?
You’re not cleaning your toilet brush
For obvious reasons, this is a bathroom cleaning mistake because toilet brushes are full of bacteria and should be cleaned regularly.
So once a month, place your brush in a cup of white vinegar and allow it to dry completely before putting it back.
Pro Tip: Use the toilet seat to hold it in place while it dries. And remember to dry after each use to keep it from accumulating extra bacteria.
Using the same sponge or rag for everything
Here’s why this is one of the biggest bathroom cleaning mistakes you can make, folks: Reusing a single sponge or rag to clean every surface in your bathroom ensures you spread bacteria around.
You might be thinking you’re cleaning, but you’re really just transferring germs from one spot to the next.
Here’s what you should do instead: Use color-coded microfiber cloths for different areas of your bathroom. For example, use yellow for counters, blue for mirrors, red for the toilet, and so on.
The bottom line? Clean smarter, not harder!
Your bathroom should be a haven, not a science experiment in bacterial evolution! You’ll create a healthier, cleaner, and more enjoyable space by avoiding these common bathroom cleaning mistakes and incorporating the right routines and products.
Don’t forget that cleaning isn’t just about looks. It’s also about your health and peace of mind. So begin today by fixing just one mistake at a time, and build your way to bathroom-cleaning excellence!
Have you been making any of these bathroom cleaning mistakes? If so, I hope you found this post helpful. But don’t leave yet!
The American House has many more fantastic tips and tricks up its sleeve! For instance, I highly recommend checking out the 10 Shocking Dust-Causing Habits Wreaking Havoc in Your Home
