No surprise there, right?
Consider it your guide and you’ll be flushing your cleaning worried down the…well, you know.
Remove it in the morning and execute the water to rinse.
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What to do:Always read the care instructions first!
Let sit for an hour, then rub with a microfiber cloth.
Rinse and buff dry with a fresh, dry microfiber cloth.
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Be sure to ventilate the room.
What to keep doing:Seal grout every six months to help prevent moisture and grime from infiltrating.
For peskygrout and tile stains, use a good tile and grout cleaner.
Monica Buck
Then wipe down all surfaces with a clean microfiber cloth.
To reach high spots, use a clean, drymicrofiber mop.
Wipe the tile floor, too, but only after you’ve finished the rest of the dirty work.
Unsplash / Charles Deluvio
For stubborn mold and mildew, try a mold remover.
What to do:Pour a cup of baking soda into the bowl.
Let sit for a few minutes; brush, and flush.
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What to keep doing:From now.
And start now if you’re not already storing toothbrushes and contact lenses inside the medicine cabinet.
And faucet handles?You touch them after using the toilet and before washing your hands.
Marlene Ford/Getty Images
What to do:You don’t need heavy duty cleaners to make the bacterial stew disappear.
The best tip for how toclean bathroom sinks?
Pour white vinegar or baking soda down the drain and flush with hot water.
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For the faucet, Gerba recommends disposable disinfecting wipes, which significantly reduce bacteria.
If you must use cloths, be fastidious about where each one is employed and stored.
When the handles are done, floss the faucet (yes, you read that right).
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While you’re at it, give the bathroom mirror a once over with glass cleaner.
What to do:Use the sanitizing setting, if your washing machine has one.
If not, you may need to bleach them (just remember to read care instructions first).
Simon Watson/Getty Images
Replace withclean towelsevery three to four days.
Don’t forget to clean the towel bar; it too collects bacteria.
And avoid hanging wet towels near the toilet.
Jens Mortensen
(Remember that slo-mo spray we talked about?)
What to do:First, flip the circuit breaker.
Then remove the cover and soak it in warm water and dish soap.
Getty/ Oscar Wong
Use the vacuum’s nozzle attachment to get gunk off the fan blades; wipe with a damp cloth.
When it’s completely dry, replace the cover.
What to do:Tackle the toilet brushitself, which you should clean after every use.
Getty/ Catherine McQueen
Let stand for a few minutes, then douse with a pitcher of clean water.
you might also usehydrogen peroxideor vinegar.
Toothbrush holders are one of thethings people forget to cleanin the bathroom.
Getty/ Julian Ward
And they can, you guessed it, be another breeding ground for germs.
Rinse, and let dry.
What to do:It will need a thorough washing every two weeks (once a month max).
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Most can be tossed in the washing machine, but check the care label to be sure.
Some mats with rubber backing may need to be air-dried.
ensure it’s completely dry before putting it back out for use.
Disinfect Handles and Doorknobs
Getty/ Glass House images
Why:This one is self-explanatory.
Everyone in your home is touching cabinet knobs and door handles constantly.
What to do:It’s simple!
At least once a week, go over them with your favorite disinfecting wipe.
Whiley H, Giglio S, Bentham R.Opportunistic pathogens Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) and Legionella spp.
2020;48(9):1090-1099. doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2020.04.011
