Don’t break out the bottle of bleach just yet.
But what if some of these bacteria and viruses werent so harmful after all?
Before alarm bells sound, these viruses arent the COVID-19 varietyand some of them could even benefit human health.
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Heres whats hiding in your bathroom and what these microbes mean for your cleaning routine.
The team evaluated toothbrushes and showerheads specifically because microbes thrive in moist environments like the bathroom.
Hartmann found the sheer number of viruses absolutely wild, she said in apress release.
Each showerhead and each toothbrush is like its own little island, Hartmann said in the press release.
She added that theres an incredible diversity of viruses that researchers are only just beginning to understand.
Despite no two samples being alike, some patterns were discovered, including several instances of mycobacteriophages.
What Are Phages and Are They Dangerous?
Phages (like the ones found in this study) are viruses that dont infect human cells.
All viruses need to infect cells so you can multiply.
As far as their impact on human health, bacteriophages have huge potential for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
That is the basis of the field of ‘phage therapy.
Should You Disinfect Your Showerhead and Toothbrush?
Most researchers will tell you, though, not to take on the heavy-duty cleaning yourself.
If you want to take action, Hartmann advises against antimicrobial toothbrushes (these products encourage antibiotic resistance).
Simply replace your toothbrush with a new one regularly, as usual.
She also says to skip the bleach andclean your showerheadwith vinegar or soap and water to remove calcium deposits.
