It’s Probably Time to Clean Your Bathroom, According to Infectious Disease Docs

When it comes to enjoyable household chores (if there are any), cleaning the bathroom is bottom of the list, likely right next to cleaning your garbage disposal. And while I hate to be the bearer of bad news, cleaning your bathroom is absolutely necessary.

“Bathrooms are inherently dirty, with overt or microscopic fecal matter contamination, harboring bacteria and other organisms like E. coli and Salmonella, along with viruses such as norovirus or enterovirus,” says Alfredo Mena Lora, MD. “The warm, moist environment along with organic residue from skin cells also make it an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, causing illnesses like stomach infections, diarrhea, skin infections, and, for some people, may lead to other conditions such as urinary tract infections.”

However, the goal of cleaning your bathroom isn’t to eliminate all bacteria, because to be honest, that’s impossible, says Sheldon Campbell, MD, PhD. “We’re filled and covered with bacteria that are mostly just getting on with their lives and often helping us a bit with ours, so cleaning a bathroom is really about limiting the chance of transmitting illness from one person to another.”

So, how often should you clean your bathroom? Read on to see what three infectious disease experts have to say, along with proper tips on how to safely clean the loo.

Carla Garcia Carreno, MD, is an infectious disease specialist and medical director for infection prevention and control at Children’s Medical Center Plano.

Alfredo Mena Lora, MD, is an infectious disease specialist and director of infectious disease at Saint Anthony Hospital in Chicago.

Sheldon Campbell, MD, PhD, is a pathologist and professor of laboratory medicine at Yale School of Medicine.

As a general rule of thumb, you should clean your bathroom at least once a week, with more frequent spot cleaning on high-touch surface areas like faucets and handles every few days, Dr. Mena Lora says. For more detailed advice, here’s a cheat-sheet.

You should clean your shower at least once a week or whenever there is visible uncleanliness, Dr. Mena Lora says. A weekly, thorough wipe down eliminates bacterial growth, dirt, mold, and/or mildew buildup, which can prevent the spread of illness, he says. A regular cleaning also reduces damage to the shower surface itself.

And yes, you should really clean the entire shower, including the floor, walls, shower tiles, corners, and showerhead, says Carla Garcia Carreno, MD. You also want to avoid (or regularly replace) porous materials in the shower like a wooden soap dish or pumice stone since they harbor bacteria when moist, she adds.

Clean your toilet at least once a week or whenever you notice visible grime to eliminate germs, odor, and stains, Dr. Mena Lora says. And that doesn’t just mean inside the toilet bowl, Dr. Garcia Carreno adds. Always make sure to clean and disinfect the lid, handle, and surrounding area.

Additionally, if you or a member of your family has been sick with a gastrointestinal illness, particularly one that causes vomiting or diarrhea, you’ll want to clean and disinfect the toilet daily to help kill the spread and transmission of bacteria and viruses, Dr. Campbell says.

Another word on toilets: always close the lid before you flush. Why? Because toilets can spread infectious bacteria when flushed, causing germs to become airborne, Dr. Garcia Carreno says. You should also store your toothbrush and other personal hygiene tools as far away from the toilet as possible, she says. This helps prevent bacteria from, essentially, splashing out of the toilet and onto your toothbrush.

Sinks are prime for harboring soap scum, toothpaste residue, and pesky germs that accumulate from frequency use, so Dr. Mena Lora suggests a thorough scrub every few days or at least once a week.

It’s also important to not neglect the faucet, handles, countertops, and other high-touch areas around the sink, Dr. Garcia Carreno says. These surfaces are breeding grounds for bacteria, so regular disinfecting kills harmful organisms.

Shower curtains often go untouched in the cleaning process, but they also deserve weekly or biweekly cleaning, Dr. Garcia Carreno says. It’s best to read the curtain’s care label for exact instructions, but she says it’s best to machine wash your curtain in the warmest water possible to kill off bacteria and scum.

While you’re starting a load of laundry, Dr. Lora Mena also recommends regularly washing your bath mats to eliminate buildup of dirt, grime, and bacteria.

First, there is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. “Cleaning is the first step, which involves removing visible dirt and soil, and can be done using water and household cleaner,” Dr. Garcia Carreno says. “From there, you disinfect the bathroom which kills the germs.”

As for the products you use, Dr. Mena Lora recommends natural cleaners and disinfectants to avoid harsh chemicals and fumes. You should also always use designated supplies, depending on the surface, for the most thorough and deep clean, he says. For example, mirror cleaner is very different from toilet cleaner. Just remember to always read the product’s instructions for maximum effectiveness, and use exactly as directed, since some cleaners require a proper soak time before washing off, Dr. Campbell adds.

Additionally, replace any sponges or cleaning tools every one to two weeks to prevent the harboring of bacteria, and never use the same sponge to clean the toilet and the counters, Dr. Mena Lora says. Always use fresh, separate tools for different surfaces.

If someone in your household is sick, Dr. Campbell recommends using a diluted bleach solution (5 to 25 tablespoons of household bleach [between 5 to 8 percent] per gallon of water) to thoroughly kill “obnoxiously tough” germs. “There’s no reason to use liquid chemicals in higher amounts than recommended, because sometimes doing so even makes them less effective, and always rinse surfaces with water, or a wet sponge or paper towel, after disinfecting,” he says. Gloves are also a must when handling irritating chemicals.

Finally, always ventilate the bathroom while cleaning by opening a door, window, or turning on the fan, Dr. Garcia Carreno says. This is especially important if you or a family member has asthma, since potent cleaning supplies can trigger an attack.

Andi Breitowich is a Chicago-based freelance writer and graduate from Emory University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Her work has appeared in PS, Women’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and elsewhere.