Everyone has different ways of keeping the bathroom clean. Maybe you’re following bathroom organization tips to create more storage space. You might even start remodeling your small restroom so it feels less cramped. These methods are sure to keep your space neat and tidy, but what if the grossest part of your restroom were invisible to the eye?
Although stopping the spread of germs has been a major focus during the pandemic, Americans still aren’t doing enough to keep their bathrooms clean. From forgetting to disinfect the shower curtain to skipping hand washing, the thing making your restroom the dirtiest might just be your hygiene habits.
To find out what’s really going on inside people’s restrooms, we looked closely at a recent bathroom cleanliness survey on American habits. Keep reading to learn the dirty truth.
How Often Americans Clean the Bathroom
Cleaning the whole bathroom can seem like a hassle, which might be why Americans don’t do it as frequently as they should. Here’s a breakdown of how often Americans clean their restrooms:
At least once a week: 38%
Twice a month: 20%
Once a month: 22%
Less than once a month: 20%
Although the majority of Americans clean the loo at least every other week, 42% only do the dirty work once a month at most.
Grossed out yet? Before you rush to scrub the bathtub and disinfect the toilet seat, you might want to know where most of your bathroom germs are actually concentrated.
The Shower Curtain Problem
Even if you think you’re cleaning every surface, you might be forgetting about the part of your bathroom that picks up the most grime: the shower curtain.
When compared to a toilet seat, a shower curtain holds 60 times more bacteria. The higher potential for germs isn’t helped by American bathroom cleaning habits. In fact, 70% of Americans wash their shower curtains less than once a month, and 51% wash them less than twice a year.
If you fail to clean your shower curtain, the moisture in the bathroom can cause mold and mildew to develop. To avoid this gross buildup, experts advise washing your shower curtain every week. Keeping both your bathroom and your body clean means disinfecting the shower curtain often.
Other Common Bad Habits
In addition to the 29% who ignore the grime on their shower curtains, Americans have loads of other gross bathroom habits. Check out some of the most common ones:
Reusing disposable razors: 35% of Americans keep their disposable razors longer than they should, which can lead to microscopic tears in the skin that might increase the risk of certain infections.
Using towels for over a week: Even though experts recommend replacing your bathroom towels every other day, 33% of Americans use their bacteria-filled towels for more than one week.
Using loofahs for over a month: 22% of Americans reuse loofahs longer than recommended, with women being 80% more likely to do so.
Not washing hands: 22% of Americans also admit that they’ve skipped hand washing after using the restroom, and men are 40% more guilty of this gross habit.
Brushing teeth on the toilet: Despite all the germs on a toilet, 11% of Americans brush their teeth while sitting on one.
Now the filthy secret is out — Americans really don’t clean their bathroom as often or thoroughly as they should.
If you think you fall under this category, it’s easy to change your ways. To level-up your bathroom cleaning habits, be sure to steer clear of the nasty practices that lead bacteria to grow. While you’re at it, do a bit of bathroom reorganization and renovation. That way, you can keep your bathroom both upgraded and clean.
