5 places in your bathroom you might be forgetting to clean

People have been spending more time cleaning than ever recently to pass the time during lockdown. In fact, in March and April, the average person spent 144 minutes a day doing household work. But what are the things you need to clean in a bathroom?

With plenty of extra time to be more thorough, there are many places getting a little more attention. The bathroom is arguably the key to having a clean home, however they are one of the trickier places to clean.

See: Cleaning tips – our essential guide to keeping your home spotless

5 things we may forget to clean in the bathroom

To help keep on top of the cleaning, bathroom expert Big Bathroom Shop, has highlighted the areas we may have forgotten to clean in the bathroom and provided a few simple tips to follow.

1. Behind the toilet

When it comes to cleaning the bathroom the most obvious place is the toilet. However, in most households the toilet is a few inches away from the wall so there is a gap behind that is often ignored. Microbiologists believe that germs and bacteria can spray up to six feet away when an open toilet is flushed. 

Depending on how your bathroom is set up, that isn’t good news for the surfaces in your bathroom. Although difficult to reach, the grime that builds up here needs to be cleaned thoroughly, either with anti-bacterial spray and a mop or a cloth, as this is where bacteria from the toilet can collect.

See: Smart bathroom cleaning tips to turn your space into a spa

2. Plugholes

Another place that is often forgotten about when it comes to cleaning. Bits, like hair, can get stuck in your plughole and can cause the sink or shower to clog with residue and bacteria, sometimes causing an odor. 

Pouring hot water directly down the sink is a good option to clear the grime, as well as mixing with some vinegar beforehand. If you do not want to use a product with potentially harmful chemicals, then placing vinegar and bicarbonate down the drain to dissolve any dirt is a good option before finishing off the clean with lots of hot water. 

Lemon juice also works well for working away any bad smells. Fashion an old wire coat hanger into a hook to carefully poke down a blocked plughole. You can gently pull out any hair and residue lodged in here to free up the drain.

3. Bath mats

Unfortunately, bath mats are a breeding ground for bacteria due to the amount of time they spend moist. Only 10 per cent of people admitted to cleaning their bath mat once a month. 

Between everyone in a household using the shower it is hard for them to properly dry out, also bacteria thrives in a humid bathroom. A clear sign your bath mat is in need of some attention is if there is discolouration or black marks. Before washing every week, shake out the mat to remove dust and hair to stop the washing machine from becoming clogged.

• See: How to clean a washing machine - a comprehensive guide

4. Shower curtains

Shower curtains protect the rest of the bathroom from becoming wet while you shower and are often used every day. When water fills up the shower or bath, the liner soaks it up which can lead to mould or discoloration of the curtain over time. 

Clean off the mildew stains by putting the shower curtain in the washing machine in between a couple of towels. 

Add laundry detergent and either half a cup of baking soda or a cup of white vinegar and wash it in warm water. After the wash, attach it back to the rings of your shower to use again.

5. Accessories

Dirty toothbrush holders and soap dishes are often neglected when cleaning the bathroom. You use your toothbrush daily, so placing it in the same holder will build up germs every time you brush your teeth. 

Soap dishes are less commonly used nowadays but for those that do have them, the same premise applies. Soaking them in bleach or placing in a dishwasher are just two ways to quickly clean them and should be done at least every couple of weeks. You can use an old toothbrush to scrub off any stubborn marks or bits of dirt.