Sandwich the toilet brush underneath the toilet seat to keep it in place and prevent it from touching the toilet water. Spray the brush with a natural disinfectant like an all-purpose spray, hydrogen peroxide, or apple cider vinegar vinegar, turning it in a clockwise motion to coat all the bristles.
Silicone brushes have seen a surge in popularity in recent years because they're much easier to clean than standard bristle brushes, and therefore harbour fewer bacteria. That means they don't need replacing as often and don't start to smell as quickly either.
Interiors experts say it's important to change your toilet brush at least every nine months to prevent the spread of germs. So next time you give the lavvy a scrub, consider the bacteria lurking on your tool of choice.
Like your toilet brush, you'll probably get a few years out of your plunger, but it will be a bit more obvious when to replace them. “It's designed to create a vacuum,” Tetro explains. “So if it can't plunge anymore, it's time to replace it.”
There are important reasons you should flush after using the restroom, such as being able to avoid bathroom germs that could make you sick. Although some individuals may flush the toilet out of habit—or at least use one that automatically flushes—not everyone does it.
You should never flush a clogged toilet more than once. Instead, take the lid off the back of the toilet and close the flapper. This will prevent any more water from running into the toilet bowl while you're working.
According to experts, these should be washed at 60C after use to remove bacteria. For tough stains, a pumice stone is an ideal alternative to a dirty toilet brush. This handy tool is effective on delicate porcelain as it is harder than most mineral materials, yet softer than porcelain.
Bacteria, mildew, and mold all thrive in warm, dark environments. That's why you shouldn't place a wet toilet brush back into its holder immediately after use. Goodhouse Keeping suggests setting the wet toilet brush across the toilet seat, where it can drip into the bowl.
This is where the shiffter comes in. Essentially it's a jet wash for the toilet, which means it is cleaner to use than a regular or even a hygienic toilet brush, because it doesn't come into contact with the bowl. The shiffter is the hygienic toilet brush alternative!
Brushes with silicone bristles can be used for longer than six months because they don't hold on to bacteria like the plastic ones. The Spruce says silicone brushes can last up to one year. Wood and bamboo brushes can also stay longer than six months, according to Extra Mile.
Silicone is easier to clean
Silicone can also be more easily and thoroughly cleaned than plastic-bristled brushes, Johnson says, which obviously results in a more sanitary bathroom environment.
If it's been a while since the last clean, you can give the brush a more solid soak in a mixture of bleach and water. My favorite shortcut is adding a capful or two of bleach to a toilet bowl full of clean water, then letting the brush soak inside for about an hour.
Frequently asked questions. Can you put bleach in a toilet bowl? Yes, Clorox® Bleach is safe to add to the water in the toilet bowl. Always flush the toilet first before scrubbing, and then again when toilet cleaning is finished.
As a rule of thumb, cleaning expert Karina Toner suggests that you deep clean a shower once every month (or two if the space is not used frequently). 'Regular wipe-downs may not be enough especially for hard-to-reach areas like grout lines and tight corners.
You should clean your bathroom tiled or laminate floors regularly of dirt and debris by sweeping it about once a week and wiping up messes as they happen. However, you don't need to mop it weekly if it's not too dirty. Mopping is variable and can happen every 1-2 weeks, depending on how dirty your bathroom is.
Once a week at least.
Tetro says your bathroom is the ultimate bacteria host; E. coli can be found within six feet of the toilet and in the sink. To keep it at bay, disinfect the toilet and sink at least once weekly, and the bathtub every two weeks — more if you shower often.
Alternatively place the brush into a bucket, apply your vinegar, bleach or solution with some hot water and allow to soak for an hour minimum. If you are soaking your brush in the toilet bowl, you will need to leave it to soak for several hours.
Is it okay to leave a clogged toilet overnight? In most cases, you can leave a clogged toilet overnight. However, calling an emergency plumber near you might be warranted if water starts leaking from the pipes. A simple clog likely won't cause this, but an inexperienced homeowner messing with the plumbing could.
Over time, flappers wear out, which allows water to continually drain from the tank. The result is not enough pressure released at flush to completely empty the contents of your toilet bowl. You can fix this problem by replacing the flapper. It is easy to do with any standard flapper purchased from a hardware store.
Urine and hard water deposits leave hardened mineral deposits around your toilet bowl over time. These deposits form faster when you let pee sit around. In some cases, rings left for too long can be nearly impossible to remove without harsh cleansers that can be worse for the environment than those extra flushes.