During the winter season, there is an increase in humidity, leading to the increased growth of mould and mildew. These organisms can cause serious health issues and make the bathroom look untidy. This article discusses five ways to keep your bathroom clean and free from microscopic growth during the winter season.
Here are proven ways to keep your bathroom clean this winter
- Clean more regularly
- Upgrade ventilation
- Take care of bathroom grout
- Use anti-mould paints
- Fix leaks
5 Easy ways to keep your bathroom clean during the winter
1. Clean more regularly
Due to the increase in humidity, there is a higher chance that harmful organisms will grow in your bathroom during the winter season. Also, soap scums can form on bathroom sinks, toilet doors and bathroom walls. As such, it is important to clean the bathroom more often than you would usually do.
Cleaning a wet floor and other bathroom surfaces such as bathroom sinks, toilet bowls immediately after use will discourage the growth of mold and mildew. It is also important to dry wet towels immediately to avoid introducing mold into the bathroom.
Finally, it is crucial to research cleaning tips to deal with specific cleaning problems using everyday household items. Some common cleaning tips include
- Use cooking spray to clean soap scum
- Use lemon and club soda to clean windows
- Polish faucets with baby oil
- Prevent rust with clear nail polish
- Unclog drains with baking soda
- Use white vinegar as an all-purpose cleaning agent
- Use a can of air to clean the ventilation fan.
2. Upgrade ventilation
During the winter season, the air is generally more humid. This means that the environment is more conducive for the growth of harmful organisms such as mould and mildew.
Perhaps the most effective measure against the growth of these organisms is upgrading your bathroom ventilation. This will reduce the humidity of your bathroom, thus preventing the development of these harmful organisms and keeping your bathroom clean.
Other ways of reducing humidity in the bathroom include opening the windows while taking a bath, leaving the door open during and after baths in a windowless bathroom and using a dehumidifier in the bathroom.
3. Take care of bathroom grout
Grout is a mixture of water, cement and sand. It is used in filling up the space between tiles in a bathroom. Grout is very porous. It is highly susceptible to attacks by microscopic growth in damp bathrooms.
Therefore, to keep your bathroom clean during the winter, it is vital to clean the grout between the floor and wall tiles. You can do this using chlorine bleach, distilled white vinegar or baking soda paste.
Additionally, it would help if you considered regrouting the bathroom tiles. This will better deal with the problem of microscopic growth as you are removing the old grout and replacing it with a new one.
4. Use anti-mould paints
Bathroom walls are particularly susceptible to mould growth and therefore becomes crucial to prevent the development of moulds and other microscopic organisms. It is important to use mould resistant paints. This will save you money and keep your bathroom clean and hygienic.
You can also use Anti-mould paints to treat areas in the bathroom that have been affected by mould growth. An added advantage of anti-mould paints is that they are water-resistant and protect porous surfaces from further mold growth.
To treat mould infested surfaces in the bathroom, do the following
- Find the source of the moisture; check behind walls and cabinets
- Clean affected places with detergent, bleach and water.
- Allow surface dry completely (usually takes between 1-2 days)
- Apply anti-mould paint.
5. Fix leaks
Leaky faucet, drains, and pipes can result in substantial water bills. But that’s not all. They can also lead to irreparable damage on bathroom construction materials such as rotten boards, cracks in foundations, warps and swells in bathroom walls etc.
Therefore, it is important to fix leaks immediately. This will keep the bathroom neat and free from any potential health hazards.
The bathroom is generally susceptible to dampness, and with lots of water comes lots of cleaning challenges. As such, one must regularly research more tips for cleaning the bathroom.
Summary
Keeping your bathroom clean during the winter involves keeping the humidity as low as possible to discourage the growth of harmful microorganisms. It is important to invest in proper ventilation, clean up regularly and fix leaks immediately.
