What’s the Dirtiest Place in the Bathroom? 13 Spots to Check

You might be thinking ‘I clean my bathroom all the time, but am I cleaning the right places?’ Like most of us, you probably head straight for the toilet, but you will be surprised that some other areas of your bathroom need attention too.

You could be missing some of the dirtiest places in the bathroom, simply because they’re so easy to overlook. Some stay damp, collect grime or even develop mold if they’re forgotten. Having a normal bathroom cleaning routine that includes these spots can make a real difference.

Don’t panic. This isn’t going to turn into a complete bathroom disinfecting routine that has you cleaning everything every day. It’s about knowing which places are often missed and adding them to the right cleaning routine so they don’t become the forgotten spots in your bathroom.

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The Dirtiest Place in Your Bathroom Might Surprise You

The toilet isn’t the only place in your bathroom that needs attention. Places that stay damp, are frequently touched or aren’t normally included in your bathroom clean can easily be overlooked.

So, why do we need to pay attention to these?

• Moisture – If an item stays damp, it can create conditions where mold and bacteria can grow, which isn’t something you want in your bathroom.
• Touch – Frequently touched items can pick up germs from the different people using the bathroom, which can then be transferred to other surfaces.
• Neglect – Every bathroom has areas we forget about because they aren’t normally included on our cleaning task lists.

The NSF study of household germs found something quite surprising when looking at some of the germiest places in the bathroom. Toothbrush holders were one of the worst items they tested, with 27% testing positive for coliform bacteria.

That doesn’t mean you need to panic every time you reach for your toothbrush. It does show why some of the less obvious places in the bathroom deserve a little more attention.

So, what areas should we focus on in our bathroom cleaning?

Bathroom Germ Hotspots You Might Be Forgetting To Clean

The problem with bathroom germ hotspots is that they don’t always look dirty. That’s often why they’re forgotten or missed during your normal bathroom cleaning routine.

1. Your Toothbrush Holder

It’s so easy to overlook the holder. You rinse your toothbrush and replace it regularly, but how often do you think about cleaning the toothbrush holder?

Water and toothpaste residue can collect inside or underneath your toothbrush holder and it can remain damp.

Quick Action: Empty, wash and dry it regularly, following any care instructions that came with the product.

2. The Bathroom Sink And Drain

The sink might get cleaned regularly, but how often are you cleaning around the drain, the overflow and the faucet?

What to look for:

• Soap residue
• Toothpaste
• Grime around fixtures
• Build-up around the drain

Quick Action: Include these smaller areas when cleaning the sink rather than just wiping the visible basin.

If you need help creating a simple routine, here’s how I clean the bathroom without turning it into a massive job.

A small detail cleaning brush can make it much easier to get around the faucet, drain and those awkward little edges where grime collects.

3. Your Showerhead

It’s easy to forget the showerhead. It’s above eye level, and you think that just clean water comes out!

Quick Action: Check regularly for mineral deposits and visible grime, and clean according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you are looking for a new showerhead this one actually opens up for easier cleaning.

4. Around The Base Of The Toilet

An easy place to miss is the base of the toilet, yet it’s probably one of the quickest jobs on this whole list. If you need help with floor cleaning, I recommend reading How To Deep Clean Your Bathroom Floor

Quick Action: Wipe the outside and base of the toilet when doing your toilet clean, and don’t forget the floor immediately around it.

I like having separate microfiber cleaning cloths for the bathroom, so the cloth I’m using around the toilet isn’t then being used elsewhere in the house.

5. Your Bathroom Bin

Emptying your bathroom bin isn’t the same as cleaning it. The lid, rim and inside of the bin can collect dust, spills and general bathroom grime.

Quick Action: Remember to wipe or wash the bin regularly and allow it to dry thoroughly before replacing the liner.

High-Touch Bathroom Surfaces That Are Easy To Miss

These areas are often missed because they don’t look dirty. But think about how many times they’re touched throughout the day, especially in a busy family bathroom.

6. Faucet Handles

These are often touched before and after washing your hands.

Quick Action: Always include the faucet handles when you’re cleaning the sink.

7. Toilet Flush Handle Or Button

This is perhaps one of the easiest places to miss because you’re concentrating on cleaning the toilet bowl and seat.

Quick Action: Add it to the surfaces you wipe when cleaning the toilet.

8. Bathroom Door Handles

Bathroom door handles are so easily missed but are probably handled more often than you think.

Remember:

• The inside handle
• The outside handle
• Areas around the handle too

Quick Action: Add both door handles to your regular bathroom clean.

9. Light Switches

Light switches are frequently touched but easily forgotten. Depending on where you live, your bathroom might have a wall switch or a pull cord. Either way, it still needs cleaning. Never spray cleaning products directly onto an electrical switch. Follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and avoid getting the switch wet.

Quick Action: Remember your light switch or pull cord when cleaning high-touch surfaces in the bathroom.

Damp Bathroom Items That Can Get Forgotten

Moisture in the bathroom is a given. What we often forget is how important it is to allow things to dry properly between uses.

10. Bath Mats

Bath mats don’t just collect water. They also collect hair, dead skin cells and dust.

Quick Action: Wash your bath mat regularly according to its care label, and make sure it dries thoroughly between uses.

If your current bath mat takes forever to dry, a washable quick-drying bath mat can make keeping this area clean much easier.

11. Towels and Washcloths

The problem isn’t simply that towels are used. It’s when damp towels remain bunched up and don’t dry properly.

Quick Action: Hang them so they can dry properly between uses and launder them regularly.

12. Shower Curtain and Liner

Spreading your shower curtain and liner out after every use allows them to dry properly and can help prevent mold and mildew from developing.

Quick Action: Clean your shower curtain and liner regularly according to the care instructions.

If you have any mold in your bathroom, do you know the best way to get rid of it?

13. Loofahs, Shower Sponges And Similar Items

They’re repeatedly wet and can easily stay damp between uses, especially if they’re left sitting in the shower.

Quick Action: Rinse thoroughly, allow to dry and clean or replace according to the material or manufacturer’s recommendations.

How Often Should You Clean Bathroom Germ Hotspots?

There isn’t one set rule for how frequently these areas need cleaning because every home and family is different.

Things will need more attention when:

• More people share the bathroom
• Children are using the bathroom
• Surfaces are touched frequently
• Poor ventilation means the bathroom stays damp for longer
• You can see dirt, grime or build-up

Using a routine can help you keep track of when different bathroom cleaning tasks need attention. I recommend starting with my Daily Bathroom Cleaning Routine if remembering what needs cleaning and when is the part you struggle with.

If keeping track of all the cleaning and home tasks is the bigger problem, my Home Management Binder gives you one place to organize the routines and tasks that keep your home running.

High-touch surfaces can easily be added to your regular bathroom clean, while things like showerheads and shower curtains can be checked periodically. The important thing is noticing what gets dirty quickly in your bathroom and adjusting your routine to suit your home.

You Don’t Need To Clean Everything Every Day

We have just gone through 13 areas in your bathroom that you might have missed. Don’t panic, they don’t all need doing today.

Save this article and start adding these forgotten areas into the cleaning routines you already have. Some will fit naturally into your regular bathroom clean, while others only need checking or cleaning occasionally.

The goal isn’t to have a germ-free bathroom or to spend even more time cleaning. It’s to know which areas are easily overlooked so you can focus your time where it actually makes a difference.

If you’re struggling to stay on top of your bathroom without feeling like you’re constantly cleaning it, my cleaning and maintaining your bathroom will help you break the everyday jobs into something much more manageable.