No One Wants To Think About a Dirty Toilet, But Since You're Here, Let's Talk...
Posted: Tuesday, January 18, 2011
by Lorin Young
Chores and Checklists
Think about it: toilets are dirty. Cleaning a dirty toilet is a dirty job. Toilet brushes are disgusting. There's no getting around that. I used to use a conventional toilet brush, but then I read How Clean is Your House, a book by Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie based on the BBC television show. These ladies bring up an important point about cleaning the toilet that changed the way I clean, and the way I teach my kids to clean.
So now I put my gloves on, put in my regular toilet bowl cleaner (I like a powder like Bon Ami), take one of my handy disinfecting wipes and scrub the toilet bowl. What? Yes! I mean I get my (gloved!) hand down in there and I clean that thing! When I'm done, I just flush the wipe (even though it says on the disinfecting wipes container to not flush them – shh!) and then I'm done. No germs in the corner, and I'm all set for next time. I do like to spray vinegar and then hydrogen peroxide on the gloves and in the bowl.
Believe me, this is a much more sanitary way to clean the toilet because there's no nasty brush lurking in the corner of the bathroom. The toilet is bad enough, but the toilet brush itself can be a breeding ground for all kinds of germs and bacteria. If it sits in a plastic (i.e. no ventilation!) container, mold can be a problem. Gross! There are new products now with disposable heads and bleach infused contraptions, but think of the expense of that compared to just a container of disinfecting wipes! It's really all you need.
If I haven't convinced you yet to get rid of your toilet brush, do it for environmental reasons. If you think about it, cleaning with disinfecting wipes is also a more green way to clean because you're cleaning with just a wipe and cleaner, with no plastic contraption that would (hopefully) have been replaced regularly.
So, please consider throwing away your toilet brush. If you are teaching your kids to clean the toilet, it's important to minimize germs. Buys some gloves, cleaner and wipes and you are good to go! For other tips to try to maintain a clean house with kids, visit us at http://www.choresandchecklists.com/kids-cleaning.html. Kiss your dirty toilet goodbye! Well, that didn't really come out right, but you know what I mean.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Hi Lorin, I personally would like to do it with my 2 hands but I have a funny feeling yet.. I believe your recommendation works. I willllll try it ..
You know what? After reading this, I'm going into the bathroom, get that germ-ridden bowl brush and take it outside and throw it into the trash can! I have some disposable gloves that I use for some jobs- I'll start using them for the toilet bowl now too- Thanks so much for this nudge- don't know why I didn't think of it myself.......just habit I guess. Anyway, we'll probably be able to get the toilet much cleaner this way- nothing like applying that elbow grease to a job.- Always- Ella
It sounds like a very sensible approach, Lorin. Yes, the brush sitting in an airless plastic container is gross!
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