The bathroom - problems & solutions

The bath - why it could be a problem

Take a moment and think of everything the bath gets used for: bathing, laundry, play sessions for the kids, washing the dog? Need we say more? 

Bacteria breed in moist environments, and where better than the bath? Even though the largest part of the bath is usually enameled, there are nevertheless cracks in which bacteria can harbour. In the bath and on the bath taps, one can find disease-causing bacteria, like Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Campylobacter jejuni.

The drain pipe/U-bend of the bath can also collect debris, such as skin and hair, which can become a bacteria haven. Dirt can also cake around the water level in the bath. If more than one person uses the same bath water, infections can be transmitted between them.

How to clean your toilet

Cleaning the toilet is not likely to be anywhere near the top of your list of favourite chores. Fortunately, there are effective and inexpensive cleaning materials on the market. Gone are the days of those potent multi-purpose disinfectants that the long-drops used to reek of! 

Regular cleaning with anti-bacterial cleaning agents will sort out most of the bacterial problems in and around the toilet. It is important to clean properly inside the toilet bowl, below the water line as well as under the rim.

A special toilet scrubbing brush can be bought for this purpose. This brush should be used solely for this purpose. The toilet handle should also be washed regularly - preferably daily, especially if the toilet is used by a number of people. Air fresheners can also be put to good use in the toilet.

Handy hint:
To test if your toilet is leaking, add food colouring to the toilet tank. Do not flush for 30 minutes. If the water in the toilet bowl changes colour, you have a leaking toilet.