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The bathroom floor - problems & solutions

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The bathroom floor - a germ trap

Think of all the traffic your bathroom floor gets in one day - from muddy pet paws, to quick dashes to the toilet, to sopping feet getting out of the shower.

So it's not difficult to see why bathrooms can be potentially problematic. Bathrooms are often wet and humid places, and this creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. Urine spillages from the toilet or from flushing also frequently end up here. The bacterium most frequently found in bathrooms is E. coli.

Many bathroom floors are tiled and while this is very practical in that it's easier to keep dry, the grouting between the tiles can get dirty very quickly and is difficult to clean. Wet, dirty clothing lying on a wet bathroom floor can also be a haven for germs. Mildew and mould can also thrive on tiled bathroom floors – especially in corners.

How to keep the bathroom floor clean

Think of your bathroom floor - is it made of tiles, cement or wood, or is it carpeted? Whichever kind you have, it needs special care. 

Bathroom floors, like kitchen floors, need to be washed often. If there are many people using the bathroom, this floor needs to be washed every day with a tile cleaner or regular household detergent. Wet bathroom floors are notorious for spreading Plantar's warts and athlete's foot. The grime that often hides in the grouting can be sorted out by adding bleach to the household cleaner when you wash the floors.

Mildew and mould can be removed by washing the floors with a bleach mixture consisting of one part bleach and five parts water. The mop with which the floor is cleaned should also be disinfected and cleaned regularly, otherwise all you will be doing is spreading the dirt around.

Handy hint
This hint is for the bathroom window rather than the floor, but it is so ingenious, it had to be included. If you want to 'frost' the window, without paying a fortune to have it done, mix one tablespoon of Epsom salts with one cup of beer. Brush it on the window and let it dry. If you want to remove it, wash it off with ammonia.

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