THE BATHROOM

TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER: EVERY FORTNIGHT

WHEN was the last time you cleaned your toothbrush holder? Surprisingly, this was the third most germ-infected place in the home — after dish cloths and kitchen sinks — according to a 2011 study by U.S.-based public health organisation NSF International.

This is due to bacteria from sources such as food (from your toothbrush) and saliva, as well as yeast and mould that form on moist or wet surfaces.

They should be cleaned every fortnight by rinsing under hot water and then scrubbing the inside with a bottle brush or pipe cleaner, says Professor Damian Walmsley, scientific adviser to the British Dental Association.

‘Then fill with a baby bottle cleaner, such as Milton, and leave for around ten to 15 minutes, before rinsing and leaving to air-dry.’

BATH TOWELS: AFTER THREE USES

TOWELS can spread bacteria and viruses such as the herpes simplex virus, the type that causes cold sores, and the fungi that cause athlete’s foot — both thrive in damp conditions and can survive for hours on a soggy towel.

Bath towels should therefore be washed after every three uses, suggests Professor Lisa Ackerley, at 60c or more.

The same goes for bath mats, which collect germs and fungi straight from wet feet, while loo mats may also have droplets of urine.

‘Wash these twice a week, laundering at 60c to be sure bacteria, viruses and dust mites have been destroyed,’ says Dr Jean Emberlin, Allergy UK scientific director.

If lower temperatures are used, then a laundry disinfectant should be added to the wash.

HAND TOWELS: EVERY DAY

IDEALLy, hand towels should be changed daily if they are used by all the family.

Damp hand towels offer the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive — especially when kept in a warm, moist bathroom.

And few people wash their hands for long enough to remove germs completely (requiring at least 15 seconds of rinsing and scrubbing — the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice), which increases the chance of bacteria transferring to the hand towel when someone dries their hands.

A 2013 study from the University of Arizona in the U.S. found E.coli present in more than a quarter of the household towels they tested.

LOO SEAT: EVERY FIVE DAYS

THE loo is thought of as the most germ-ridden place in the house.

But, actually, dish cloths carry six times as much bacteria as loo handles in the UK, according to a 2014 study by the Global Hygiene Council, an international body funded by consumer goods company RB.

In fact, few germs are spread by sitting on loo seats and urine carries no great risk of infection.

It seems that hands spread far more disease, such as cold and flu bugs, if you don’t wash them.

Nevertheless, you should still disinfect the toilet each day, say experts. Give it a quick squirt of bleach.

The seat and even the loo handle are fine to leave for five days between cleans — ideally, you should use an antibacterial spray and paper towels, rather than a cloth.

SHOWER CURTAIN: EVERY TWO DAYS

THE shower walls and curtain provide ideal conditions for the growth of mould, which, though not infectious, can release spores that trigger respiratory problems, says Professor Ackerley.

So it could be particularly problematic for people with asthma.

‘And if you live in a hard water area, it is easier for bacteria to stick to the limescale on the walls.’

Ideally, disinfect the shower walls, basin and door after every use, and wash shower curtains every couple of days.

‘The best thing is to have more than one curtain, so you always have a fresh one on the go,’ says Professor Ackerley.