Try to remember the last time you changed your toilet brush. Most of us probably don’t even remember, but experts say you should change it at least every nine months to prevent the spread of germs. So the next time you’re cleaning your toilet, think about the bacteria lurking around you, Metro reports.
Nic Shacklock from Online Bedrooms explains: “We don’t realize how often we need to change things in our home from a hygiene point of view. If things look clean, we just leave them. However, there is a real danger if you don’t replace some of the items, such as the toilet brush, as the bacteria that linger can cause a wide range of health problems.”
A dirty brush will not only not clean your toilet well, but it can transmit various diseases to you. According to Elizabeth Scott, co-director of the Simmons Center for Hygiene and Home and Community Health, if someone in your household has a gastrointestinal illness, the brush becomes “infectious material” and should be thrown in the trash. transmits n1
Plumber Gary Johnson also adds: “Be aware that a toilet brush not only harbors bacteria from the toilet water, but can also trap faeces or toilet paper, which is unsanitary and unhealthy.”
The guidelines recommend throwing away plastic brushes that are discolored, have bent fibers, or have an odor even after cleaning. In addition, you should disinfect the brush head after each use or at least once a week. This is something that is clearly being overlooked.
In a survey conducted by Consumer Reports, more than 77 percent of respondents admitted that they never cleaned their toilet brush, and some claimed that they were not aware that it was necessary. Fortunately, it’s not too difficult. Soak the brush in a bucket filled with boiling water with a few capfuls of bleach for an hour, spray the handle with disinfectant spray, then put everything back in place when dry.
Silicone brushes typically need to be replaced less often than traditional plastic options because they retain fewer germs, and you can mitigate environmental concerns by replacing just the brush head or choosing a plastic-free alternative.
Some are not convinced that they are even worth having. Cleaning expert Aggie MacKenzie said she avoids toilet brushes altogether and can’t stand them: “I can’t stand them. I just think they are dirty. At the bottom of every toilet brush holder is a foul-smelling liquid soup of bacteria.”
Instead, she recommends putting on a pair of rubber gloves and getting your hands under the rim of the toilet, although we don’t see this approach being too widely accepted, reports Večernji list.
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