8 Causes Behind Your Grimy Bathroom and Solutions for It
Freshened Take:
Got a cloudy, dusty bathroom? Here's the lowdown. We all loathe admitting it, but dust seems to spread like wildfire in the bathroom, right? Well, it's not just your imagination. This room where water is the star player is actually the ideal breeding ground for dust. Here's why and eight expert-backed tips to kick this issue to the curb.
- Cleaning Whiz 101, Alicia Sokolowski, cleaning and laundry guru, and head honcho at AspenClean
- Innovative Cleaning Maven, Aminah Vieira, marketing whiz and inventor extraordinaire at InspireClean
- HVAC & Plumbing Whizzard, Jimmy Hiller, the fix-it master on all things plumbing and HVAC, and the CEO of Happy Hiller
What Turns the Bathroom into a Dust Magnet?
Ever feel like your bathroom is coated in a permanent layer of grime? You're not alone. "Bathrooms may seem like they should remain immaculate with all that moisture around," shares Sokolowski, "but they are excellent environments for dust to boom." So, what's the catch? It all comes down to a few factors.
Linty Blunders
One outlaw, the main culprit responsible for your dust problem, is lint. "It's those teeny fibers from bath towels, toilet paper, bath mats, and even your threads when you change clothes after a shower," explains Sokolowski. You'd be surprised to know that toilet paper produces lint too!
Skin Cells Overdrive
Did you know dust is largely composed of dead skin cells? This means it makes sense that we find it in the room where we dry off and exfoliate. Yuck!
Furry Foes
Pet hair, in its many lengths, doesn't escape the dust party. It sheds like crazy and clings to surfaces like a clingy toddler.
Dirt & Debris Invasion
Humans, pets, and the occasional fly will all track dirt and grime into the bathroom. Now you have dust birth partners!
Damp Affairs
Yes, you read right. Contrary to popular belief, moisture itself doesn't create dust, but it agglomerates dust particles and adheres them more swiftly to surfaces, making it seemingly visible compared to drier spaces.
With the moisture-grabbing properties of bathrooms, our dust turns into a filthy, stubborn film that's an absolute pain to clean. Thanks, humidity!
Soapy Scum & Product Mishaps
If we never left so much as a single spot clean in our bathrooms, there wouldn't be any stubborn soap scum or product residue. But alas, things like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash buildup on sinks, showers, and tubs. And let's be real - these surfaces are notorious for dust adhesion.
Crumbling Grout
When grout becomes dry, it starts disintegrating into dust. Hiller says you'll know if your grout is a failing dam if dust returns to the surface within a day of cleaning.
Extractor Fan Sabotage
Sure, you use the extractor fan to reduce moisture, but it can, in fact, make your dust worse. While it does remove water vapor, it also sucks up dust. So if the fan isn't regularly cleaned, dust starts building up on the blades, and when you turn it on, you release that dust right back onto bathroom surfaces.
Fighting the Dust Battle
Climb Up & Attack
Before tangoing with the dust at eye-level, start at the top. "Dust the ceiling, lights, vents, and shelves to let all the dust fall down for easier cleanup later," suggests Sokolowski.
Vacuum Up
Instead of spreading dust with rags, Hiller says it's best to vacuum. Before vacuuming, shake out any rugs or towels lying around. Then, vacuum all surfaces, including edges, corners, gaps, baseboards, and behind the toilet and cabinets. Use the vacuum's attachments for tricky areas. "If you have a vacuum with a HEPA filter and a brush attachment, it's even better," recommends Hiller.
Damp Microfiber Cloth
Using dry cloths for cleaning is a big no-no, as it just shifts dust to new surfaces. Instead, use a damp microfiber cloth for countertops, baseboards, and toilet tank surfaces. Unlike paper towels, microfiber cloths rarely produce lint.
Clean the Vent & Fan
If your bathroom is dusty, don't be shocked if the vent covers and extractor fan blades are too. Clean the vent covers inside and out once a month, as dust accumulates there and gets blown around with each fan use.
Sparkling Clean Mirrors
Dust can stick to steamy mirrors, so use a streak-free cleaner and microfiber cloth to clean them.
Keeping the Dust Down
Although making the bathroom entirely dust-free is mission impossible, there are several things you can do to reduce dust formation and sticking to surfaces. Below, you'll find some top tips to help keep your bathroom dazzling.
Reducing Humidity in the Air
Higher humidity equals dusty surfaces, so turn on your exhaust fan and/or open a window to ensure proper ventilation.
Minimizing Lint Production
Thinking about re-evaluating your linen situation? Thinner towels made of Turkish cotton or linen don't lint as much and dry faster. And, in reducing dust, will become your new BFF. Consider swapping out fabric curtains for blinds and a fuzzy bath mat for a bamboo, stone, or foam one. Also, storing towels in cabinets instead of out keeps lint in check.
Keep Surfaces Dry
Consistently wipe down counters, tiles, floors, and walls after a shower or bath to prevent moisture from mixining with dust, turning it into grime.
Keep It Tidy
The cleaner your bathroom counters, the fewer dust-catching spots you'll have. Regularly declutter your bathroom, and store as much as possible in cabinets or drawers.
Cover the Toilet Lid
Flushing with the lid open propels tiny particles into the air and contributes to dust buildup. Close that lid!
Frequent Washing and Storage
Wash bath towels, hand towels, rugs, and bath mats regularly. These items can trap dust and lint, especially in humid environments.
No Magazines or Books
Books and magazines accumulate dust easily and shouldn't be hangout spots in bathrooms.
Hair Ties and Brushes
Store hair ties and brushes in closed containers to prevent dust accumulation and shedding.
Embrace the Air Purifier
Combating dust with an air purifier equipped with a HEPA filter reduces airborne particles before they settle on your bathroom surfaces.
- Alicia Sokolowski, a cleaning and laundry guru, explains that lint, produced by various resources such as bath towels, toilet paper, and even human threads, is a significant contributor to the dust accumulation in bathrooms.
- Skin cells, forming a large part of dust, tend to flourish in bathrooms due to the activities like drying off and exfoliating that increase their presence.
- Pets contribute to the dust problem with their shedding hairs, which adhere to surfaces like a clingy toddler.
- Human, pet, and occasional insect foot traffic track dirt and grime into bathrooms, aiding in the formation of dust.
- Despite popular belief, moisture itself doesn't cause dust to appear, but it hastens the adhesion of dust particles to surfaces, resulting in a visible and stubborn film.
