Cleaning the bathroom is that one chore that everyone dreads. Its hard work that nobody looks forward to but the results are amazing. Nothing beats the feeling of stepping into a gleaming bathroom. And the smell...can we just talk about the smell of a clean bathroom. Lush!

However, when cleaning our bathrooms, we often make terrible mistakes. These mistakes can sometimes compromise the conditions of our beloved bathroom. Continue reading to find out the biggest bathroom cleaning mistakes we make and the simple hacks that will stop you making them.

Cleaning with bleach

With all the white china in a bathroom it seems logical to grab the bleach, right? We all use bleach in our bathroom and whilst it's safe to use on your toilet bowl, it should be avoided elsewhere. Bleach is a very harmful chemical that will cause damage to anything chrome covered. So that tends to be taps, wastes, shower enclosure handles and trims, showers and flushes! There are a lot of things that shouldn't have bleach used on them in your bathroom. Even the spray cleaning product designed for cleaning your bathroom can be too harsh.

When cleaning your bathroom, you should ensure that you make a cleaning solution of only a washing up liquid or soap and hot water on everything besides your toilet bowl. If you've got a stubborn stain that needs removing, distilled white vinegar is your best friend.

Not washing your bathmat

Cleaning your bathmat

A bathroom mat should be there more as a practical feature rather than a stylish one. It is an essential to avoid slipping when you step out of the bath or shower. The nature of a bathmat therefore leaves a damp patch on your bathroom floor for a good portion of the day. Whilst damp your bathmat is a hive for germs and bacteria development. Due to this its advised that your bathroom mat is washed weekly! We would also recommend keeping up this washing schedule for your shower curtain too. Its worth bearing this in mind when you choose your bath mat. The fake animal skin one shown may look amazing but is really not a practical choice! Its also worth considering purchasing 2 so that you can alternate these.

Toothbrushes and toilets

Toothbrush too close to the loo!

This is a mistake that you see day after day and wouldn't even think it was a mistake. How close do you keep your toothbrush to your toilet? After reading the next part of this blog you may consider moving it. When you flush your toilet it releases millions of particles, some bacteria and others of faecal matter are exposed to your bathroom unless you lower the toilet lid. And let's be honest, who closes the toilet lid to flush? I know I don't! The solution to stopping your toothbrush being exposed is to keep it as far away from the loo as possible, ideally in a bathroom cabinet.

Wet toilet brushes

Toilet cleaning brushes

A toilet brush is essential for cleaning a toilet. A squirt of bleach and a good scrubbing is the best way to get around the toilet pan for a thorough cleaning. This cleaning method is totally fine, but what you may be doing wrong is storing your brush before its dried. Once cleaned you should leave your brush to dry before placing back into its holder...who knew? Putting this straight into the holder will leave you with a build up of water that will be full of bacteria and other particles from the loo! Creating a hive for mould and mildew to form. The solution to this cleaning mistake is simple.... just lift the lid of your toilet, place the brush over to pan and close the toilet seat to hold it in place to dry.

Lingering Smells

There are many things within your bathroom that can cause nasty smells. Plugholes from basins, baths and shower wastes can get clogged with soap scum, debris and in most households hair...lots and lots of hair! This can cause blockages which are not dealt with will cause an awful sewage smell in the air. The mistake may of us make is not preventing these blockages as a weekly cleaning task. If you find yourself with a smell in the air the best thing you can do according to Good Housekeeping is 'You can slug vinegar and bicarbonate down the plug to dissolve any dirt, meanwhile, lemon juice can help remove strong smells. Finish off the job with lots of hot water.'

Another great tip to getting a beautiful smelling bathroom is to pop some Zoflora onto a sanitary pad and stick this to the inside of your bathroom bin. You'll get a lovely burst of this every time you open your bin.

One cloth cleans all

One cloth to clean everything

When your cleaning your bathroom it can be easy to run a bowl of hot soapy water and do every surface of the room with one cleaning cloth. After all, you're cleaning everything, right? Wrong! By doing this you're cross-contaminating bacteria's. You wouldn't want to sit in a bath knowing the cloth hadn't been properly cleaned after cleaning the toilet would you!? Go for a microfiber cloth in a few different colours so you know which colour cleans what.

So how do you fair? Are you making any of these easy mistakes?