Bathroom hygiene

Clean, disinfect, prevent

The ideal bathroom is more than just a functional space: it’s a place for relaxation and well-being. Worries about dirt and grime can be a real distraction. But how can you keep them at bay without too much effort? How close can the shower be to the toilet to ensure proper bathroom hygiene? What else needs to be considered to clean the bathroom properly? You’ll find the answers to these questions—and learn which features and materials further ensure bathroom hygiene—in the following article.

Key points at a glance:

Hygiene starts with everyday habits: Flushing the toilet with the lid closed, ventilating regularly, and allowing damp items to dry properly all help effectively prevent germs and mold growth.

Regular cleaning keeps the bathroom clean: A weekly deep clean, along with spot cleaning of faucets, drains, tiles, and grout, ensures a hygienic bathroom with minimal effort.

Smart features make cleaning easier: rimless toilets, antibacterial glazes, stain-resistant finishes, and shower toilets all contribute to a comfortable and hygienic bathroom experience.

General tips for bathroom hygiene

You can maintain good hygiene in the bathroom by following a few simple tips in your daily routine. This also makes it easier to clean the bathroom later on.

Flush with the toilet lid closed

Flushing the toilet stirs up dirty water. Even with high-quality flush systems, dirt particles can be released into the air and spread throughout the bathroom. That’s why you should always flush with the lid closed.

Close-up of a toothbrush holder with toothbrushes

Change your toothbrush, towels, and other items regularly

Items used for personal hygiene, such as washcloths, towels, and toothbrushes, as well as cleaning supplies like toilet brushes and cleaning sponges, naturally accumulate germs over time. That’s why these items should be replaced regularly to maintain bathroom hygiene—in the case of towels, with freshly laundered ones, and in the case of toothbrushes and similar items, with new ones.

Duravit Stonetto shower, freestanding bathtub in the background

How to Dry Items Properly

The items mentioned above come into regular contact with moisture. That is why it is important to let them dry properly. This should be done in an open space with plenty of fresh air. So don’t put your freshly used toothbrush in the bathroom cabinet. The used towel should not be crumpled up, but hung out as flat as possible, while the shower curtain dries best when stretched over the outside of the shower or bathtub.

WhiteTulip freestanding bathtub in a large bathroom

Ventilate properly and regularly

Regular and adequate ventilation is especially important in the bathroom. Otherwise, mold can easily form due to the high humidity. You should also be sure to open the window while cleaning the bathroom. Even a bathroom without a window must be properly ventilated. Afterward, during the colder months, you’ll need to heat the bathroom back up to a comfortable temperature.

Duravit bathtub and toilet in a cozy bathroom

Arrangement of the objects

Make your life easier by not placing water-sensitive items too close to the shower or bathtub. This is especially important when it comes to the toilets. In general, the toilets should be at least 40 cm away from other objects in all directions. Tip: To plan the layout of your bathroom fixtures properly, it’s helpful to refer to the bathroom floor plan.

3 tips for cleaning the bathroom

Regular cleaning is essential for proper bathroom hygiene. However, you don’t need to do a deep clean every time. Here’s how you can keep your bathroom spotless with minimal effort:

1. Weekly deep cleaning

Cleaning the bathroom doesn't have to be a big hassle. You can get the job done quickly and efficiently by following these steps about once a week:

Modern bathroom with D-Neo Monochrome vanity

Vacuuming and dusting

To do this, you should also remove items such as rugs, mats, and trash cans from the bathroom so that you can easily reach all areas.

Wash hands with a washcloth in the Duravit toilet

Clean the toilet

For regular cleaning, simply wiping down the surfaces with a cleaning solution and pouring toilet cleaner into the bowl is sufficient to keep the toilet hygienic. After letting it sit for about 15 minutes, you can then clean the inside of the bowl with a toilet brush. Finally, flush the toilet once.

Wipe down the sink

Usually, all you need is a little dish soap on a damp cloth to wipe down the sink. Especially if the sink gets a lot of use—for example, in family bathrooms—it’s a good idea to clean it every 3–4 days.

Cape Cod freestanding bathtub in a small bathroom

Cleaning the shower and bathtub

Here, too, simply wiping with a little cleaning solution is sufficient. In addition, tiles or walls that have been splashed with water should be dried immediately after use with a simple cloth or a shower squeegee.

Duravit Luv corner bathtub in a Minimalist Bathroom

Mop the floor

Depending on how dirty the floor is, it’s a good idea to give it another quick wipe with a damp cloth.

Polishing mirrors

Bathroom mirrors often get splashed while brushing your teeth or washing your hands. Glass cleaner and a cloth will do the trick.

Clean the strainer and drain

Hair in drains is always a nuisance. It’s best to use drain strainers and remove the hair immediately after using the shower, bathtub, or sink.

2. Wipe down the faucets

Faucets quickly lose their shine with use. Limescale can also build up quickly on them. After use, they should therefore be wiped down or scrubbed briefly—a cloth is sufficient for this, and small limescale deposits can also be removed with your finger.

Tip: If limescale has already built up, check out our magazine to learn how to descale faucets, showerheads, and other fixtures.

A toothbrush is used to clean tile grout

3. Clean grout and tiles

Grout and tiles don't need to be cleaned every week. But you should do it every few months. In our article on this topic, you'll learn how easy it is to clean grout in the bathroom.

Bathroom hygiene with Duravit features

Duravit Rimless®

Thanks to their efficient water flow, Duravit rimless toilets capture all debris and ensure maximum cleanliness and hygiene in the bathroom. Their easily accessible rim area makes them particularly easy to clean.

rimless toilets

HygieneFlush

Two offset openings ensure that the powerful flush stream from HygieneFlush is set in rotation. This ensures that the entire interior surface of the toilet is thoroughly cleaned. Independent tests also confirm the efficiency of this innovative surface flush. Thanks to the open, easily accessible rim area, the bowl is also particularly easy to keep clean.

HygieneFlush

SensoWash® D-Neo Shower Toilet with Rearwash Function

Shower toilets

Nothing is as thorough, hygienic, and natural as cleaning with water—even after using the toilet. That’s why shower toilets are becoming increasingly popular. With SensoWash®, Duravit offers an innovative range of high-quality shower toilets that meet modern needs—hygienic cleanliness, ease of use, and sustainable design.

Shower toilets

Contactless Cleanliness

Direct contact is often a cause of contamination. Increasingly, this can be avoided. DuraSystem® touchless control panels operate via an infrared sensor when someone approaches or via the included remote control. Bathroom mirrors from the Happy D.2, Luv, and XSquare series can also be controlled touchlessly via a sensor.

DuraSystem®

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