We probably think of the shower as a sanitary space, a pleasant place to wash our dirt and get rid of the dust and pollution accumulated by the body during the day. However, never cleaning this space can have serious health risks.
How would you feel knowing that the shower or bathtub is full of microscopic insects like bacteria? That is the reality if you never clean your shower. The soap suds ring that surrounds the tub and the pink stain around the drain are abundant parts of pathogens. But besides being disgusting, can a dirty shower be harmful to health?
Main risks
Even if we are healthy, thoroughly cleaning the shower or bath from time to time is a good idea to control all the bugs that accumulate. That is especially true if we live with someone who is more susceptible to falling ill.
How often do we need to wash it? As a general guideline, cleaning and sanitizing your shower weekly will help keep mold and bacteria at bay. If you can see or smell mold, it’s time to clean thoroughly.
Among the main health problems are those mentioned below.
Allergies and asthma
High humidity environments (such as wet showers) create ideal conditions for mold growth. For most people, a little mold in the bathroom is not a cause for concern. Mold and mildew on the shower curtain, shower walls, and bath mat are not usually a problem for healthy people.
However, immunosuppressed people are at higher risk of getting sick. For people with asthma or mold-induced allergies, high levels of exposure could trigger an attack or symptoms commonly related to upper respiratory allergies, such as watery eyes, coughing, and even skin rashes.
Skin infection
Although you are more likely to get a nasty skin infection in public showers (like the gym), it is still possible to get something when you share a shower at home with other people and you haven’t scrubbed the tub in a long time. Yes, the microbes that cause fungal and bacterial infections can multiply and thrive on dirty shower floors.
Some of the more common infections include athlete’s foot , warts, human papillomavirus (HPV), and methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA), a type of bacteria that can cause skin abscesses.
Even if we have a cut or a blister on the foot, the chances of getting infected are higher. That’s because an opening in the skin serves as an easy entrance for bacteria and viruses. Also, immunosuppressed people are more prone to getting skin infections from the shower floor.
Stomach problems
Some types of germs that linger in the dirty shower, such as fecal bacteria (including E. coli), can surprise us. These pathogens can pass from dirty hands (especially when people go to the toilet and don’t wash their hands) to other objects and surfaces (like the shower) and spread from person to person.
Although many types of E. coli are harmless, some strains can trigger stomach problems, such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. Fortunately, E. coli infections usually resolve on their own within a week. But serious blood and kidney problems can occur in children and older adults.
Lung infections
If we haven’t given the shower head a good scrub in months, we could be in danger. Even though we’ve probably never noticed it, the fungus has likely found a home in your shower head.
Not only is the fungus accumulated, but this type of biofilm can also attract and protect other harmful microbes such as Legionella bacteria. In fact, shower heads and faucets can harbor potentially dangerous pathogens, including Legionella pneumophilia.
But when people inhale tiny drops of water or inadvertently ingest H2O that contains Legionella, they can develop the disease, which is a serious type of lung infection. Although legionella does not make most healthy people sick, older adults, people with weakened immune systems, and those with chronic lung disease and other underlying conditions are at higher risk of getting sick.
How to clean the shower
Here are the tips on how to clean the bathtub or shower and reduce the risk of health problems.
- Floor and walls . Each week, we will use a mild soap and scrub brush to clean the shower surfaces (including the tile and shower drain). Once we have removed the hidden and visible dirt, we will spray a disinfectant product in a spray or foam to kill the germs. Disinfectant should always be applied after cleaning because the presence of dirt and soap scum reduces effectiveness.
- Bath mats and shower curtains. Just check the labels to make sure they are machine washable. If not, use disinfectant sprays or wipes to reduce the germ count. The same goes for shower doors. This can be done monthly.
- Shower heads . Sanitize shower heads with disinfectant sprays or foam products. But for a deep cleaning, we may need to unscrew them and dip them in a diluted sanitizer solution. We will then use an old toothbrush to loosen the dirt, debris, and biofilm. To keep biofilm growth at bay, we’ll make a deep shower head cleaning part of the spring cleaning protocol. So about once a year is fine.
How bad is it really not to clean the shower?
Bathing in a shower full of pathogens can affect each of us differently; for some it is not a big deal, but for others it can be potentially harmful.
First, analyze your medical history. If we have allergies, mold-induced asthma, or a chronic lung condition, it’s important to clean the shower frequently. The same is true for people with weakened immune systems.
Also, shower behavior plays a role. The frequency with which we shower, the amount of dirt left in the bathtub, and the type of products we use will all affect the viscous factor of the shower. For example, high-oil body soaps and shampoos can coat shower surfaces and accelerate biofilm formation.
Lastly, if you are a generally healthy person, a dirty shower probably won’t affect you too much. But if you notice recurring allergies and lung symptoms (or an unexplained stomach virus or skin infection), you may want to clean your shower more often.
