The average person spends at least 30 minutes in the bathroom every day, which is more than 182 hours every year—some even spend more than that.
But, just because we spend much of our time preparing in the bathroom, doesn’t mean that you should store your personal care items in it. In fact, most of the items that you’re probably keeping in it now don’t belong there, and some can even harm your health.
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Here’s Why the Bathroom is Not a Place For Everything
Finding the right place to store the items in your home is key to protecting your family from injury and exposing them to health risks. It’s the same reason to invest in storage and have a dedicated place to keep your belongings. Take an over toilet storage, for example, not only it’s a great space-saving solution, but it keeps bathroom items easily accessible.
But, remember, the bathroom is not a place to store everything because of the following factors:
Humidity
Bacteria grow and reproduce in a warm and moist environment and it’s not surprising that they are more prevalent in the bathroom—a place that’s more humid than the rest of the home—where contaminants such as E.coli, salmonella, and streptococcus thrive.
Just imagine them breeding in your personal care items, particularly makeup brushes, and it’s enough reason to not keep them in the bathroom.
Heat
A hot shower can help you relax after a long, tiring day. It can relieve muscle tension and improve blood circulation, too. But, along with that benefits is the risk where heat coupled with humidity can make your medicines less effective. It can also accelerate their expiry. The same is true for your nail polishes—the changing temperature can shorten their lifespan.
Water
Moisture and electrical devices don’t go along well. Take an electrical device to the bathroom and you risk damaging it, you may even electrocute yourself. It explains why where you take a shower is not a place to store your electrical devices and charging cables. The high moisture content can also cause an electrical shortage when these items are plugged.
With all that said, below is a detailed list of items you shouldn’t store in the bathroom.
9 Things You Shouldn’t Store in the Bathroom
1. Makeup & Brushes
Makeup should be stored at room temperature—this makes the ever-changing temperature in your bathroom a less-than-optimal option. Another reason why your vanity should stay in the bedroom is that the warm and humid air in the bathroom can promote mold and bacteria build up on your makeup brushes. Keep them in a dry place instead and wash them regularly.
2. Towels & Bathrobes
Used, damp towels in the bathroom can also be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, which you can later transfer to your skin. You would want to wash your towels after three uses and let them dry completely before reusing. While at it, you might also want to think twice about keeping your fresh linens in the bathroom.
3. Jewelry
The humidity in the bathroom can make your jewelry oxidize faster, causing it to tarnish. This much is true with sterling silver. Unless it’s pure gold, your luxury pieces should be better kept in a cool, dry place.
4. Razors
Shower steam can rust the blades in your razors, which can potentially damage your skin. Keep the one you use clean, dry, and well outside the bathroom. The same goes for your spare razors and other tools such as nail clippers, tweezers, and scissors.
5. Electronics
Unless your tools and devices are waterproof, they are susceptible to damage caused by high humidity—and it’s not only your mobile or iPod we’re talking about but hair tools such as a hairdryer, flat iron, and curler as well.
6. Medicine
It has long been a tradition to keep the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. But, as said earlier, changes in humidity levels can make your medicines less potent or even expire sooner. Keep them in a cool, dry place instead.
7. Fragrances
Perfumes lose their potency as soon as you open them, but even more so when exposed to heat and humidity which can cause them to sour. What’s worse is that direct heat can also melt their plastic bottles.
8. Books
It’s nice to have some books available while you soak in the tub or while you do your business. But, the reading materials you keep in the bathroom will absorb moisture, leaving you with wrinkled pages and damaged binding.
9. Toothbrush
This may come as a surprise, but keeping your toothbrush in the bathroom keeps it vulnerable from all the harmful particles expelled every time you flush the toilet. Add that to the fact that the humidity in the room makes it an ideal breeding ground for bacteria to flourish.
Takeaway
The bathroom has the perfect mix of heat and moisture for germs and bacteria to thrive. It’s the same in every bathroom and while it’s difficult to keep the area clean, you can prevent the spread of more germs by limiting what goes inside it.
Which item/s you shouldn’t keep in the bathroom surprised you most? Let us know by leaving a comment!
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