Aussies exposed over filthy toilet cleaning habit: 'No one wanted to'

When it comes to household tasks that many of us would rather not do, cleaning the toilet surely has to be up there. It's an undeniably unpleasant task, and, depending on who you live with and how hygienic they are, it can be one of the grimmest items on your to-do list.

Sadly though, unless you are very fortunate, it's a job that must be done - ideally at least once a week, if not more. However, a recent survey by Australian Heritage Brand Oates revealed that 18% of Australians are only cleaning their toilet every 2-3 weeks...insert screaming face emoji here.

Melbourne woman Leigh Macdermid used to be one such Aussie and tells Yahoo Lifestyle that throughout her younger years - when she lived in a share house - cleaning just wasn’t the thing to do.

'No one wanted to do it'

“You just didn't do the cleaning. No one wanted to do it, we just wanted to go out,” the 49-year-old says.

Shockingly (or not), the toilets were the most neglected.

“The toilet got cleaned when people were coming over or we had an inspection, but it was always a fight to get someone to do it. No one wanted to clean other people's messes, especially places like the toilet,” she tells us.

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As Leigh recalls, the bathrooms were also left in a ‘hairy’ state.

“Living with girls in my 20s, there was a lot of hair everywhere in the bathroom as well as just a lot of clutter with all our toiletries, so we didn't have the room to clean. If it was really messy, we would just shut the door and ignore it,” she says.

When it came down to the crunch, Leigh says it was usually quicker, the better.

“The bathroom counter would get a quick wipe with spray, but the shower and bath wouldn't get cleaned properly with products - maybe just rinsed with water.”

Why do Aussies avoid cleaning their toilets?

Leigh is far from alone with Oates, who has just announced a three-year partnership with Clean Up Australia, revealing that 21% of us only clean the bath once a month and just 24% scrub the shower once a month.

Aldo Oosterman, a spokesperson from Oates, believes there are many reasons why we are reluctant to get our hands dirty.

“Toilets and bathrooms tend to be put off more than a living room or bedroom for so many reasons. It could be a bit of an 'ick' factor or because they require a bit more TLC when cleaning these areas,” he tells us.

“Also, people don’t tend to linger in these spaces, so the incidental cleans don’t really happen. People tend to spend a lot of time in places like kitchens and living rooms, where a touch-up clean is usually done, but you don’t get the same in spaces like toilets or bathrooms.”

Why cleaning your toilet regularly is so important

Regardless, regular cleaning is crucial for several reasons, with MD of Woolf Plumbing, Ashley Woolf, telling Yahoo Lifestyle that while it may seem "OTT", a toilet should be properly cleaned with antibacterial products at least once a week.

"Apart from the obvious hygiene reasons, a clean toilet is a healthy one, and less build-up within the bowl will lead to a longer lifetime for your toilet suite," he says. "Dirt, grime and matter getting stuck on the hinges or bolt of the seat can cause decay of the fixtures and sometimes a simple toilet seat replacement will end up as an entire suite replacement if the bowl cracks upon removing the seat."

And then, of course, there are the health implications involved with having a porcelain throne that is not properly maintained.

"Aside from the aesthetic reasons regarding having a sparkling toilet bowl, there are numerous health reasons why you should keep on top of your toilet hygiene," Ashley says. "UTIs - from bacteria like E. coli, skin rashes & irritation (from contact with unclean surfaces) and fungal infections – like ringworm or athlete’s foot if damp areas aren’t cleaned."

Change in cleaning habits for older Aussies

While Leigh continued to find implementing a regular cleaning schedule difficult, especially when her kids were young, she says that now that they are older with more free time and some extra hands, she has changed her ways, with bathroom and toilet cleaning on the weekly schedule.

”When my kids got older, it was easier as I had more help around the house. As a single mum, all the cleaning was on me,” she says.

"I'd say moving from renting to homeownership was also a big thing. You definitely have more pride in your home once it's yours.”

As in Macdermid’s case, age seems to be an influential component of the cleaning habits of Australians, with Oates’ research revealing that the frequency of cleaning increases as we get older.

The survey of 1,497 Australians found that 59% of 18-29-year-olds do just one “big clean” a month, while those aged 60+ clean the most often of all age groups.

How to keep on top of toilet cleaning

“We know that people are busy and would rather hang out with friends or family than clean every room meticulously and regularly," Aldo says.

"But, a novel way to keep track of this which I’ve always found helped really well,” he says, “is to clean your toilets and showers as frequently as you need to so that it never gets to a stage where you wouldn’t want your parents to visit and use these spaces! Helps a treat when you’re tossing up whether to clean or not.”

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Adds Ashley, "It’s important to remember that bacteria is often airborne, and every time we flush a toilet, you’re sending fecal particles into your breathing space – so keep the toilet lid closed when not in use. When you shower, the air heats up even in the best-ventilated bathroom, encouraging the bacteria to multiply.

"Keep on top of your cleaning and use a disinfectant air freshener. Cleaning quick and often doesn’t give the grime a chance to build up, and the resulting smooth surface of your toilet bowl means you’ll always be able to visibly tell if there’s a crack or dent."

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