How Often Should You Really Clean Your Bathtub?

When was the last time you cleaned your bathtub? If the answer isn't within the last week, you're not cleaning enough. According to Martha Stewart, you should be deep cleaning your bathtub and shower "weekly." That's because your leftover shower gel and shampoo residue isn't the only thing building up in your tub overtime. Apparently, there's also dead skin cells and extra water that if left to sit in your bathtub create gross fungus and bacteria. Yikes! 

If you don't have the time to clean once a week, NBC News says that you should wipe down your bathtub at least once every two weeks, but you should really be doing it more often if you shower. And speaking of your shower, your shower curtain isn't excluded from the conversation. That should be wiped down at least once a week to avoid mildew from building up. If you've had the same shower curtain for over three months, Buzzfeed suggests it's time you replace it. The same goes for your bath mat. 

Since it is springtime once again, this is actually the perfect time to do a little deep cleaning. When you're working all day, it can be hard to find the energy to clean your entire home, so start simple with little tasks here and there. Focus on your bathroom first since that's where a lot of bacteria lives. 

Family Handyman actually has a few helpful tips if you're looking to tackle your tub first. According to Dan Allen, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic, you can throw your shower curtain into the washing machine's hot cycle to clean it off, but also make sure you're leaving it open to dry out after each shower. These are quick ways to clean that will make a huge different overall. Also, according to Martha Stewart, if you stay on top of cleaning your counter and shower once a week, the rest of your bathroom will remain pretty clean. Those are the two big hot spots you should focus on.

Another thing that could help is to start a weekly routine. Make sure each task is doable so you can keep up with it. Then, you'll get in the habit of doing little by little each week until your home looks like something out of a magazine.