Some of the grungiest, toughest to clean items in the bathroom can be the toothbrush holder and the soap dish. It doesn’t take long to find soap scum build up making that perfect soap dish that you picked out look old and dingy. The toothbrush holder is another story. Try looking inside that thing! Eewwww!
My best advice is to throw away a toothbrush holder that has an enclosed base. I don’t care how much bleach you pour into that thing, it’s full of germs again before you know it. Find an open toothbrush holder that doesn’t trap germs. I also advise keeping it off the counter or at least a good distance from the toilet to avoid airborne germs when the toilet is flushed.
When it comes to soap dishes, consider using them strictly for displaying pretty soaps, at least in a bathroom that gets quite a bit of use. Substitute liquid hand soap in a dispenser in place of bar soap and soap dish. It will keep your bathroom cleaner and save you the time and trouble of scrubbing the soap dish. You can also opt for a smooth glass plate with a rim instead of a typical soap dish, and run it through the dishwasher.
If you have a soap dish that needs scrubbing, a nailbrush works great, especially if there are nooks and crannies and engraved details that also contain residue. Scrub the soap dish over the wastebasket rather than the sink, so that the debris goes into the trash instead of becoming stuck in your drain.
Rinsing the tub thoroughly after each use will also help keep your scrubbing to a minimum. Regularly rinsing away suds and other residue will help avoid build up until you scour the tub again. Keep a plastic cup handy and encourage family members to get in the habit of rinsing the tub after showering or bathing.
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