This Toilet Feature Is What Helps Keep The Surface Free Of Bacteria
Sometimes, it can feel like your toilet is never truly clean, no matter how much time you spend scrubbing and disinfecting it. Luckily, some toilets are manufactured with an antimicrobial coating that can help to keep germs, bacteria, and fungi off your toilet. These coatings may contain silver, copper, zinc oxide, or other materials.
While protective coatings are often applied to toilets before they're sold, they may begin to wear out after a lot of use, but you can have a cleaning service apply an antimicrobial coating for you. These are typically effective for several months, but will also need to be reapplied. Thankfully, there is a DIY coating that you can purchase and apply yourself that also aids in getting rid of bacteria and saving water. Though antimicrobial coatings are a helpful way you can upgrade your toilet and can certainly help to cut down on bacteria in your bathroom, your toilet will still need to be cleaned regularly.
How antimicrobial coatings work
There are a variety of antimicrobial coatings that are meant for all kinds of different surfaces. Some cleaning companies use coatings with silver ions to prevent the growth of bacteria, and science has backed this up. A 2021 study published by the Chemical Engineering Journal found that coatings containing silver ions and silver nanoparticles were able to reduce the bacteria and fungi tested (including S. aureus and E. coli) by 99.99%. This proves that antimicrobial coatings are very effective in keeping surfaces, including that of your toilet, free of bacteria.
While silver ion coating would be more likely used by commercial cleaners and possibly manufacturers, studies have also shown that a product available to the public can help fight against bacteria. A 2019 study from Nature Sustainability found that a liquid-entrenched smooth surface (LESS) coating designed with silicone molecules and silicone oil lubricant could repel bacteria from toilets. Not only did this slippery spray help bacteria slide off the toilet, but it also helped solids slip down the drain easily, saving water and making cleaning easier. The creators of this coating have a version available for treating your toilet at home, the spotLESS toilet monthly maintenance spray, which is sold for $40. Though you'll still have to clean your toilet, these coatings can help keep your toilet bowl sparkling.
How to keep your toilet's surface free of bacteria with a spray
If you don't want to hire a company to apply an antimicrobial coating to your toilet and you're unsure if your porcelain throne was manufactured with one, you can treat your toilet yourself. DIY coating sprays like spotLESS make the inside of the toilet bowl extremely slick, which keeps solid and liquid waste as well as bacteria from sticking to the surface. This coating can last for about three months, though you should be able to use the same bottle more than once. Applying this coating is rather simple and could be a bathroom upgrade worth splurging on for a sparkling clean toilet.
To do this, you will need to make sure your toilet is empty by turning off the water and flushing. Then, clean your toilet well and wipe it dry. Follow the directions on the product to properly spray the coating onto your toilet, use a cloth to spread it throughout the bowl, and leave it to dry for at least 15 minutes. Whether you choose a commercial or DIY solution, these coatings will help in your battle against bathroom bacteria.