It is considered one of the cleanest places in the house.
But new research suggests you may need to take out your cleaning supplies the next time you go to the bathroom.
Scientists at Northeastern University have warned that our showerheads and toothbrushes are “full” of viruses.
Researchers found 614 unique viruses living in these bathroom products, including many previously unknown to science.
Lead researcher Dr Erica Hartmann warned: “The number of viruses we have discovered is absolutely staggering.”
Researchers say there are hundreds of unique viruses on toothbrushes and showerheads, potentially making bathrooms hotspots for viruses (stock image)
Many of us regularly clean our bathrooms with harsh chemicals, but that doesn’t mean your home is free of microorganisms.
In fact, many areas of the bathroom provide the perfect environment for bacteria and viruses to thrive.
“Microorganisms love environments with water, and where is the water? In the shower head or on your toothbrush,” says Dr. Hartman.
The new study is an outgrowth of a research project called “Operation Pottymouth” that aimed to determine whether toothbrushes were contaminated by droplets from flushing toilets.
As part of their study, scientists collected samples from showerheads and toothbrush bristles across the United States.
By sequencing the DNA in these samples, researchers discovered hundreds of unique viruses living in the bathroom’s active microbiome.
Dr. Hartman said: “We discovered many viruses that we know little about and that we have never seen before.
“It’s amazing how much untapped biodiversity there is around us. And we don’t even have to go far to find it; it’s right on our doorstep.
When researchers sequenced DNA in bathroom samples, they found 614 viruses living in showerheads (blue dots) and toothbrushes (red dots). This graph shows the types of bacteria these viruses are associated with.
The study is an outgrowth of a research program dedicated to determining whether toothbrushes are contaminated by aerosol particles emitted when flushing the toilet.
Researchers have discovered that each of our individual showerheads and toothbrushes contains an incredibly diverse and almost unique ecosystem.
Of the 614 viruses found, 314 were detected in only one sample, and no two samples were exactly the same.
Similarly, Dr. Hartman says that showerheads and toothbrushes are each like “their own little islands” and there are few similarities between them.
Researchers found no overlap between the 15 most common viruses in showerhead and toothbrush samples.
If you’re worried about viruses spreading in your bathroom, there’s no need to use bleach just yet, as these viruses can’t be transmitted to humans.
Researchers say the moisture-rich environment inside your toothbrush makes it a perfect breeding ground for microbes (stock image)
Rather, the viruses collected in this study were all “bacteriophages,” a type of virus that only replicates inside bacteria.
In a paper published in Frontiers in Microbiomes, researchers say:I think this explains why the viruses in toothbrushes and showerheads are so different.
Showerheads harbor bacteria commonly found in soil and drinking water, while toothbrushes harbor species associated with the human biome.
Each of these different bacterial communities also has its own viral community that specializes in destroying them.
Researchers think that in the future, these viruses might even be used to keep our homes clean.
All of the viruses found are “bacteriophages” (pictured), meaning they infect only bacteria. Researchers say these could be used to remove harmful microorganisms from bathrooms
The most common species found were mycobacteriophage types that infect pathogenic species that cause leprosy, tuberculosis, and chronic lung infections.
“You can imagine taking these mycobacteriophages and using them as a way to remove pathogens from plumbing systems,” says Dr. Hartman.
These same viruses may even be the basis for future treatments for antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
Injecting viruses that specifically target pathogens into humans could eliminate difficult-to-treat infections without causing side effects.
Researchers suggest that many of these potentially life-saving treatments may already be hidden in our toilets.
Scientists argue that our homes are constantly full of bacteria and viruses, and that trying to kill them with chemicals will only make them more resistant to antibiotics. Researchers say the best strategy is to just ‘accept’ the fact that microbes live in your home.
“We want to look at all the functions that these viruses might have and think about how we can exploit them,” Dr. Hartman says.
If you want to keep your bathroom clean, Dr. Hartman recommends soaking your shower head in vinegar regularly to remove calcium buildup, which is a breeding ground for bacteria.
Or, simply wash your shower head with soap and water without using harsh cleaning products.
You should also avoid purchasing antibacterial toothbrushes, as bacteria may develop antibiotic resistance.
Instead, remember to change your toothbrush head regularly to avoid getting too dirty.
But researchers advise that the best way to deal with microbes living in your bathroom is simply not to worry about them.
Dr. Hartman concludes, “Microorganisms are everywhere, and the vast majority of them do not make us sick.”
“The more we attack them with disinfectants, the more likely they are to become resistant or difficult to treat. We should all just accept them.”
