{"id":1433,"date":"2026-03-24T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T07:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/?p=1433"},"modified":"2026-03-24T09:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T07:00:41","slug":"bathroom-decor-mistakes-that-are-actually-unsanitary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/?p=1433","title":{"rendered":"Bathroom d\u00e9cor mistakes that are\u00a0actually unsanitary\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"cb-itemprop\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your bathroom might look like something out of a glossy spread, but behind the curated calm could be a few quietly unhygienic habits. Yes, even the pretty ones. While d\u00e9cor is meant to elevate your space, some choices do the opposite \u2013 inviting moisture,\u00a0mould, and bacteria to settle right in.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before you give your bathroom a mini makeover, here are a few design details worth rethinking.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Read more:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/decor\/how-often-should-you-wash-your-bathroom-mat\/\">How often should you wash your bathroom mat?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h3>Towels perched above the toilet<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s\u00a0a look \u2013 neatly folded towels stacked above the loo, ready for guests. But every flush (especially with the lid up) releases microscopic droplets into the air. Not exactly what you want settling into your fresh hand towels.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A better move? Keep towels closer to the basin, where they\u2019re easy to reach and far from any airborne surprises.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Fabric toilet seat covers<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Soft, plush, and\u2026 a little problematic. Fabric covers hold onto warmth and moisture, which creates the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.\u00a0They\u2019re\u00a0also tricky to clean properly, which means they rarely get as fresh as they should.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stick to smooth, sealed surfaces instead \u2013\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0far easier to wipe down and keep hygienic.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Overly thick\u00a0bath mats<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That cloud-like\u00a0bath mat\u00a0may feel luxurious underfoot, but thicker materials \u2013 like memory foam \u2013 tend to trap moisture. And when something stays damp for too long,\u00a0mould\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0far behind.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Opt\u00a0for lighter, machine-washable options like cotton or microfiber. They dry quicker and can handle regular spins in the washing machine.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>D\u00e9cor that\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0handle humidity<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Bathrooms are naturally humid spaces, which means not all d\u00e9cor\u00a0is\u00a0up to the task. Unsealed wood, clay ornaments, and other porous materials absorb moisture, making them a breeding ground for mildew.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Instead, lean into materials that are easy to clean and moisture-resistant \u2013\u00a0think\u00a0glass, metal, ceramic, or sealed finishes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-53145\" class=\"wp-image-53145 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/clay-banks-Fuguvv3goCA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/clay-banks-Fuguvv3goCA-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/clay-banks-Fuguvv3goCA-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/clay-banks-Fuguvv3goCA-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/clay-banks-Fuguvv3goCA-unsplash-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/clay-banks-Fuguvv3goCA-unsplash-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Unsplash<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h3>Art that\u00a0isn\u2019t\u00a0bathroom-friendly<\/h3>\n<p>Artwork adds personality, but not all pieces belong in a steamy setting. Paper prints and canvas can warp over time, and trapped moisture (even behind frames) can lead to hidden\u00a0mould.<\/p>\n<p>If\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0styling your walls, choose sealed or waterproof pieces that can stand up to humidity without losing their charm.<\/p>\n<h3>Soap dishes without drainage<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">That vintage dish you picked up at a market? Beautiful.\u00a0Practical? Not always. When bar soap sits in a puddle of water, it becomes a soft, slippery breeding ground for bacteria.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Look for a soap dish with drainage holes \u2013 or swap to a liquid dispenser for a cleaner, fuss-free\u00a0option.<\/span><span data-ccp-props='{\"134233117\":false,\"134233118\":false,\"335551550\":1,\"335551620\":1,\"335557856\":16777215,\"335559685\":0,\"335559738\":0,\"335559739\":0}'>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>ALSO SEE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/decor\/bathrooms\/create-a-spa-like-bathroom-on-a-budget\/\">10+ SIMPLE TIPS TO CREATE A SPA-LIKE BATHROOM ON A BUDGET<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"xZq2kr7sZC\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/decor\/bathrooms\/create-a-spa-like-bathroom-on-a-budget\/\">10+ Simple tips to create a spa-like bathroom on a budget<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>The post <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/decor\/bathrooms\/bathroom-decor-mistakes-that-are-actually-unsanitary\/\">Bathroom d\u00e9cor mistakes that are\u00a0actually unsanitary\u00a0<\/a> appeared first on <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gardenandhome.co.za\/\">SA Garden and Home<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your bathroom might look like something out of a glossy spread, but behind the curated calm could be<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1434,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-1"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1433"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tapyom.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}