Must-Haves for the Easiest-to-Clean Bathroom, Ever

No matter if you keep your home sealed tight, leave the windows open, have a steady stream of visitors stopping by, or prefer to be alone, dirt (and, worse, microbes!) will worm their way into your pad.

And bathrooms are the worst for collecting the yuckiest of grime and germs. Check out these upgrades that’ll give you a fighting chance against germs, dirt, and bacteria while letting you do a whole lot less cleaning. Game. On.

#1 Materials That Use Little or No Grout

Who says a bathroom has to have tile? Dirt and grime love to cling to the gritty grout between tiles. To banish it from your bathroom for good, try glass or waterproofed real-stone veneer. They come in large sheets — hardly any grout needed. Maybe some at the joints, but that’s better than the entire wall and floor.

If you want to go completely groutless, there’s an ancient Moroccan technique called tadelakt. It uses lime-based plaster, which is waterproof, resists mold and mildew, and, best of all, is sealed with a soap solution to keep grime away. It’s worked for centuries, so it should work in your bath, too. It’s pricey, though, because it requires trained artisans to apply. And for maintenance, you’ll need to avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach, because they’ll destroy the delicate limestone surface.

An affordable alternative is to opt for large tiles with narrower grout lines, says Stephanie Horowitz, architect and principal at ZeroEnergy Design in Boston. “It’s a fresh, modern look that requires minimal upkeep.”

#2 No-Touch Faucets

Sensor-operated faucets have become popular in homes. If germs are your No. 1 enemy, a sensor faucet is a good choice, because without touch, it’s tough for germs to find a foothold.

Some models also light up when you approach the sink — a cool, futuristic bonus for when you’re stumbling around in the middle of the night.

But because sensor faucets require a battery or electrical connection, users have complained that they break down more. Funny thing, though. Many say they would buy them again because they love the touchless feature.

Just don’t expect them to save you water. Most water efficiency practitioners acknowledge that these sensors often waste water by flushing more frequently than necessary and turning on the tap for longer than needed, according to a statement from the Alliance for Water Efficiency.

#3 No-Groove Toilets

If you’ve ever turned into a contortionist while reaching to clean every last yucky crevice in your toilet, the one-piece model was made for you. Because traditional two-piece toilets have a separate bowl and tank, they have lots of tiny crevices that are hard to really get clean.

You may spend a bit more for a one-piece model, which is molded from a single piece of porcelain, but the amount of scrubbing time you save may make it worthwhile. Plus, you don’t have to get up close and personal with the nasty parts.

Today’s pressure-assisted toilets not only reduce cleaning time, but virtually eliminate backups, thanks to a forceful jet of water that scrubs the entire bowl and removes everything in its path. On this one, you’ll actually save water. By replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense labeled models, the average family can reduce water used for toilets by 20% to 60% — nearly 13,000 gallons of water annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

#4 A (Good!) Exhaust Fan

This is probably the least-sexy upgrade, but it’s effective at fighting bad micro-organisms.

Not only does a good exhaust fan fight mold, mildew, and other nasty micro-organisms, but it also protects your walls, paint, and trim. If left unchecked, excess moisture can cause your wallboard, paint, and trim to deteriorate. So spending about $350 on a fan and pro install could save you thousands down the road.

That’s a low-cost, no-brainer upgrade. Even if you already have an exhaust fan, take a look at the newer ones. Today’s models are much more efficient than the old buzz saw you might currently own. They’re quieter, more powerful, and use less energy.

If you forget to turn it on before you step into the shower, some models even come with a humidity-sensing feature that automatically turns on the fan when humidity is detected, then shuts off when the air is clear.