Who does not want a sparkling, clutter-free bathroom? The hard part is how to design an easy-to-clean bathroom. Bathrooms get gross fast. The more you clean the bathroom, the less time each session will take, while reducing the build-up of soap scum and water residue. Cleaning the bathroom is also important for the health of your family. According to WebMD, tons of germs, organisms, allergens, and bacteria, thrive in the bathroom. Some of these include gastrointestinal viruses, E. coli, salmonella, shigella, and Group A Strep. With a little effort, you can get a bathroom that stays fresh and tidy with minimal effort. These sleek designs will help your bathroom practically clean itself.
1. Keep Mold at Bay. Mold is the No. 1 enemy in the bathroom and should be prevented.
A ventilation fan is key. Unless you have a window to open, invest your money on the most whisper-silent fan you can get. If you have a fan that sounds like a jet engine, you are less likely to turn it on.
Just say no to grout. Scrubbing grout lines is the least favorite chore in a bathroom. Using solid-surface choices for your walls will save a lot of elbow grease. Stone slabs have few seam lines, and thin. Newer bathroom remodels can use the new epoxy grout because it will not stain or crack. It makes your shower floor virtually waterproof and eliminates mold growing in the grout.
If you have an older bathroom with regular grout, vinegar can prevent bacteria growth and be used for removing mold from grout. Create a solution of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the grout and tiles.
2. Tile Walls for Quick Cleaning. To cut down on time spent repainting or cleaning walls, go for a tiled finish. Painted walls can get dirty quickly in a bathroom, but tiled walls are easy to clean with a damp cloth and spray hose.
If cost is a factor to tile the bathroom, special paints are a great option. Use one specially formulated for its resistance to mildew, such as Benjamin Moore’s Aura Bath and Spa Matte Finish.
With large-format tiles and a slab countertop, the bathroom becomes low maintenance. Large-format porcelain tiles come in sizes all the way up to 24 inches by 48 inches. If you use a single large tile instead of 4-inch-by-4-inch tiles covering the same area, you eliminate 42 feet of grout lines!
Handheld showerheads are a real help in cleaning your shower. Get one with a nice long hose to clean the tub area.
Choose tile placement carefully. Try to stay away from mosaic tile, but if you love the texture, place it where it will need the least amount of cleaning. For example, a bathroom vanity can have a solid marble slabs all around the business area of the bathroom, with the herringbone mosaic placed higher so it is out of the splash zone.
Go frameless. The aluminum frames around glass shower doors are a magnet for gunk. Going frameless on your glass gives you a simple sheet to squeegee clean. There are a number of coatings on glass that also help to repel water and soap scum. Check with your glass shower manufacturer for factory coating options. Water repellant sprays like Rain-X also work well.
3. Get everything off the floor. The number-one disgusting chore in a bathroom is getting on your hands and knees to clean around a toilet crammed into a narrow space with that horrible, convoluted shape on the side. Wall-mounted toilets are easier to reach all the way around. They also make cleaning the floor easier.
If you choose not to install a wall-mounted toilet, then choose a skirted model. The smooth sides do not catch as much dust and gunk.
Vanity. Mounting your vanity on the wall will make the floor easier to clean around the entire area, especially the floor. Streamlined fixtures will also be easy to clean.
Faucets. Wall-mounted faucets are a better choice than deck-mounted ones. Gravity is working for you, carrying water and soap residue away from the faucet instead of having it all collect at the base. Wall-mounted faucets also keep the counter clear, making it easier to wipe it down.
4. Select Easy-Care Flooring. Your choice of flooring can be crucial to the amount of time you need to spend cleaning it. Do not put textured porcelain tiles on the floor, especially if there is a toilet in the bathroom, where people tend to walk with their shoes on. A joint-free or no grout floor will be the most hygienic and easiest to clean. For example, terrazzo. Ensure the tile is anti-slip which is very important in a wet zone like the bathroom floor.
5. Skip bar soap at the sink. Use a liquid soap with a pump or a hands-free soap dispenser instead. Eliminating the grimy soap dish with help your sink and countertop stay cleaner.
6. Install ample towel bars. Towels will dry more quickly, and your bathroom will look tidier, too, when you hang them across a bar. But no wall space? Consider an over-the-door towel bar or hooks.
7. Keep Surfaces Clear. Storage will keep the endless bottles of lotions and potions every bathroom seems to harbor out of sight, making surfaces quicker to clean. You can choose a sink with drawers underneath and pair it with slim, mirrored wall cabinets above.
A tiled shelf above the sink will keep items clear and allow you to easily clean around the sink.
All of us certainly have more fun things to do with our time than clean the bathroom. The strategies mentioned can assist you to design a bathroom that looks and feels like a dream but can be cleaned quickly and easily. If you need a pro to remodel your bathroom, contact Creative Spaces Remodeling to help you design the bathroom of your dreams.
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