Bathroom

How to Clean Your Bathroom Tiles and Shower Grouts

Posted in Bathroom on January 13th, 2011 by Jim – Comments Off

The bathroom is one of the most valued parts of the house by every family member since it is the only place in the residence in which you can be alone aside from the bedroom. Hence, it is only proper to offer some of you’re time to thoroughly clean the area which includes the tiles and the shower grout.  However before you decide to clean the area, you need to learn some of the basic knowledge of doing the job. Since these information’s can help you finish the job easily and effortlessly while gaining some useful tips on how to do the right things to make your tiles, shower grouts spotlessly clean and  longer lasting to save you from the hassle of buying a new one if it has been damaged. The following are some useful tips anyone can follow when cleaning the bathroom tiles and shower grouts:

1. If you are using a hazardous tile cleaner make sure to wear a mask to prevent yourself from inhaling the chemical. Using your trusted brand of tile and grout cleaner, spray it directly on the tile including the shower grout and wait for 10-15 minutes before staring to scrub it. Leaving the chemical for 10-15 min will allow it to penetrate to the tiles and the grout especially on the areas where severe discoloration has happened. This may take a few tries especially for super dirty ones since the mildew on the area can take a moment to die from the penetrating chemical.

2. The next thing to do would be to scrub it using a brush not a sponge since brush have the bristles needed to swab away those thaw out molds in the tiles and shower grouts. After the tiles and shower grouts have been restored to its original color you can rinse it off with water and use a sponge to dry it off and achieve that good as new look.

3. However, this last step is the most convenient one to preserve the quality of your tiles and shower grouts. Every time you take a bath you should make it to a point never to leave the tiles and shower grouts wet since this allows molds to grow into that moist. Or nonetheless you can have a choice to scrub the tiles and shower grouts every time you take a bath to strip off any mold residue that starts to build up every after bath. By this way, you can save time and effort of cleaning those tiles and shower grouts from excessive mold contamination.

4. Cleaning Your Tiles is as Easy as One Two Three

Vessel Sink Faucets and Sinks – A Newer Rendition of a Very Old Design

Posted in Bathroom on December 6th, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

Every homeowner knows that the vanity area is the centerpiece of the bathroom, so when they construct a new bathroom or remodel an existing one, the countertop, sink, mirror, and other related fixtures are given top priority. If you are planning to install a modern-looking yet classic piece of vanity fixture, then a vessel-style sink with vessel sink faucets will be the perfect choice.

Several years back, it is always almost certain that whenever you enter a bathroom, you will find a standard white porcelain or a metal sink. But that is not the case today anymore. Nowadays, you are free to choose the sink style that you want, as well as its material, shape and color. The bathroom sink has evolved into an art form much like those elegant masterpieces found at the Louvre.

Unquestionably, vessel sinks are the most exquisitely styled bathroom sink in the market today, in spite of the fact that they are really just a newer rendition of a very old design, the wash basin. More than a hundred years ago, the wash basin was a common item in every home. They were basically an ordinary porcelain bowl that is usually placed on tables and night stands, which is filled with warm water.

The basic concept used remains the same. Today, vessel-style sinks are still bowl-shaped and mounted on the countertop, however, they come with drains for water to empty. This is more convenient than having to dump the water after using it.

The vessel-style sink, however, is not designed for use of small children. The extra height of the countertop-mounted vessel-style sink makes it difficult for a small child to reach up and into the bowl. However, if no small children shares your bathroom and you want a truly stunning bathroom centerpiece, then a vessel-style sink and faucet is the right choice.

Aside from considering the people that will use the sink, it is also equally important that you ascertain that the vessel sink and faucet that you purchase is made of good quality. This is necessary to ascertain that you will get your money’s worth. There are now plenty of credible manufacturers producing such kind of sink so buying one with premium grade quality won’t be that difficult. However, of course, quality vessel sinks and faucets do not come cheap so be sure that you can afford them. For those with limited budget, it would be a good idea to take time to shop around so that you can conveniently compare the prices of vessel sinks and faucets made by various manufacturers.

Available Choices for Shower Screens

Posted in Bathroom on November 23rd, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

A shower screen can make your bathroom look drab or fabulous, depending on the design that you choose. They constitute the centerpiece of the bathroom by directly grabbing the attention of anyone coming in. Nowadays, modern bathroom designs have come up with screens that vary in styles to fit to the differing taste and preference of users.

Screens for showers are functional additions to any bath space since they are basically designed to prevent water from splashing into the rest of the bathroom. Essentially, these screens are used to create a partition within the bath area. Apart from that, they can also provide definition and character to the place. Separating the shower from the rest of the room is vital to avoid slipping accidents and prevent other parts from getting wet. They are added fixtures to the bathroom plumbing which function as a shield of some sort that keep water from spilling into the floor. In this regard, they basically keep the place in order while at the same time making the area look more appealing.

You can go for the conventional enclosed shower screens but with an elegant touch by having frosted screens or glass screens. Glass or frosted glass gives an added décor to the otherwise common and usual shower enclosure.

Frameless screens made of glass show off a more classic and simple feel to the place. Thicker glass is more durable but is also more expensive. They perfectly go with modern bath designs and can actually pretty much go with any style since glass is a versatile material.

Shower screens may also come in decorative slumped glass. Their intricate designs and details add texture to the glass and the three dimensional finish makes it all the more interesting to look at. The texture easily covers up the fingerprints, soap and watermarks on the screen. They add style to the place without have to buy any other additional décor.

There are also screens that can slide open or close. This way, you can easily provide a partition in the bathroom. The sliding screen gives more privacy and at the same time can be decorative to avoid your bath area from looking plain and drab. Sliding screens conveniently controls water from spilling out onto the floor.

Designs go from frameless, sliding and decorative. All you have to do is pick one that will completely satisfy your personal needs, requirements and specification. Surely you will be able to pick a certain type of shower screen that will go well with your bathroom.

Wall Mounted Toilets Saves Space and Lowers Monthly Water Consumption

Posted in Bathroom on November 22nd, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

Wall mounted toilets are worth your consideration if you are planning to convert your old and cramped bathroom into a spacious, modern-looking and easy to clean bathroom area. Installing a new wall hung toilet in your bathroom can offer you many benefits. The sleek stylish design of modern wall hung toilets will dramatically enhance the look of your bathroom interior.

Modern wall mounted toilets have several advantages over conventional floor mounted ones. First of all, there is no bulky, space-gobbling water tank. Losing the tank will recover precious space in your bathroom and squeezing past a conventional toilet is done away with. The recovered space will look good in a small bathroom, and just as imposing in bigger bathrooms.

Installing a wall hung toilet will allow you to decide its height. Since it will be connected to the water source, you are given some margin to decide the proper seating height for the unit. This will make tall as well as short persons to feel more comfortable as the toilet is set to their individual height preferences. This has often been overlooked but contributes a lot for the user’s comfort.

Cleaning will also be a lot easier with a wall mounted commode. Because it is connected to the wall and not impeded by a water tank and other plumbing fixtures, cleaning under and around it can be easier with a mop, instead of having to go down on your hands and knees to reach around difficult nooks and crannies as in the case of a conventional toilet.

Wall mounted units will also help users lower their monthly utility bills because of its water-saving feature. Water is supplied directly without having a tank to fill. This consumes less water which will result to lower water bills every month, especially during the summer when water usage tends to be higher.

Many people have only seen these wall hung toilets in corporate buildings and public restrooms. Although these toilets had their start as a public utility, they are also fast becoming a part of residential bathrooms. They have become popular choices in home bathrooms because they save space and enable easy access when cleaning under and around the unit. Installing a wall hung toilet is a great investment that is worth considering as it will enable a small bathroom to enjoy that extra amount of recovered space.

A sleek modern look, space saving feature, easy cleaning and low water consumption makes this type of toilet a truly wise and fashionable choice.

No Need For A Plumber: How To Unclog A Toilet Yourself

Posted in Bathroom, Plumbing on October 2nd, 2010 by Jim – Comments Off

No-one likes a clogged toilet. But the good news is that there are a host of tips and techniques that you can use to get the blockage cleared. You shouldn’t even have to resort to using harsh chemicals that could be damaging to the environment. Of course if the blockage is very stubborn or is affecting the main drain, you may need to get a plumber. But with most clogs you should be able to do the job yourself so here’s how to unclog a toilet.

For many clogs a bucket of hot water is enough to do the trick. But remember not do do this if your bowl is close to overflowing. If the hot water does not free the clog on its own consider adding dish detergent (ideally a green, biodegradable brand) to the water. Just a few squirts should help lubricate the lodged material. Dish detergent has a higher density than water so it will sink to the bottom and hopefully come into contact with the blockage. If you don’t have any detergent to hand, try with liquid soap or even shampoo.

Still not working? Then its time to get out the plunger. Warm up the rubber cap on the plunger a few times so that it is flexible, put on some rubber gloves and place the plunger so that it forms a seal over the toilet hole. Plunge downwards and then pull back. Do this a few times, remembering that often its the suction of the pull back rather than the pressure from the plunge that does the trick. Unfortunately, much of the debris will pull back into the bowel which can be a little unpleasant.

If the blockage has resisted all of that and is still clogging up your toilet, you may need to get hold of a toilet snake or augur. These cost around $30 in most hardware stores. Again wear gloves, place the flexible snake into the drain so that the spiral wire end is in contact with the blockage. Then twist on the handle. This will have the effect of making the spiraled end dig into the blockage and dislodge it. You may need to pull back and then replace the augur a few times. Just keep turning on the handle. Augurs can normally reach quite far into the toilet pipe to dislodge even the most stubborn blockages.

If you here a satisfying sucking sound of a drain that is clearing, then you know that “operation unclog toilet” has been successful.