Your bathroom should be one of the cleanest rooms in your home. This is especially true if you want your bathroom to serve your functional needs, and be a mecca for you to relax and unwind after a grueling day at work.
However, let’s face it, if you are like most homeowners living in Washington, D.C., then you more than likely don’t want to spend any spare time restoratively cleaning and maintaining your bathroom. You’d much rather be spending your time relaxing and enjoying your home with those you love.
If you are thinking of remodeling your bathroom in 2017, then below are some tips to consider in making sure you have a bathroom that is easy to maintain.
Go with the Right Countertops
The idea of having a bathroom that is simple to clean and maintain is extremely attractive for many D.C. homeowners. Solid countertops, for instance, are an attractive option over tile as you don’t have to worry about scrubbing grout lines filled with dirt and debris.
HGTV shares several options of bathroom counters to consider. We have highlighted a few below with the solid surface being our top recommendation for low to no maintenance.
- Quartzite. This is a natural stone and is one of the pricier options, but it is extremely durable and low-maintenance because of its density. Scratches can be easily buffed out with a fine-grade sandpaper. Also, the surface can handle the high heat from curling irons, blow dryers and more.
- Granite and marble. Can also be pricey but is usually a bit less than Quartzite and will provide you with a greater resale value for your home. Granite and marble bathroom countertops can handle heat and wear. However, the one thing to be cognizant of is that granite must be sealed to repel grease from bathroom products, and marble must be sealed as well because it is very porous and stains easily.
- Manufactured Stone. Products such as Silestone, Caesarstone, and Cambria are often as attractive as some of the granite and marble options but also offer a wide variety of options for a more contemporary aesthetic. These products are also very durable and can handle wear and tear. Many of the entry level pricing groups are available at a much more affordable price than natural stone alternatives.
- A go-to vanity countertop material if your budget is tight. This is because of its versatility and ability to stand up to water and resist stains. Laminate is also available in an assortment of finishes, including ones that mimic natural surfaces and granite. The one downside to laminate is that without maintaining proper caulking/sealing around the sinks, excessive exposure to water can cause it to de-laminate. Laminate will also burn and can dull over time.
Take Measures to Prevent Moisture Buildup and Mold Growth
Mold growth can lead to some serious health concerns. The best way to control mold growth in your bathroom is to control moisture.
- Make sure you have proper ventilation. If your bathroom has a window but not a fan, then you should consider adding one. If adding a fan isn’t feasible now then each time you run a hot bath or shower, you should open your bathroom window to prevent condensation from building up. You should also consider replacing any single glazed windows as these tend to be colder and are more likely to attract condensation. Lastly, while you may think that opening a bathroom door might help with preventing condensation buildup, it won’t. This will only spread the water vapor to other rooms in your home, which can lead to condensation buildup in those rooms.
- Use the exhaust fan. Bathrooms without windows must have a working exhaust fan appropriately sized for the bathroom. In order to properly work, the exhaust fan needs to have the appropriate duct work installed to transport the moist air in your bathroom to the exterior of the home.
- Consider demistable Steam from a hot shower or bath can cause your mirrors to steam up quick, leading to condensation. While wiping down steamed mirrors following a hot bath or shower is recommended, you can go with demistable mirrors that automatically do this job for you. Demistable mirrors are fitted with heating pads that keep the surface of the mirror warm, therefore giving no chance for condensation to form as it requires a cold surface. You can also buy heating pads separately to upgrade your current bathroom mirrors.
- Bonus tip for glass shower/tub enclosures. Go with a special coating to prevent soap scum and grime from building up on the shower glass. You can use a special coating such as EnduroShield® as a non-stick application on your glass shower panels to make clean up much easier which will help you save time and keep a low-maintenance bathroom.
Prevent Staining with an Epoxy Grout Filler
Many websites, or even general contractors, will tell you to avoid having too many grout lines in your bathroom because they are hard to maintain and keep clean. Well, this can be the case with standard cement grout filler. Epoxy grout, however, is becoming more popular these days as the grout is extremely durable, almost completely stain proof and resists mildew build-up.
Regular cement grout is not stainproof, and it can absorb water when it gets wet. This causes the floor to stain easily, which results in you spending more time scrubbing!
Epoxy grout, on the other hand, is formulated with epoxy resins and a filler powder, making it very waterproof and better suited to harsher cleaning agents. Epoxy also provides greater chemical resistance and bond strength. In other words, with epoxy grout filler, you will not have to scrub dirt from your tile joints.
What’s the point of having a beautifully designed bathroom if it is difficult to maintain? With these tips, you can have a low-to-no maintenance bathroom, which can help you avoid the aggravation of having to spend your spare time to keep your bathroom looking new.
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