One of the most essential rooms in the house deserves proper care and maintenance, especially when that house is subject to bacteria and other grimy substances you’ll encounter. Keep the problems at bay and the room gleaming with these tips from our professionals.
The Toilet
We’ll start with the throne. Arguably your most important seat in the house, your toilet deserves some special attention.
Cleaning
When it comes to cleanliness, it is recommended that you clean your toilet once a week. If you’re feeling particularly lazy one week, keep this statistic in mind:
On average, a toilet bowl contains over 34,000 units of bacteria.
If that doesn’t urge you to pull out your rubber gloves and get scrubbing at least once a week, we don’t know what will! Be sure to follow our best toilet cleaning practices, to get easily forgotten spots like the base and tank, and don’t forget to disinfect.
What Not to Flush
Using a toilet is a pretty straightforward activity that most of us have been doing since we were very young. But there are a few things that can be overlooked and cause harm to your toilet and the pipes connected to it.
Avoid flushing anything down the toilet that is not toilet paper. We mean it. No flushing:
- “Flushable wipes”
- Cotton balls
- Sanitary products
- Goldfish
- Paper towels
These items can and will clog your toilet and create a big mess for you.
Buying a New Commode
Whether remodeling or replacing an old or broken toilet, there are a lot more models out there to shop for than you’d think! If you’re looking for the most affordable option, you’ll be able to find one for under $100, but at the cost of lower quality materials and functionality.
From one-piece to a two-piece, the fashionable high-tanks to the clog-resistant washdown models, there are so many features your new toilet could bring to your home.
If you’re looking to save water, a dual flush toilet may be a great option! These allow you to flush differently according to which business you’ve just taken care of - solids or liquids and saves water accordingly.
Lastly, it’s important to keep size in mind. Be sure to purchase a toilet that will fit comfortably into your bathroom that is easily accessible for your whole family.
Shower and Tub
Cleaning
Your shower and tub are obviously important additions to your bathroom. They keep you clean, so you should return the favor! An improperly cleaned and grouted tub is a perfect breeding ground for mold, mildew, and bacteria. Continuously look for signs of these substances and combat them as soon as possible.
Use a spray bottle of water with a splash of bleach to take on mold. Be sure to wear gloves, clothes that you wouldn’t mind staining, and turn on your bathroom fan to keep the fume levels down.
Water Pressure
If you’re noticing a change in your water pressure, there are a few things you can do. First, take a look at your showerhead. If there is some sort of build-up visible, your water could be hard, and leftover minerals could be what is blocking the water from coming through at full capacity.
Remove the head and soak it in vinegar for about 8 hours. Scrub everything away and put it back in place!
Accessories
There are a lot of additions that can be made to your shower to make it suit your needs, and showerheads are one of them! If the vinegar trick didn’t work and you’re still feeling lackluster water pressure, it may be time to purchase a new showerhead. This is an item where we encourage you to treat yourself because you deserve a comfortable and well-pressured shower!
If your shower does not have built-in shelves, an over-the-showerhead or pressure rod caddy will be perfect for holding all your products.
Looking for shower safety products? Adding a sticky pad to the shower floor will help the whole family keep traction in the shower. Installing a shower bar will help those with difficulty standing, moving around, or getting in and out of the shower stay safe as well.
Drains
We’ve covered how to keep your toilet draining properly, but other drains in your bathroom require some care and attention as well.
If water is gathering at and covering your feet in the shower, there is likely a clog in your drain. Consider installing a catch-all to keep hair and any other debris out of the drain. You can do the same for your sink drain.
There is no one perfect way to clear a clogged drain, but there are several tricks to attempt before calling in the professionals to help.
Some of these ways include:
- Pouring boiling water down the drain
- Use a drain snake to break up the clock
- Pour baking soda and vinegar down the drain
- Use a plunger
Cleaning is Key
Just because you now know how to clean your toilet, shower, and drains, that doesn’t mean your bathroom cleaning is over!
As mentioned, the bathroom is one of the most bacteria-filled rooms in your home. It is important to clean everything in reach to encourage good and healthy hygiene.
Towels and rugs
Bath mats and towels absorb water several times a day, often without enough time to properly dry, creating an opportunity for mold and mildew growth. Wash these as regularly as you can, ideally every week.
Shower Curtain
The same as above applies here. Mold and mildew can easily grow on shower curtains, and they should be cleaned about once a week and replaced every three months.
Countertop Items
Every time you flush, touch, or spit, contaminants fly about the bathroom. This is why it is necessary to disinfect any miscellaneous items sitting on your counter, toilet tank, or nearby shelves. This includes your toothbrush holder, which touches an essential hygiene product that you put into your mouth every day!
Hopefully, the thought of some not-so-clean particles being so close to your toothbrush will encourage you to keep things clean.
Everything Else
You never realize how fully stocked your bathroom is until you get to cleaning. Here are a few other items that need to be routinely disinfected and cleaned in your bathroom:
- Mirrors
- Light switches
- Soap dispensers
- Doorknobs
- Faucets
We realize it’s a long list of things to clean, but divided amongst the family, or done on different days of the week? You’ll have a bathroom cleaning routine down in no time.
Maintenance
The best way to keep your bathroom functioning properly is to use the best practices we’ve described and keep up with appliance maintenance. At first notice of an issue with something in your bathroom, you should take a more in-depth look, determine if it is an issue you can attempt to solve (like a clogged toilet), or if it’s time to call the plumber.
Keep in mind that plumbing is a skill requiring expert training. The AWS Plumbing, Heating & Cooling plumbers are trained and prepared to take on any of your plumbing problems.
Take care of your bathroom and keep things running smoothly with help from our plumbing professionals. Give us a call at (516) 217-2196 with any questions you may have. You can also make an appointment online.