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You’re putting a lot of time, money, and effort into creating the perfect bathroom so you want its beauty to last. There are decisions during the design process that will save you trouble in the long run. But if your renovation is already complete, there’s some upkeep to maintain it. Read on for tips on the best materials to use in the bathroom for lasting durability and how to keep your bathroom looking like new.
Cabinets
Not all cabinet materials are created equal. In the bathroom, the factor you should be most concerned about when choosing cabinets is whether the material can withstand moisture and humidity.
The best materials for bathroom cabinets are solid wood, plywood, or medium density fiberboard (MDF). Solid wood and plywood cabinets are pricier but usually the most durable and well-made. MDF is a popular choice for those on a smaller budget but can potentially warp and is less resistant to water than more expensive options.
Countertops
Bathroom countertops are not one-size-fits-all. For example, if you regularly style your hair with hot tools, you’ll want a material that is heat-resistant. It is also recommended to choose a darker material or one that isn’t a solid color if you frequently dye your hair or do your makeup in the bathroom. Hair color and cosmetics can stain some surfaces permanently.
As for suggestions, granite is a good choice because, if sealed properly, it is resistant to heat, grease, and staining. However, hardwater can build up on the surface and leave white marks that are more difficult to remove if left too long.
It is recommended to clean light stains with a mild detergent and brush or with a cleaner specifically designed for granite (this one is made of natural ingredients). For stubborn hardwater stains, try using a mixture of baking soda and a small amount of water.
Quartzite is another good option to consider. It gives the look of marble, but at a fraction of the cost. Unlike marble, it doesn’t stain as easily and is easier to maintain. However, we recommend resting hot tools on a heat protecting mat to prevent damage from heat.
Mirrors
There’s a proper way to clean mirrors to ensure they are streak-free. First, purchase a glass cleaner or make your own. Grab a lint-free microfiber cloth. Spray the cleaner on the mirror and buff the surface in a zig-zag pattern starting from top to bottom. Use another dry cloth if the mirror is not fully dry. You don’t want water droplets to dry down on the glass and cause unsightly marks.
Faucets
Faucet finishes like matte black and oil-rubbed bronze hide smudges well while shiny metals such as chrome and stainless steel typically collect fingerprints. However, if you prefer the look of chrome and stainless steel, some models (i.e. this one from Delta and this one from Moen) are specially made to be fingerprint/spot-resistant so upkeep is kept to a minimum.
To clean and polish faucets, you can use a basic cleaner or a baking soda/water mixture to buff them to a sparkling shine. Over time, limescale can build up and lead to corrosion. To get rid of limescale, either use white vinegar or commercially-available CLR.
Toilet
Cleaning the toilet is likely the most dreaded part of bathroom maintenance. But this task is on its way to becoming a thing of the past.
Cost-effective toilet-cleaning pods, which have been around for years, will help cut down on the work. A more advanced toilet cleaner, called Shine, utilizes hydrolyzed water to clean your toilet so you can ditch the germy toilet brush for good. It even pairs with the Amazon Echo to activate voice commands.
For those who are in the design phase, consider a self-cleaning toilet with a built-in cleaning system that literally does all the dirty work for you. American Standard’s ActiClean Toilet and Kohler’s Veil Intelligent Toilet do just that!
Bathtub
Next on the “least-enjoyable spots to clean” list may be the bathtub. But you don’t need to break your back cleaning it.
Instead of crouching down into awkward positions, try using a cleaning brush with a long handle such as this one from OXO. For an even quicker clean, this rechargeable cleaning brush has extendable handles that not only allow you to clean while standing up, but without scrubbing at all!
Walls/Flooring
Many may regard cleaning floors and walls as one of the easier cleaning tasks. But are you really getting them clean enough? Are you getting into all the nooks and crannies? To be exact, we mean the grout and baseboard. Tile grout (the filler material in between tiles) tends to attract dirt and be difficult to clean and baseboards easily collect dust and are often neglected during the cleaning process.
To clean grout, use an old toothbrush and either a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar or water and baking soda. If that doesn’t work, try equal parts hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. There are also commercially-available bathroom cleaners that do a good job such as this Bath & Kitchen Foaming Action Cleaner by CLR.
To prevent dirty grout, you can opt to ditch tiles altogether by installing floors in alternative materials such as wood and concrete. Same rules apply to wooden floors as do cabinets. You want wood that is properly sealed to resist moisture. With concrete, it’s easy to clean and durable. However, you should also weigh its pros against its cons to decide if it’s the right material for you.
To clean baseboards, you can use the extendable scrubbing brush we mentioned earlier (for cleaning bathtubs) so you don’t have to crouch or squat!
Last, But Not Least…Bathroom Lint
Lint collects easily on all bathroom surfaces due to the bathroom fan blowing on fuzzy materials such as bathroom towels and toilet paper. The extractor fan not only collects toilet paper and towel lint, but any dust from adjoining rooms will get sucked in as well.
So make sure to check the grill on the extractor fan and your air vents. Clean it so there’s no heavy dust buildup that can prevent air (and dust particles) from circulating properly.
Additionally, there are toilet paper options that give off less lint or are marketed as lint-free. Bamboo toilet paper like this one from Betterway is lint-free. A more economical option is Scott 1000.
Interested in a Bathroom Renovation?
Cabinet Doctors stocks a variety of materials and accessories and provides excellent craftsmanship on all our projects. We can help you create a gorgeous bathroom that will stay beautiful for the years to come. Contact us today for an estimate!