Changing some habits and doing some spring cleaning once in a while can help you to make your bathroom as sterile as an operating room.

Tips to help stop bathroom germs

Color code hand and bath towels

It might seem like a stupid idea but each family member will know which towel is theirs. Each time you dry yourself off, are depositing germs on your towel. Just a skin flake can contain bacteria. They may not be sick but it can affect you. If you don’t want to color code, use a waterproof marker on the labels. Not only do you prevent someone from using your towel but you don’t make the same mistake.

Never share toothbrushes

Make sure everyone has their own toothbrush and the best way to identify them is by colour-coding. You can simply buy toothbrushes in different colours. Here’s why: every time you brush your teeth, you remove plaque and particles. Sometimes you press too hard and your gums bleed. Any bacteria you have in your mouth, is deposited onto your toothbrush. It becomes contaminated. Replace your toothbrush each time after you’ve been ill because you will get infected again. Remember that germs survive a long time. The best practice is to store toothbrushes roughly 1 inch from each other. This prevents germs from spreading from one toothbrush to another.

Flush your toilet with the lid down

Flushing your toilet with the lid up is like setting of a flare. The water vapor that erupts from the flushing bowl is polluted and it takes several hours for these particles to settle. Do not store your toothbrush openly near the toilet as it gets contaminated by the particles.
Clean high-touch surfaces

Clean high-touch surfaces

A high-touch surface is something you use your hands on. The bathroom has a lot of them. These include the taps, door handles, toilet lids, bath handles and your towel rack. Any high-touch surface carries a lot of germs. Use a disinfectant spray or anti-bacterial wipes. These will kill the bathroom germs living on your surfaces. Rhinoviruses that cause cold can actually survive for up to three hours. So when you are sick, make sure you disinfect your bathroom.

Use a paper cup dispenser

A plastic or ceramic cup can spread a lot of germs. The fact is that a few people in the household probably uses the same cup. Your best defense it to keep a paper cup dispenser in the bathroom. This allows everyone to have their own cup and dispose of it when they are done. It might be a bit expensive but you stop people from infecting each other when they are sick.

Choose functional tissues

There are loads of different types on the market today and the latest is virucidial tissues. These tissues actually kill germs as soon as you use it. Blowing your nose or coughing into it can help to stop the spread of germs. These viruvidial tissues may be expensive but it depends on the manufacturer and store.

Wash your hands after you do your business

This may be second nature but people forget, especially children. You should always wash your hands after coming into contact with any body fluids such as blood, nasal secretions and vomit. This applies when you are visiting the toilet, changing diapers and of course, after you clean any area of the bathroom.

Scrub the inside of the toilet bowl

The toilet bowl actually has a lot of germs. Make sure you clean it a couple times a week with products that contain bleach. The bleach actually kills the germs and also leaves your toilet clean and ready to be used.

Let the water run before you shower

Bathroom germs can grow in shower heads. It might not seem possible but as soon as you turn off the water, they become active and easily multiply. Let your shower run fully on hot water for about a minute or two. This will flush out the germs before you get in.

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Bathroom Vanity Types

Mounted Shelf Vanities:

Something as basic as a shelf mounted under or next to a mirror can serve with a pedestal or wall sink to make one of the simplest bathroom vanities. This option is cheap, easy to install and easy to maintain. The only drawback is the design because no matter how fancy your shelf it, it might stand out like a sore thumb, unless you do something really special with it.

Wall Mounted Vanities:

Wall mounted bathroom vanities are very popular. Over the years, some innovation in its design has gone into some of the unit on the market. Wall mounted vanities are normally eye catching. They create an illusion of extra space because they are affixed directly onto the wall. These vanities leave a sizeable gap between the bottom of the unit and the floor. The materials used in their construction vary according to the vanity you purchase. Some incorporate glass, stone, wood, metal or any combination of these materials. A careful combination of different materials can add a great deal of style and personality to your bathroom. Wall mounted vanities are versatile but they do require reinforced walls and their installation is quite complex. They are unlikely to be a viable choice if you have a tight budget.

Traditional Cabinet-Style Vanities:

Cabinets are the most common style and they can be found in most bathrooms. They can be mounted anywhere along the wall, in a corner or even semi recessed for those who require extra space. In some cases, vanities can be free standing units which have been converted from other furniture.

Materials:

The most common material used to construct vanities in wood in one form or another. It could be furniture quality exposed wood or laminated particle board. The benchtop is usually the main factor when materials are chosen. A stone benchtop is very popular because it is relatively easy to maintain and it looks attractive. The types of stone used for benchtops are granite, marble and cornerstone. Other benchtop materials include glass, which can be used to highlight textured materials underneath while keeping them protected from moisture. Porcelain is easy to maintain but is normally only available in white, which makes it unsuitable in many bathrooms. Acrylic or laminate coatings over a chipboard base are normally the cheapest options and they are more than durable enough to last a long time. These are also available in a very broad range of textures and colours.

Handles and Hinges:

Choosing a bathroom vanity also involves choosing the right hinges and handles. Soft-closing hinges are very popular because they ensure the doors do not slam shut. This is accomplished by dampening the hinge towards the end. They add a layer of luxury to your bathroom but they are a bit pricey.

There are a huge variety of different styles of drawer ad cabinet handles you can choose from. These range is style from very plain to extremely elaborate. Elaborate is great if it fits the look of your bathroom, but you should consider how the style you choose will stand the test of time. What might be very trendy this year, can be forgotten in a few years.

Dual Sink Units:

If your bathroom is a very busy spot in the house, you may need to consider a two-sink vanity unit. A two sink unit has the benefit of allowing two people to get ready at the same time, without fighting over space. This can save everyone a few valuable minutes in the morning and it makes your bathroom more comfortable. Please note that a dual sink unit will require considerable more space and it is more expensive.

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• You can add a shelf above the sink that allows you easy access to the items you use every day.
• Don’t forget about the space above your toilet. You can easily install a cabinet, some shelves or just a basket for toiletries or reading material.
• Hang some spice racks so you could organize your makeup and aerosols.
• Do you have no space for towel racks? Just install them on the back of the door.
• Install a shelf above the door to have that extra space.
• If you use hair dryers in the bathroom, you can install a holder on the inside of a cabinet door. It is relatively cheap and it saves a lot of time. You can even use this idea to store some styling products, hairbrushes or perhaps some magazines.
• Install drawers inside your cabinets will help to maximize storage space. It also makes it a lot easier to organize and fine items.
• Another option is to use a lazy susan inside your bathroom cabinet to make it easier to access smaller items.
• If you have a pedestal or wall-mounted sink with no cabinets, you can buy shelves that will fit around it. In the event that bathroom suppliers do not have any in stock, you can simply make your own, with a little effort of course.
• When your space is just too narrow to install full-size bathroom cabinets, you can purchase some narrow cabinets with drawers. They fit into small, narrow spaces without any effort at all.
• If you are able to, you can create a recessed tile-lined niched in the bathroom shower. This small opening provides storage that doesn’t get in your way and it easy to reach. It is a great place for storing shampoos, soaps, a razor or other necessities you use in the shower.
• The backs of your cabinet doors are full of unused space. Attach shallow caddies to the back of it to add extra storage for items such as hand soap, cotton balls or cleaning supplies. If you want to go a step further, you can label each shelf to make sure it is more organized.
• When you do have some space next to your sink, you can get a freestanding cabinet. It is a great substitute for a linen closet. You can save money by looking for unfinished cabinets at supplier, or buying a decent second-hand one. Keep everything neat and tidy within thee cabinet by using bins, baskets, or containers to separate items.
• Avoid cluttering your bathroom by storing toiletries and other everyday bathroom essentials in baskets on shelves. You can even group items for a specific task, person, or time of day.
• Keep dirty towels and clothes off the bathroom floor by creating a hidden laundry basket. You can do this by installing a hamper inside a cabinet with a tilting door. This makes it easily accessible and it keeps your bathroom tidy.
• If you don’t want to spend money or a towel rack or storage space, get a nice wooden chair. It offers a simple, warm and welcome place to sit. It also serves as a spot for resting a small stack of towels. So place it near your bathtub or shower so that you can reach them easily.

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The following bathroom safety tips for kids may help you but you might already have an idea of how to protect them. Just like the elderly, they are vulnerable to injuries and it will affect them later on in life.

The simplest way to avoid injuries in the bathroom is to make it inaccessible unless your child is accompanied by an adult. You may install a latch on the door at adult height so that your child can’t get into the bathroom when you aren’t around. Make sure you have a lock on the door that can be unlocked from the outside just in case your child gets locked in from the inside.

The following bathroom safety tips for kids will help you to prevent any injuries while your child is using the bathroom.

Bathroom safety tips for kids:

Bath safety

Children can drown in only a few inches of water, so you should never leave your child unattended, even if it’s just a few seconds. If you really have to answer the door or the phone, wrap your child in a towel and take him or her along with you. Bath seats and rings are basically only bathing aids and they aren’t meant to be used unattended either. Please note that you should also drain the bathtub when you are done.

Water safety

Scalding is a real threat when you bath your child. The hottest temperature coming from your tap, should be no more than 48.9 degrees Celsius. In some cases, you can adjust your hot water heater. Another great thing to get is a mixer tap. This helps you to correct the temperature while you are filling the bathtub. When your child is old enough to use the taps, teach him or her that its better to turn on the cold water first.

Slipping

Who knows of someone who never slipped in the bathroom? Your child might be small but hey, injuries can become fatal. Install non-slip strips or mats on the bottom of the bathtub. Put a cushioned or soft cover over the taps so that your child doesn’t get injured when accidentally bumping into the taps. Always close your toilet lid and try to get a toilet lid lock. A curious toddler who tries to play with the water can lose his or her balance and fall in. You could also close the bathroom door at all times but make sure it is ventilated.

Medicine

Make sure you keep your medicine in containers with safety caps. These caps are merely child-resistant and not childproof. It is always best to store your medicine and cosmetics in a space too high for your child to reach. Do not keep your frequently used items in the same cabinet. Rather have a second cabinet that’s also hard to reach with a safety latch or lock. This prevents your child from accessing the items even when they do reach it.

Electrical appliances

This might not be the case with most households but there are some who use electrical appliances in the bathroom. If you use any appliances such as hair dryers or razors, make sure you unplug them and store them in a cabinet with a safety lock. The safest option is to use them in a room where there is no water. An electrician can install special bathroom wall sockets that can lessen the likelihood of electrical injury when an appliance falls into the sink or bathwater. The problem is that these specialised plugs do not always work an fatal electrocution might take place.

Please consider the above bathroom safety tips for kids so that your child is safe and out of any danger. As you may already know, children are very curious and they tend to let their curiosity get the better of them.

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Why do we need bathroom cabinets?

We often use them to store essential bathroom supplies such as toothpaste, shaving cream, soap and razor blades.  People mostly used it as a medicine cabinet to store all of their medication.

Today, people use their bathroom cabinets to store all the essentials and they began storing medicine in another place. A bathroom cabinet is usually installed above the sink with a mirror. It can also be installed underneath. This means that the sink is installed in it.  The bathroom might be not be the biggest area of the house but it is very busy. Of all the room in the house, it is second. The kitchen is of course the busiest in the house.

Bathroom cabinets are also instrumental in keeping a bathroom well organised. Bigger families require a lot more organising than someone living alone The problems when installing bathroom cabinets may be numerous. You might need a different size or shape. The style may be completely wrong. People eventually get the perfect match.

Some experts believe that a cabinet should be installed first. The bathroom built according to its style. Others believe that the bathroom cabinet must be installed last. Finding a cabinet that will fit it will be much harder.

Some companies do offer you the option to order a custom built bathroom cabinet. These normally get made when the correct dimensions are given. This means that the cabinet would normally fit in quite well with the other fittings. The bathroom is not only the busiest but also very important  Your guests might like the rest of your home but the bathroom can make or break their opinion. This means that you need to pay attention to what bathroom cabinets you install. Do not install a cabinet that is too big or too small. This will ruin the image of your bathroom.

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