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.

Scrub showers, bathtubs, and counter-tops

Bathroom germs grow in your showers, bathtubs and on your counter-tops as well These should always be cleaned to reduce the spread of viruses, fungi and bacteria. Do it at least twice a week with a disinfectant product that contains bleach. You can easily get more germs if you don’t clean your bathroom because they enter through the mouth, nose, eyes, and broken skin or just about anywhere they can. Your overall load of bacteria can increase and you may get ill with a cold, infections or viruses. This can be because you didn’t clean the bathtub, got in and touched your mouth or even get into the tub with a cut or an open wound. You’re always in danger of being infected, especially when you are already sick.

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Water pressure

Your water pressure determines which taps you have in your bathroom, so it’s important that you’re aware of this beforehand. If you install a tap that needs a high pressure to function but has low water pressure in your home, then it’s likely you’ll get nothing more than a measly drizzle, unfortunately. Before choosing between bathroom taps, you’ll need to make sure you find one that’s suitable for your pressure system to ensure it works perfectly.

Tap Holes

If your basin has one pre-drilled tap hole, then you’ll need a mixer tap so you can get both your hot and cold water through one spout. Whereas, if you have two tap holes, you’ll need some pillar taps – traditionally one for hot water, and the other for cold water – or alternatively, a deck mounted mixer tap.

Bath vs Basin Taps

Keep an eye out when you’re buying your taps that you’re definitely looking at the right ones. Often, you can get your hands on a matching set of basin and bath taps, or even a pair bundled together. But if you’re seeking them separately, you want to make sure you get both a specific bath and basin tap as they’re not a one-size-fits-all deal. Be careful you don’t end up trying to fit a bath tap to a basin – you might end up wasting precious time and money on an unfortunate mistake.

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Choose your wow-factor feature

Think about what tiles you’ll want to use for your backsplash. If you decide early on what the focal point of your bathroom is from the start, you can then begin to choose tiles that will complement and enhance your chosen feature.

Choose a stand-out tile

One easy way to begin choosing your bathroom tiles is to find one design that you really love. Perhaps you’ve fallen in love with a certain pattern, bold color, or an interesting shape. This will become your feature tile in the room which can be used either as an accent on the walls or perhaps to add some drama to your floors or shower enclosure.

Consider your accent tiles

You’ll want to make sure that the complementary tiles do just that – choosing too many bold tiles in a room will create too many focal points, so something neutral, plain, or a simply textured style should do nicely here, allowing your stand-out tile to take center stage.

Tile size vs Room size

Generally speaking, if your room size is small, you may wish to hold off on using any large format tiles in the space. Choose tiles that will complement the size of your room, so medium-sized tiles for a mid-size bathroom or mosaic tiles for a very small cloakroom.

Add texture

Stone effect tiles, slate, travertine, natural stone tiles, and marble effect tiles will all give you a look firmly rooted in nature. Complement these textures with natural wood tones for a relaxing and rejuvenating finish.

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Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl is the most popular bathroom flooring material, because of its low cost and a high degree of practicality. It is well-suited for every bathroom in the house, from the master bath to the powder room. Hands down, it beats other popular choices for safety, comfort, and durability. Almost as important, vinyl tiles have come a long way in aesthetic appeal and ease of installation. The material is self-adhering and can be cut with a utility knife.

Ceramic and Porcelain Tiles

Like vinyl, ceramics score high with regard to maintenance, too, but they are not nearly as comfortable to the barefoot. Ceramics are not as easy to install as vinyl, though it is a job the adventurous do-it-yourselfer can tackle. When protected with a high-grade glaze, ceramic will resist wear and scratches. Porcelain tiles are harder than clay-based tiles and may have through-body color, an advantage if chipping occurs.

Glass Tiles

The aesthetic appeal of a glass floor tile is twofold: Covering part of the floor in a thin layer of glass creates the illusion of depth and, if tinted, a lovely stained-glass effect. Installed properly, this type of tile holds up well—just be sure to select a textured glass to prevent slips. Small glass tiles with lots of grout joints are also slip-resistant.

Stone Tiles

Stone tiles were once confined to the foyer. In the past decade, however, they have become popular in other rooms as well, bathroom included. Made from limestone, marble, granite, and slate, stone tiles are available in colors that range from creams to blues, reds, greens, and golds. Stone requires more maintenance than ceramic tile; regular cleaning and sealing are recommended.

Plastic Laminate Tiles

Plastic laminate tiles are also a good choice, especially if you’re remodeling. Similar to the laminate material that covered kitchen countertops for a generation or two, the tiles don’t significantly raise the height of the existing floor, which makes it easier to plan transitions from room to room. While durable and easy to keep clean, laminate falls short when it comes to moisture. Standing water can infiltrate the fiberboard core, causing the material to expand and buckle, which makes it one tile that might work better in a half-bath than a full bath.

Linoleum Floor Tiles

Linoleum is made of linseed oil, cork powder, wood flour, ground limestone, and pigments. It is at home in contemporary or retro settings and well-suited to the bathroom. It’s touted as naturally inhibiting the growth of microorganisms and being able to repel dust and dirt, all while retaining its color.

Cork Tiles

Cork flooring is warm to the touch and very easy on the feet, and the tiles come tinted in a variety of colors. Glue-down installation is not difficult, but expect to apply multiple coats of polyurethane to seal the flooring and prevent moisture from reaching the subfloor, even if you purchase finished tiles.

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Not doing enough research and shopping

Builders’ quotes can vary wildly. The only way to get a sense of how much a project is really worth it is to compare several quotes and query the builders about any discrepancies. Get at least three quotes, ideally based on personal recommendations, and always ask for references. It goes without saying that the best price may not give you the best result, so consider carefully before opting for a quote that vastly undercuts all the others.

Blowing over your budget

Bathrooms are notorious for harboring hidden costs. Rusted pipes, rotting joists, dodgy electrics, and endemic mold are just some of the nasty surprises you might uncover once you start lifting up tiles and floorboards. If at all possible, allow a 15 to 20% contingency fund so you’re prepared for the unexpected.

Poor ventilation

The bathroom is the most humid room in the house, making it the ideal breeding ground for mold if you’re not careful. Invest in a good extractor fan that stays on a timer after you’ve left the room. This is especially important if you have an internal bathroom with no windows. No ventilation can leave your bathroom with a disturbing smell.

Choosing the wrong floor

Flooring is a great area in the bathroom that can make a statement but a shiny surface and water can be an ultra-hazardous combination. When choosing the flooring, think about who will be using the space. If you want extra protection, lookout for slip-resistant surfaces like rubber flooring and lay down a stylish bath mat for extra water absorption.

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Layout

One thing to consider while planning your bathroom is the flow of your private space. The three important elements of your bathroom design are the sink, the bathtub, and the toilet. Using and cleaning your bathroom can quickly become a tedious task if you have a poor design layout.

Lightning

Unlike other rooms in the house, overhead lighting in the bathroom is insufficient. In a bathroom, you don’t want the lights behind you, casting a shadow over the room. You need it positioned where it falls in front of you. Under-cabinet lights shine directly onto countertops.

Storage

Make as much use of the available space as possible when planning bathroom storage space. Reduce clutter as much as possible to make more space available. Create and clean a safe environment for you and other people to use. Make sure you include: overhead cabinets right to the roof, easy access points, and more drawers than cupboards.

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Incorporate Brass Accents:

Brass features add “a hint of luxury and a nod to older styles.” Any easy yet cheap way to do that? Incorporate brass accessories. If not with a faucet or mirror, use a brass soap dispenser, tissue box, toothbrush holder, or even a set of hardware for hanging towels and robes to give that hint of the luxurious old style.

Use fake plants:

This type of bathroom proves that you don’t need a huge space to make an impact, especially when plants are involved. Do you love plants but can’t keep them alive or don’t think the ones that eventually die are worth the money? There are actually some pretty great artificial plants and leaves that don’t look totally fake, whether you display them together in a vase or bolster a bouquet of flowers with them. The plants in your bathroom will give a pop of color and aesthetic, pleasing to the eye.

Install shelves:

If your bathroom is tiny, clear clutter and adds more surface space by installing a shelf above the toilet or right under the mirror and above the sink. It will give a fuller illusion without taking most of the space as cabinets do. You can place your toothbrushes, mini towels, or small candles to give your bathroom some type of warm feeling.

Include more mirrors:

Most people think of mirrors in bathrooms only for the purpose of checking yourself or primping hair. But it’s also important to think of mirrors in bathrooms as design elements that expand the room visually and add light to the room. Many homeowners like to add a second mirror in addition to the primary mirror located above the bathroom sink.

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Give your sink a good rinse every day and night

One thing I hate is toothpaste and hair all over the sink! The habit of quickly rinsing and wiping down your sink daily is one that will definitely take practice, but once you start doing it, and see the difference, you wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s such a simple task to do and it will make your bathroom cleaning day a lot easier if the sinks are maintained daily. You can clean your sink with Handy-Andy or whatever your trusted sink cleaner is.

Clean your bath mats every few weeks

We all know the feeling of having dirty mats, it just makes a person go “ew”. It’s amazing how yucky the bath mats start looking after only a week or so. Wash your mats once every couple of weeks and they come out looking like new! It makes the bathroom look so spiffy every time after placing the freshly washed mats out.

Ventilation / Scents

We all know that ventilation is a very important factor to us, especially making a room smell clean and fresh. One thing about keeping your bathroom clean is opening a window so that nice ventilation can run through. If you don’t have any ventilation, your best option is having bathroom scented sprays or scented candles.

Clean your toilet regularly

It would be absolutely mortifying if you had guests over and they need to use your bathroom and they come across a dirty toilet full of marks and bacteria. That alone should be more than enough reason to clean your toilet. You should clean your toilet with a toilet brush and bacteria killer cleaner that will leave your toilet looking clean and fresh.

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Individual considerations

As humans, we are all unique and we have unique tastes as well. The things that will influence your choice will be your taste in either a more traditional or modern style. The style you choose should obviously be taken for the whole bathroom, otherwise it would extremely cheap and confusing.

Consider your budget

Your budget is one of the most important aspects, since it will determine what you can afford. You do not just use the cost of the tap, but all the related accessories must be brought into the equation. If you are on a tight budget, beware of the models with plastic shells or handles. The price might be attractive, but the overall durability and and resistance to scratches are likely to disappoint you. High quality bathroom taps cost a pretty penny but they can make a cost-effective upgrade in the bathroom look expensive and professional.

The bottom line is that you can overspend on other items but your taps will be of low quality, low durability and it might not be as visually pleasing as you would like.

Practicality is everything

Think about who will mainly use the bathroom and it will support your choice of bathroom taps. A popular selection for the elderly or children is a lift tap instead of the traditional screw tap, which is easier to open and close, while allowing you to choose the right water temperature without scalding yourself. Due to their design, screw taps can be a bit more difficult to open to close and they are harder to grip.

Please note that if you install any special features, they might require specific taps to be installed and some of them can be quite expensive.

Keep your ceramics in mind

You have to look at the design elements of your ceramics. If you have a round style basin, you can balance this feature by selecting bathroom taps with rounded handles and even a curved spout. If you have a geometric or angular styled are, a tap with a lot of curvature would stick out like a sore thumb and ruin the whole look.

Aesthetic tips for bathroom taps:

• See your tap as an investment and take your time to consider your personal taste, the style of your bathroom and the timelessness of your choice.
• Contemporary faucets usually have a smooth, minimalistic design and a polished finished. The levers that operate water flow are often slim and sleek.
• Traditional designs include crossbar-handle faucets that are usually available in chrome or brass.
• Ceramic-covered lever faucets have an old-fashioned appeal. It is an alternative to chrome and brass finishes, and you can give a classically-styled faucet a more contemporary look with a matte finish.
• The general theme, shapes used and design style of your bathroom ceramics need to be taken into consideration in order to create a synergistic appeal.
• If you desire a more traditional look that combines classic and modern styles, you could get a gooseneck matte-finish faucet. It might do the trick and maximize the space available for hand-washing.
• Timelessness should be one of your focus points but you should also invest in quality. When you are compiling your budget, give preference to bathroom taps because they form a fine focal point in any bathroom.

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Exploring the amenities of a hotel or B&B is one of the greatest pleasures when you have booked a room. Premium television channels, extra comfy beds and pillows, or a luxurious bathrobe can make a stay that much more delightful. One thing these establishments focus hard on, are their toiletry supplies.

As everyone knows the most crucial feature of a hotel room is the toiletry selection in the bathroom.When you are forbidden from traveling with shampoo or liquid soap, you can get some at your accommodation. Some tiny bottles of shampoo, body wash or conditioner are better than others. Finding the one that will work for just about everyone is pretty hard. This is because none of us have the same preferences in scent and so on. So how do these businesses decide which products to stock in their bathrooms?

The decision is based on a consideration of function and brand identity, and it is often helped along by lobbying from different manufacturers. The hospitality experts who run hotels and B&Bs put a lot of though into providing their guests with just the right toiletries. Not right as in expensive but right as in works well enough so that a person feels clean after using them and it is consistent with the image the business want to convey.

Boutique hotels that employ their own specialists, decorate their own rooms and so on, would most likely be more focused on what is going on in their bathrooms. This is integral to the atmosphere they want to keep and the experience they want their guests to have.

Partnerships between hotels, B&Bs and other accommodation may take place with companies personally visiting the establishment and then making a proposal. Some establishments would settle for local manufactured goods or an exclusive supplier so that they have never run out. The establishment could initiate the partnership by looking for companies themselves by means of sampling their goods and proposing a deal.

These partnerships between the establishment and manufacturers are often forged more systematically. It’s standard for brands to actively approach their clients about their offerings, often with tailor-made brochures in hand, and some feature entire catalogs for people in the hygiene industry from which a manager can order amenities. Some companies are specifically focused on the accommodation industry while some see it as an opportunity to get their products in front of guests who might consider buying the products independently.

You will not be surprised to find the most research-intensive approach to choosing amenities than at large hotel chains, for which the toiletry collection can become a multi-million dollar investments. According to Forbes, the design and development team at Marriot International tested “52 brands of shampoo, conditioner, body gel, lotion and soap before choosing the perfect one for its Marriot Hotels around the world.”

One of the main ways to get guests to know whether they have done a good job in making their choices is whether guests take the samples home with them. Wouldn’t you take a sample if you liked it?

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