How to maintain your summer times bathroom?

 

Do your bathrooms get a workout during the summer? Due to the warmer weather, families spend more time outside so showers and baths become more frequent. Most of us work up a sweat and the dirt seems to cling better to our skin.

We recently had our bathtub re-caulked due to excessive black mold. The repairman told me how unhealthy the mold and fungus was. He asked me if I knew how it accumulated there. My response was “The moisture?” hoping that I gave him the right answer so I didn’t appear pathetically ignorant. He said, “Yes, but it’s because of the shampoos and other items we leave on the corners of the tub that allows water to pool there. This causes the moisture to find its way into the caulking and stay. Even though we scrub, we can’t get behind the caulking.”

This shower organizer hangs from existing shower curtain rings and comes in regular and family sizes. Machine washable polyester mesh, dries quickly. If this mold and fungus get out of hand it could be unhealthy. He commented about our shower organizer and how good it was to have the shampoos and other bath items up and out of the way. However, there were still items on the corners allowing the water to pool. When multiple family members share the same shower, you are bound to have several different shampoos, soaps, and other personal care items. I switched the kids to the larger, “family” shower organizer.

The investment you make in your bathroom can be a lasting improvement to your home and give you many years of comfort. However, maintenance is an important aspect if you want to keep your bathroom looking its best.

Maintaining the Bathtub, Shower & Sink Area

• Only use nonabrasive cleaners that sprinkle on, or a spray mist cleaner that you like. The particles in abrasive cleaners will scratch the finish and wear away the shine.
• Avoid trapping water against the surface for a long period of time. Do not leave bathmats, washcloths, soap bars and/or bottles on the surface areas. The moisture gets trapped underneath caulking or in between where surfaces come together. Do not leave bathmats, rugs or wet towels over the edge of the bathtub.
• Fix any leaky faucets. Dripping water will wear through the hardest of surfaces. Make sure that your plumbing problems are fixed immediately.

• Bathmats are an excellent breeding ground for fungus and buildup. Do not leave bathmats in the tub or shower from day to day. If you use one, take it out of the tub/shower when finished.

Drain Issues

The good old-fashioned remedies Grandma used to use work well. First, clean out the hair and gunk under the strainer in the tub/shower or plug in the sink. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow with one cup of white vinegar and one-half gallon of boiling water. Repeat if necessary. The baking soda will also help eliminate drain odors.Stubborn Stains For stubborn stains or scum buildup, use a soft, scrub pad or a nylon net scrubber with a non-abrasive cleaner. Let the cleaner stand on the surface for 1-2 minutes. If stains are persistent, you may need to use a more concentrated strength cleaner. That is fine as long as it does not have the abrasive particles that some do. Also use a soft sponge, washcloth, or nylon bristle scrubber and try not to be harsh with it. Abrasive pads like the green ones you purchase at the store are what cause harm to your surfaces