Ablutions aside, the bathroom is more than just a practical pit stop, and its design can rival any space in the house. You just have to be mindful of every single component: from the tiles to the tub to the shower enclosure and layout. As these images prove, a beautifully-designed bathroom is enough to leave you in a state of pure bliss.
Source: HGTV
]]>With black toilets making a comeback (yes, they are) beat the trend and add a black bathtub to your spa retreat you won’t regret it with this inspiration.
See! These bathrooms can turn a black bathtub into a timeless piece when done right.
]]>Whether your gorgeous vintage bathtub is the focal point of your bathroom or you’re just stuck with an old tub, you want to keep it looking clean and brand new. But how? We found the best ways to keep your tub sparkling; read on for tips on taking care of your porcelain beauty.
What to Avoid
Porcelain enamel is painted over and fused to cast-iron, so you don’t want to use any abrasive cleansers that could ding or chip the porcelain. Cleaners like scouring powder, white vinegar and steel wool should also be avoided, as they can damage the finish.
What to Use
For gentle weekly cleaning, look for store-bought cleansers that are marked “safe for porcelain enamel”, or make your own by mixing a few tablespoons of dishwashing soap with about a gallon of hot water. Use a rag or soft sponge to scrub the porcelain, and then rinse well with water.
Deeper Clean
For a deeper cleaning on your tub, add ¼ cup of ammonia and ¼ cup of baking soda to a bucket of warm water. While the baking soda is a little bit abrasive, it is not so rough that it will damage your enamel, and the ammonia will help to cut any grease or soap scum that has built up. Soak a soft sponge in this mix and gently scrub your porcelain until the stains are removed. Be sure to rinse off the paste. (Only use this technique once a month at the most.)
Add Shine
Adding a little shine to your tub is easy! Take a clean rag and dab lemon oil on it. Rub the rag all over the sides of your tub – but not the bottom, since the oil will make it slippery – to add a light coating and a glimmering finish.
Source: HowStuffWorks
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If you have a a porcelain tub you wish to replace, contact us and you may be able to trade in your existing porcelain tub for a discount on our bathtub models.
Things You Will Need
- Household cleaner
- Screwdriver
- Painter’s tape
- Rubber gloves
- Trisodium phosphate or phosphate-free substitute
- Scrub brush
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Sanding block or palm sander
- Shop vacuum
- Tack cloth
- Plastic sheeting
- Acrylic primer
- Commercial-grade paint sprayer
- Scrap lumber
- Epoxy acrylic or acrylic polyurethane enamel paint
- Silicone caulking
- Caulk gun
- Clean the bathtub inside and out to remove any soap scum. Use any household cleaner for this step. Rinse the tub well and allow it to air dry.
- Put on rubber gloves. Scrub the entire surface of the tub with trisodium phosphate or a phosphate-free substitute. You can find these items at a store that sells paint. Trisodium phosphate, or TSP, helps degloss the original porcelain surface. Rinse the bathtub with clean water and allow it to dry.
- Remove the faucet handles and the drain spout if they are on the bathtub. Use a screwdriver to remove the handles. The tub spout should twist off by turning it counterclockwise. Place painter’s tape on the metal portion of the drain and any other metal plumbing fixtures that you cannot remove from the tub.
- Sand the entire surface of the porcelain bathtub with fine-grit sandpaper. Either sand by hand with a sanding block or use a palm sander. Remove all the dust with a shop vacuum cleaner. Wipe the bathtub’s surface with a tack cloth to remove any dust the vacuum missed.
- Cover all surfaces surrounding the bathtub with plastic sheeting. Tape edges of the sheeting with painter’s tape to keep paint off walls and flooring.
- Pour acrylic primer into the paint pot of a commercial-grade spray painter. If you don’t own one of these items, rent one at a home improvement store or rental center. They deliver a more consistent spray than a household-grade spray painter. Fasten the pot to the air compressor portion of the painter.
- Practice spraying the primer onto the surface of a piece of scrap lumber. Make horizontal passes with the paint gun. Release the trigger at the end of each pass to avoid over-spraying and drips.
- Spray the bathtub with a coat of primer. Allow the primer time to dry. In most cases, 30 minutes is sufficient, but humidity may require a longer drying time. Give the bathtub a second coat of primer and allow it to dry as well.
- Pour epoxy acrylic or acrylic polyurethane enamel paint into the paint pot. Coat the bathtub with a coat of paint. Let the paint dry. Give the bathtub a second and third coat of paint, allowing the paint to dry thoroughly between each coat.
- Allow the paint to cure at least 48 hours before reinstalling the plumbing fixtures. Replace the silicone caulking around the bathtub, if necessary, with a bead of new caulking to seal moisture out of the joints where walls or floor and the bathtub meet.
Tips
- If your tub has small nicks in the surface and you don’t want to repaint the entire tub, you can repair them with appliance repair paint. Dab the repair paint on the nick with the applicator in the bottle and feather the edges to blend with the surrounding surfaces. Allow the paint to dry.
Warnings
- Open windows and doors to allow adequate ventilation while you are using the spray painter.
- Wear a mask and protective eyewear as you use the spray gun.
Source: HomeGuides
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]]>Lime and calcium streaks can leave your tub looking dull and chalky. Clean off these hard water deposits in a few simple steps to keep your fixtures looking shiny and new – and give your old bathroom an instant upgrade.
Spray Clean
Either buy a lime removing cleanser – although some can be very harsh – or make a mix in a spray bottle of white vinegar and water. You can use this to clean your tub, shower and fixtures. Spray your cleanser on the walls of the tub, fixtures and shower walls and scrub down with a damp rag or paper towel. Or, soak a towel in a bowl of your mixture and use the wet towel as a scrubber. You should see the hard water stains disappearing immediately.
Add Power
If you’re not seeing the results you were hoping for, make a paste of white vinegar and baking soda for more cleaning power. Spread on the stains and let sit for about 15 minutes; then wipe off with a damp rag or paper towel and make sure to dry the spot afterwards to prevent further staining.
Avoid New Streaks
If you’re continually seeing streaks and spots from hard water, the best thing you can do is start preventing the stains. After showers and baths, spray the tub with either a daily cleanser or a mix of vinegar and water — then wipe down the tub so the water can’t leave any spots.
Source: HowStuffWorks
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Bathtub cleaning is a chore that everyone wants to avoid. While you can’t avoid giving the tub a good scrub forever, you can hold heavy cleaning at bay with some easy regular maintenance (we hesitate to even call these moves cleaning). So, follow these simple tips and you’ll have a sparkling tub without all the hard work.
Always Rinse
When you’re done with your shower, or giving the kids a bath, rinse the whole tub down. Every time. Let the water run as you finish your shower – after you’re done rinsing off soap or shampoo from your body. And turn on the shower for 30 seconds after everyone is out of the tub. Take a quick look and make sure the water is running clear – no soap suds, bubbles or hair.
Get a Spray Bottle and Some White Vinegar
You could buy a major brand daily shower spray, but for a less toxic daily cleanser, buy an inexpensive spray bottle from a discount store and a cheap bottle of white vinegar. Get the store brand and save the splurge for something fun. Once or twice a week, post shower, spray the whole thing down, including the door or shower curtain, with the white vinegar, which is a natural cleanser.
Bath Scrubber
Also, get a shower and bath scrubber with a handle. After you spray down the shower, rub the vinegar into the grout, the corners of the tub and around the drain. This will really get into the grime and keep those areas clean and you won’t be on your knees every week dealing with gross built up gunk.
Use a Scrub
When you do tackle the big clean up, use a thick paste scrub. Squeeze it onto your sponge, not the tile or ceramic; you’ll get more mileage out of the cleanser as you hit those nooks and crannies. Run the shower for a few seconds before you start to loosen up the gunk, and make the full cleaning easier.
Adding a bathtub with jets to your home is a great way to add a little luxury to your everyday life. From soothing sore muscles to calming the mind with a relaxing soak, jetted tubs have many benefits. But just like many of the other items in your bathroom, they can also harbor bacteria and have significant soap scum build up as a result of bubbles, body oils, and soap. Even if you can’t see it, it’s important to clean out the jets of your bathtub regularly to ensure that they continue to function properly and to ensure that you’re actually bathing in clean water and not with gross germs.
It’s a good idea to avoid using certain products in jetted tubs — such as baby oil and bubble bath — to reduce the amount of buildup to begin with. and to refill the tub with warm water and then run the jets for 15 to 20 minutes to clear them out after each use. But even the most cautious homeowners will still need to do a deep clean of their jets once per month if they regularly use their bathtub. This requires just a few simple steps.
Fill the tub with hot water to at least three inches above the height of the jets. Add two to four teaspoons of powdered dishwasher detergent (or another low-foaming disinfectant). For a deep clean, you can also add up to one-half cup of bleach. Run the jets for 15 minutes, and then turn off and drain the bathtub. Refill the bathtub with cool water and run the jets for another 15 minutes. Drain again, and your jets should be free and clear of all the soap scum and germs that you’d rather not have joining you the next time you settle in for a relaxing bath.
Source: HowItWorks
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People have been captivated by the effects of hot bubbling water due to is relaxing and therapeutic effects since Ancient Rome. These tubs offer mineral water warm and deep enough to soothe your tired muscles and calm your fast tracked mind.
But not everyone is the same, some like a lighter massage, some like a deeper massage, this is where air tubs come in.
What is an Air Tub?
Air tubs are water-jetted tubs that offer a gentler massage than a whirlpool bath. Air tubs create bubbles that feel like a thousand tiny massaging fingers, perfect for those who want a gentler experience.
What is the difference between Air Tubs and Whirlpool Baths?
Whirlpool baths use fewer, more powerful jets that pump both air and water. Where air tubs only pump air.
Why are jetted tubs the best?
They feel good and are good for you!
It has been proven that jetted tubs help ease joint pain, improve circulation, and is beneficial to the body’s overall healing process. (Source: American Cancer Society).
Which are easier to clean?
Air tubs are slightly easier to maintain and keep clean as the jets rarely allow excess water to build up internally, preventing told and mildew from growing in and around the piping and pump.
Whirlpool baths that use water in their jets should be cleaned periodically, usually with a disinfectant if possible.
Which are more expensive?
Air tubs are a little more expensive than water-jetted tubs.
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Plaster shower or bath surround
- It is comprised of natural materials – lime, gypsum or cement – mixed with water
- Unlike some plastic surrounds, the natural plaster emits no VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that can be harmful when inhaled
- The sealers – natural waxes and/or oils – are equally easy on your indoor air quality and the environment
- Lime plasters has stood the test of time over thousands of years and has the added bonus of being naturally antibacterial, repelling told and mildew – perfect for a bathroom
- Concrete is a cost-effective way to achieve a natural appearance. Find a low- or no-VOC sealer to provide water resistance
Black painted glass surround
- A great way to get a modern, glossy surface with limitless colour options
- Glass is made out of natural materials and is durable, long-lasting and easy to clean
Recycled-content ceramic tile
- Some tile contains 60% recycled content from postindustrial and post consumer waste
Unsure which you would like? Visit our inspiration board!
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