This post is sponsored by a deep cleaning company. A sparkling, shining bathroom is the mirror of a well-run home. It’s been a little over two years since we moved into the new home; the signs of wear and tear, ageing are beginning to show. The dirt accumulating along the grout lines, the stubborn build up of hard water stains or the faint water marks on the faucets narrate a story. They are what remains of the several evening soirees, casual tete-a-tetes over tea with the neighbors, and a house teeming with kids poring over board games in the summer. Yes, while memories are made, immovable objects do take a hit. While we like to believe, that the most well-kept homes have a secret or two for how they are so immaculate all the time, the truth is it is hard work. Sure, I do have a trick or two…
OK. I have a confession (make that two!) to make. I’m sleep-deprived most days, because I can’t sleep through the night. And, I’m obsessed with mild, natural scents. Ever wondered why spas make you feel good from the moment you step in? Do you have a distinct memory of a place because of the way it smelled? It’s in the air? Of course, it is. Floating Frangipanis, the soothing music, the subtle fragrance – the overall effect is mesmerizing so much so that it automatically relaxes you even before the spa divas work their magic. Over these months, I have strived to make my home smell good heavenly so that I can feel better, and sleep better. It has worked along with mindful breathing and some light reading before bed. So here are five ways to treat yourself, your family and guests to a sweet aroma that will only take a few…
Gross alert: there’s a lot of stomach-churning description in this post. So, in jest, please be warned that this is not for the faint-hearted. this post talks about how to remove hard water scales and shine your bathrooms with one awesome product. Bonus: No elbow grease. Strands of hair. Ewwww…. Lime scale build up. Not a pretty sight. Discolored tiles: disgusting! Dirty foot marks. Gross and wet. Slimy! Not a tough one to guess what part of the house you will be cleaning today. Today, as we clean one of the nastiest parts of the house, I realize this is also one I find the most pleasure in after it is done. One of the delights of a vacation is to wake up each morning to a shining bathroom, and someone else does the cleaning. How nice! My latest fetish is to see the professionals in action as they clean the bathrooms time and again. First, when…
Hard water. Lime scales. That’s the hard fact. Be it in Bangalore, or anywhere in India. More often than not, the task or obsession of keeping the taps sparkling clean falls on me. House helps are not obsessed about it. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a clean bathroom. Over the years, I have learnt one secret and one ingredient that works wonders. Ready to know? The best part is it doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. That one ingredient is LEMON. Any citrus fruit works but lemon works best. Our fridge is always stocked with lemons as lemonade is an essential part of dinner. The father-son duo make it a ritual and enjoy making a glass for themselves with whatever ingredient they fancy that night. And it gets creative, too with mint, basil.. :) Ok, so over to the bathrooms. If you are not in the mood for some…
In continuation of yesterday’s discussion on replacing floor tiles in a bathroom, let’s estimate how much it will cost. For a modest bathroom of size 6 ft * 7 ft, here’s the estimate for replacing tiles: Labor charges for removing the existing tiles: Rs.15 per sq.ft (Hometown cost) Renting a machine for tile tile removal: Rs. 500. If you are hiring a individual contractor, then he may charge you for renting the machine needed to remove the tiles. Tile cost : Roughly around Rs. 1000 – 3600 for 3 boxes of 1*1 feet tiles. The starting price of a good tile is Rs. 22-23 per piece or sq.ft. while the average price of a good anti-skid tile is Rs. 42. 1 sq. ft tiles are available from Rs.22 to Rs. 80. The price goes up for a large tile from Rs.80 to Rs.150. Brands include Kajaria, Bell, Somany, and Nitco…
Q: Can you suggest best ( and least expensive! ) options to do bathroom flooring? In our modest 2BHK home, we can not do many changes, but want better flooring, which is easier to clean, skid-proof and with minimum joints (I don’t know the term).
This post is in response to Preeti’s question.
Preeti’s situation mirrors most of our issues with bathrooms. Most of our problems with keeping bathrooms clean would not occur if they were dry all the time. Let us go back to the basics of bathroom design. For a bathroom to remain free of moisture, there should be well demarcated areas for the vanity, wash basin, bath area and the commode. If it is a free flowing surface with no segregation and proper sloping for water to flow, then the chances for a clean and low-maintenance bathroom are slim.
I have often observed that bathroom renovation happens much earlier in most apartments than the remaining parts of the house.
1. Non-porous/Low water absorption : Most Indian bathrooms are wet unlike those in the West. So it is important to choose tiles that are non-porous in nature with a low water absorption capacity. The longer the water stays on the tile surface, the higher the tendency for dirt to get absorbed. Since it is not always possible to immediately wipe clean the moisture, check the water absorption by weight ratio before buying a tile. The recommended number is less than 3%. Most brands publish this as part of their product’s technical specifications.
2. Size:The standard size for floor tiles a few years earlier was 300 mm * 300 mm (roughly 1 *1 sq.foot). Which meant more grout area, or the joint between tiles. The gaps between ceramic tiles filled with white cement is what gets dirty the most because of discoloration from dirt. Frequent cleaning with Harpic or a scouring agent like soda/vinegar paste will ensure it remains spotless. But that’s hard work and you don’t want to be holed up in the bathroom all day on a Saturday, right? Notice the number of joints in the picture below? Such bathrooms look great in pictures, but are hard to maintain.
The market is inundated with a wide range of choices of 600 mm *600 mm (roughly 2*2 sq. ft) floor tiles. If you are planning for a bathroom renovation, then I suggest you take a look at this. Nitco, Kajaria, Somany and most leading brands have sizes closer to this dimension. This would mean less grouting area.
Unless you opt for a floor tile with a design or pattern on it, the size of the tile is not dependent on the size of the bathroom. Large tiles with a contrasting design look out of place in a very small bathroom. The only disadvantage of the large size tiles is that if the bathroom is smaller or if it is of an odd shape, then the wastage will be high.
Who likes stepping into a dingy, stinking bathroom every morning? The most private space in a home needs as much care as the rest of the house. I remember dreading to use the toilet as kid in my grandparents’ home because it was dark and infested with cockroaches. Thank God, the bathrooms of today have come a long way from those dungeons and serve as a relaxing corner than a mere functional space.
If there’s one grouse I have in my current apartment it is with the bathroom(s). The layout and tile color makes it hard to maintain. If you’ve already formed a gory image of my bathroom, then let me assure you they don’t stink :) We were young, short on time and design illiterate when we bought the apartment, that we currently live in, eight years ago.
Let’s just say, I have got wiser over the years and have better ideas now for a good layout. Maybe a remodel project is on the cards, who knows! If you are a new apartment buyer, here are a few ideas that will make your mornings bright and cheerful (oh! isn’t that where you step in first every morning?) .
1. Natural lighting: Let the sunlight flow in. Do you need to flip the light switch on before entering the bathroom during the day? It’s sad that the only opening in most apartment bathrooms is a 1*1 feet aperture for the exhaust fan, which limits the amount of light streaking in. One of the things I would love to have is a 2*3 ft skylight opening with a glass top above the sink fixture.
2. Dry = clean: Dry bathrooms always require little maintenance. The more the water on the floor, the higher the tendency for the tiles to absorb dirt. So, how do you keep it moisture-free in an area that is meant to have water? Well, what I meant is limit the usage of water to the shower area. Wipe it clean or let it dry naturally after everyone has had a bath. It also helps in keeping fungus at bay during monsoons.