No one really likes cleaning, well I guess some people do but I am certainly not one of those people. So if you are like me who’s Sundays involve standing in the shower while inhaling bleach as I toothbrush the dark mould out of square upon tiny square of white grout you would rather be spending your time doing anything else. So I have compiled some strategies below that we have used in our bathroom renovations throughout Perth, Western Australia to help avoid that new bathroom of yours from getting dirty in the first place.

Grout Is Your Enemy, Not Your Friend

Grout and silicone are the two things that will dirty the quickest in your bathroom so the key to keeping it looking as fresh as possible is to have less of this. Now I renovate bathrooms for a living so I will not tell you to just use solid surfaces as it’s not always the most practical strategy, items such as stone walls or plastic shower bases have their own issues so I will focus more on how to get the most out of your tiles. The obvious thing to is to use large tiles, when I say large I am talking more about the 300mm x 600mm to 600mm x 600mm on the walls as they cover an incredibly large surface. I know what your thinking, “James there are bigger tiles out there” well there is but always keep two things in mind with tile laying. The bigger the tiles the harder they are to lay as no walls are ever perfect surfaces and two, the larger the tile the harder it is to achieve fall. Now that whole imaginary conversation was to explain that larger tiles will eliminate a lot of grout, rectified tiles will eliminate even more so gone are the days of 1000 lines you only now have 10. P.S Avoid white grout on the floor at all costs it does not last!

Tip – As mentioned before silicon will dirty the quickest out of all bathroom products and is one of the reasons I don’t like shower bases. This is why if you are a clean freak the ceramic benchtop tops like below are the most practical for clean and yes I know white ceramic tops are inspiring but damn will make your like easier to clean

Let Them Vent

From this witty title, you can tell I am talking bathroom ventilation hopefully. The right ventilation will prevent any mould build-up and that is crucial in keeping the bathroom clean. I covered this completely in my mould prevention post. The keynotes to it really are 1. Try to have a fan that comes on when someone uses the bathroom, I know I know it’s annoying but if you don’t make it automatic or at least with a timer people won’t use it. Try and get a high powered but low sounding fan. Opening a window is one of the things that are great in theory but like people who after hours of agonizing where to put the towel rail they just throw it over the shower door sometimes we just don’t always function in practical terms. My second point is just do a standalone exhaust I have never loved in combing lights, fans and heater as I always feel they have too much going on so when possible stick to one stand-alone exhaust.

Get as High as Possible

The number-one disgusting chore in a bathroom is getting on your hands and knees to clean around a toilet crammed into a narrow space with that horrible, convoluted shape on the side. Wall-mounted toilets are easier to reach all the way around. They also make cleaning the floor easier. Now mounting toilets or vanities is not always simple from a renovation side as it requires you to often trench waste plumbing into walls and in single brick home that is often impossible or a high degree of work so methods such as back to wall toilets are not a bad alternative as the smooth sides don’t catch as much dust and gunk.

Wall-mounted faucets are a better choice than vanity mounted ones. The wall mixers carry water and soap residue away from the faucet instead of having it all collect at the base. Wall-mounted faucets also keep the counter clear, making it easier to wipe it down. One of the draws backs besides the extra plumbing is the mixer often dictates the height your mirror can so keep that in mind.This bathroom in Willetton, WA below wanted to keep as much off her benchtop as possible

Sort Your Life Out

Having a place to put your bathroom items away is key to making it feel cleaner. Storage is king in bathrooms so using something like a mirror cabinet or an all draws vanity set up allow you to keep things off the benchtop.

Helping Friends

No actual friend will ever help you clean well at least mine won’t. This part is about items you can use to help you keep it cleaner. The two items I have used is the Enduro shield on the shower screens and the Sureseal on the grout. Both the shower screen and grout are porous my nature so these products fill the porous parts of the screen and grout allowing it to stay cleaner for longer.

Cleaning a bathroom is a messy and tedious task. This is especially true if you have a bathroom that is cluttered and hard-to-clean so the key is to make it more practical and time-saving for you. By following some of these suggestions for your next bathroom renovation it should make your life easier until the day they invent that self-cleaning bathroom (Fingers Crossed).

 
It’s important to note that all our advice is general in nature and all bathrooms are unique so always speak to your local qualified tradesman for the best advice. At on the ball bathrooms we love feedback so let us know what you think with a comment below or if you are looking for a bathroom renovation quote and live in Perth, Western Australia contact us on 0419964678 or email us at info@ontheballbathrooms.com.au

 
For More DIY TIPS For Renovating Your Bathroom Visit:
Before and After Albums: Click Here
High-resolution examples of all projects: Click Here
Start Pinning and Putting Your Dream Bathroom Together: Click Here
If you like the article and want to get all the latest updates or see all our before and after’s, then show us some love with a like on Instagram