How to Pick Low Maintenance Bathroom Fixtures

By: Guest Author on April 3, 2013 @ 9:43 pm

Low Maintenance Fixtures

Featuring low maintenance bathroom fixtures in a bathroom is always the smartest option. And well-chosen fixtures ultimately add value to any bath. The idea is to maximize style and functionality of the bath, along with showcasing fashionable and attractive fixtures. The qualities that make bathroom fixtures low maintenance are ease of cleaning and the added very desirable quality of being almost repair free.

Choosing the Right Finish

Finishes are an important thing to consider when choosing low maintenance bathroom fixtures. Fixtures such as brass, chrome or bronze are attractive but will need some extra cleaning to keep them looking their best. Brushed nickel, however, will be almost maintenance free except for very light occasional cleaning. The fact that brushed nickel does not have a shine to it makes it a fantastic material for low maintenance bathroom fixtures. As a bonus, brushed nickel bathroom fixtures give any bathroom a warm and inviting look.

Cartridge and Disc Faucets Work Best

Great faucets for low maintenance bathrooms are either cartridge faucets or disc faucets. Cartridge faucets can feature separate handles for the hot and cold water and they are practically maintenance free. And cartridge faucets are also available in one handle styles.

Cartridge faucets utilize a single handle and a vented cartridge for control water flow. Two handle facuets have twice the number of parts, and utilize basic washers instead of neoprene seals. Cartridge faucets also often require much less maintenance, and rarely leak.

Disc faucets are also very low maintenance but they have only one handle to control both hot and cold water. This means half the cleaning on the handle area of your sink faucets.

Pick the Right Shaped Sink

When choosing a sink for the bathroom, the best choice is always one that slopes down leading to the plug hole. This may seem obvious but some bathroom sinks are not designed this way simply so they can be more fashionable. Fashion is a nice feature to have in a modern bathroom, but when fashion doesn’t make sense or makes the bathroom more difficult to keep clean, it becomes a hindrance.

Consider a Tile Back Splash

Back-splashes are another very crucial part of a well designed bathroom. The best back-splash materials for a low maintenance bathroom are glass, marble, natural stone or mirrored finishes. These finishes are practically maintenance free except for occasional wiping.

In older bathrooms, tile back-splashes were often featured. Tile in any modern bathroom is not a good idea. The grout present with tile is high maintenance and if tile is already present in a bath, it may be wise to replace it with a low maintenance back-splash material.

This not only makes the bathroom more attractive, but is another feature that adds value to your home.

Brushed Nickel Fixtures for Easy Cleanup

In the shower area as well as in the sink area, brushed nickel fixtures are an excellent choice. In addition, solid waterproof wall panels that are simply wipe clean are best and are preferred over tile. Any features that work together to make a bathroom low maintenance are a fantastic investment and they can add almost immeasurable value to any great bathroom.

Peter Wendt is an active freelance writer in the Texas Hill Country. He likes to keep his home (and especially his bathroom) clean, so when he’s out-of-town he hires maid service from miraclemaidstx.com.

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