Tips and Tricks to Deep Clean Your Bathroom

Cleaning the bathroom is nobody's idea of fun, but the job has to be done. Yes, we know you'd rather be out shopping, gardening or riding your bike. But we promise: If you follow these tips and tricks to deep-clean your bathroom, you'll have plenty of time left over to get that manicure. And you'll have earned it!

Remove the Clutter - Clear your countertops of everything and set it all aside. If anything is resting on top of the toilet tank, remove that as well, and move bathmats and rugs out the way. You must start with a blank canvas. Wait until you have cleaned the countertops to sweep and mop the floor.

Shower the shower curtain - While you are removing items, take down your shower curtain and toss it in the wash. That's right: You can reuse your vinyl shower curtain by letting your washer get rid of the soap scum. Wash it on the gentle cycle using cold water, then simply hang it back up to dry (do not put it in the dryer!).

Let it rest - Spray the countertops and toilet (even the part behind the seat and around the bowl) with an all-purpose, heavy-duty bathroom cleaner. Let the product sit for a few minutes to loosen up any caked-on dirt and grime. Then wipe down all the surfaces with a clean sponge.

Lime away - If your faucets have collected lime scaling due to too much calcium or magnesium in the tap water, soak a paper towel in white vinegar and then wrap it around the faucet (you may need to secure it with a rubber band). Let it soak for at least one hour, moistening the towel with more vinegar as needed. Remove the towel, wipe the faucet clean and tackle any hard deposits still remaining with an old toothbrush.

Flush it out - Before cleaning the toilet, force the water out with a plunger so any cleaner you apply will not be diluted by the water. Spritz toilet cleaner into the bowl and let it sit to remove any ring stains that may have accumulated. After five to 10 minutes, scrub the inside of the bowl with a toilet brush, being sure to get under the rim as well as the seat. If the brush won't do the trick on stubborn stains, try a pumice stone. Don't forget to flush!

Scrub the shower - Spray the shower and/or tub with a cleaner that tackles mildew, regardless of whether you can see any actual mildew buildup. Use an old toothbrush to clean the grout between shower tiles.

Maintain the clean - Once you have sufficiently deep-cleaned your bathroom, a little weekly touchup is all it takes to keep it in top shape. Take a few shortcuts -- for instance, wipe down countertops with an antibacterial wipe.

Remodel Your Guest Bathroom

Need to add a little spirit and style to a guest bathroom? Small changes can spruce it up and make it a welcoming space for your guests with just an investment of a few hours of your time and some thoughtful and inexpensive luxuries.

Mirrors - Frame out that builder's-grade plain mirror with some inexpensive molding painted in a color that compliments the room, or replace it with a handy pivot mirror. Add a no-fog bath mirror to the shower area so your guests can shave while they bathe!
Replace - Nothing dresses up the room like new sink fixtures. For around $50, you can update to a sleek style in brushed chrome or burnished bronze and give the whole room a fresh look. Add a new light fixture and the room is suddenly updated. Match your fixtures to new towel racks in a similar metal, or opt for luxury by installing a heated towel bar. Stepping out of the tub or shower to wrap up in a warm towel is bliss! Hardware for the vanity that coordinates and compliments the other finishes is a beautiful final touch. Drawer pulls and handles cost between $5 and $30 each, so you can add big impact for very little cost.
Freshen - Fluffy new towels are a must! Have some artfully rolled towels on a rack or in a big basket– bath sheets and towels, hand towels and wash cloths. Turkish towels are a wonderful choice since they are especially soft and absorbent. Towels are a great opportunity to add pops of color to a neutral palate.
Enliven - Bring art into the room. Find some attractive prints and frame them for a longer wall in the bathroom. A grouping of three to five pieces makes a big impact and is visually stimulating in a smaller space. Instead of a boring bath mat, put some pattern on the floor with a small cotton area rug. A print or patterned rug is unexpected and stylish.
Accessorize - Add those touches that make guests feel welcome while bringing beauty to the room! Shop for sleek vanity accessories – lotion and soap pumps, a great matching soap dish, a streamlined and stylish waste basket. Wood accessories are wonderful, too. For a guest bathroom shower, add a teak corner shower seat or spa mat. Utilitarian in function, the beautiful teak brings a spa-feel to the room and looks better as it ages to a warm patina. Wicker baskets can hold guest-friendly items such as extra shampoo and conditioner, mouthwash, tissues and other necessities.

Your Bathroom Can Be a Retreat

In recent years, bathrooms with walkout tubs have become more and more spa-like. Consumers want a place to relax, de-stress and escape.

Bathrooms are an oasis, and this is seen throughout the very serene upscale finishes to the over-the-top plumbing fixtures. People have wonderful steam showers in their homes with multiple showerheads and commodes that light up and sense when you walk into the room, and the lid lifts up and plays music! Updated bathrooms now have wonderful mood lighting and music built in for long soaks in the tub.

Emmy-winning lifestyle host and best-selling author Christopher Lowell says the spa resort effect is coming into the home in a big way. Lowell gives us the rundown on the latest trends that can turn your bathroom into your sanctuary.

Shower curtains are replaced by simple glass enclosures with no visible metal trim.
Focused mood lighting replaces broad overhead lighting, transforming these spaces from utility to moody sexy spaces.
Upholstered flexible seating elements like large terrycloth-covered ottomans offer places for people to sit comfortably while toweling off or going about their personal regimens.
Dark painted floors or stone floors with texture-driven area runners replace the old bath mat concept.
Fully mirrored walls (from countertop to ceiling) over vanities help stretch the space visually and offer a cleaner and streamlined look. Medicine cabinets become a thing of the past replaced by organized pullout drawers below — almost like spice racks used to outfit kitchen drawers.
Colored or embellished towels are out in favor of simple white terrycloth towels that say "spa."
Brushed nickel is the new metal accent as chrome, brass or even white ceramic fixtures now can date these investment spaces.
Freestanding armoires with stacked towels, pullout drawers and even TVs now keep bathrooms as self-contained as possible and act as the new linen closets in today's homes.

5 Bathroom Decorating Ideas for Small Bathrooms

In fact, you can create a stunning, one-of-a-kind guest or studio bathroom by following these five simple rules-of-thumb. Who said tiny couldn't also be glamorous?

Before you head to Ikea and stock up on adorable little knickknacks, countertop sinks and trendy art pieces, take a look at exactly how much space you have. The number one way to ruin any decor project in any space is by adding too much stuff. Keep your ideas simple, but sophisticated, and you can have an HGTV-worthy bathroom in no time.

Personalize with details

Just because your bathroom is small doesn't mean you still can't make it your own with unique details that fit you and your family's personality. Instead of replacing all of your drab tile, why not add a few tiles of stone or mosaic? Adding these bright, festive flooring tiles will not only cost you way less than replacing all of the flooring, it'll give your space depth and color without adding clutter. If you have a bare wall, add a fun family photo gallery with different size frames and mirrors. You can also add one statement mirror across from your sink or bathtub, which will automatically make your bathroom look larger. Some cheap ways to add personality include fun shower curtains and bathmats. Just be sure to stick to a theme or color scheme so the pieces don't clash.

Save space

When you don't have much space to begin with, the last thing you want to do is add bulky furniture or decorative pieces. Instead of adding a sink and a vanity, why not add a dresser or vanity and install a countertop sink? This saves space and gives your room a sleek, modern look. In addition, find a vanity with extra drawers or shelves so you can store towels, bath accessories and other necessities to keep these pieces off the floors. If you have a lot of bare space, install some open shelves to store clean towels, tissues or hair products.

Avoid clutter

Unless you want your small bathroom to feel and look even smaller, avoid clutter! This means utilize your available space very wisely and keep things off the floor and walls. If you can, invest in furniture and decor pieces with duel or triple purposes. Want a large vanity or cabinet? Find one with ample storage space, room for a waste basket and a sink or mirror. This way you are finding space for the things you need that won't take up extra floor space. Also keep towels or magazines off the floor and on shelves or in drawers. Bathrooms don't need excessive decorations. Keep your look simple and clean.

Choose appropriate lighting

That 1970s dull ceiling light is not doing anything for your bathroom, both from a decorating and space standpoint! If you have a window, maximize the natural light aspect by upstaging it. Add fun curtains and keep the window clean for the best lighting. If you don't have a window, invest in track lighting which gives the perception of a longer room. You can also use your lighting as your statement piece by installing a chandelier. This will instantly update your bathroom and give it a classic, glamorous feel, but it will draw the eye to something other than the size of the space.

Keep it simple

When taking on a new decorating project, it's hard not to get overly excited and caught up with different designs, colors, statement pieces and furniture. But you'll only end up with too much stuff, clashing pieces and things that don't fit. When decorating a smaller bathroom, remember one thing: Keep it simple! Feature one statement piece, like a chandelier, piece of artwork, trendy shower curtain or mosaic floor and keep the rest of the room clean cut and sleek. If you want to have brightly painted walls, or fun wallpaper, keep the rest of the furniture and decor pieces more neutral. Feature simple mechanics, like faucets and baths and make sure your design flows.

Bathroom Remodels Embarace Color

Many of the designers and bath experts we talked to said one of the hottest trends for 2013 is unexpected color.

"Design inspiration from the 1920s art deco era is a favorite among our color team," says Erika Woelfel, director of color at Behr Paints. "Warm, blush pinks, such as Bee's Knees, represent feminine beauty and emerging notions of individuality of women of the era. Jazzy Jade, a cool mint, replicates the blue-touched, sea glass tones popular at the time. Shanghai Peach is an optimistic color moving from the orange family into melon tones. Flapper Dance is an inky navy that adds a bit of intrigue and acts as a grounding element to the more ethereal members of the palette. Heavy Sugar is a bright clean white that keeps the room light and open. 1920s bathrooms were small, but lavishly decorated with exotic oriental rugs, plush towels, flattering lighting and large mirrors.

"One of the most dramatic colors I've seen this season is oxblood," Woelfel says. "A perfect balance between rich chocolate and deep garnet, oxblood serves as a great accent color with gray for a modern bathroom."

Adding color to your bathroom is easy. Even if you don't want to paint, just changing your accessories can take your space from drab to fab.

"From hand towels and floor mats to shower curtains and tissue boxes, the bathroom is one of the easiest places to incorporate color in the home," Lord says. "Even updating finish colors on faucets and shower fixtures can impact the entire look of the space for very little investment. If you want to add rustic charm to the space, for example, consider switching out your sink and bath faucets for those with a warmer finish. Our new Cassidy bath collection comes in a rich Venetian Bronze finish which would pair perfectly with a rattan rug for a charming and outdoors-inspired vibe."

Tips and Tricks to Deep Clean Your Bathroom

Remodel Your Guest Bathroom

Your Bathroom Can Be a Retreat