A bathroom must be safe and functional – drains should clear quickly, bathroom faucets and showers should not leak and toilets should not run. Any bathroom hardware such as towel bars or racks should be securely attached to the walls; the shower curtain and liner should slide freely, and bath rugs and mats should feature anti-skid backing. Where possible it is a good idea to install grab bars in the tub or shower enclosure and around the commode to reduce the possibility of slips and falls.
OXO Good Grips Over-the-Door Towel Rack, $39.99, from bedbathandbeyond.com
Create a seasonal maintenance program
Most towel bars and bath hardware is secured to the wall with concealed set screws; these screws can loosen over time so it is a good idea to make it a regular practice to tighten the screws by using a hex wrench. Since experts recommend replacing the shower curtain and liner on a regular basis it makes sense to add these tasks to your seasonal maintenance program.
A leaky faucet or toilet that runs can waste hundreds if not thousands of gallons of water and really drive up utility bills – any leaks should be addressed in a timely fashion, even if it means calling in a plumber because it will be cheaper in the long run. Another option is to attend some general plumbing classes at your local home repair store – they will teach you how to perform basic home repairs such as how to replace a toilet flush mechanism or how to fix a leaky bathroom faucet.
When replacing the shower curtain and liner it is a good idea to invest in top quality shower curtain hooks or rings which slide effortlessly – this will help to prolong the useful life of the shower curtain and liner.