Skul Plumbing

Caulk: The Figurative Icing on the Cake for Bathroom Staging

If you’re cleaning up your home for sale or maybe you’re just moved into a new place and have noticed that the caulk around the tub makes you embarrassed to have people tour your home or make you scared to take a bath, don’t fret too much about it. While ratty old caulk looks terrible, it’s not that hard to replace.

The hard truth is that if prospective buyers come into your gorgeous house that’s staged all to perfection and you’ve got ratty, mildewed caulk in your bathroom then that may be all they focus on. Old caulk can make your bathroom look dirty, unhygienic, and uninviting. The problem has a pretty simple solution which will leave your bathroom looking polished and clean.

What you need to do first is remove the old caulk; a razor or other narrow scraper works well for this. Once all the old caulk is off the surfaces you will need to clean them, particularly if the area was mildewed. Use a bleach solution to kill any mildew then rinse and let dry. If your old caulk was not providing a water tight seal then you should allow for extra drying time so that you don’t trap that moisture behind a new bead of caulk.

Once the joint is dry you can apply the new bead of caulk For best results a strip of masking tape on either side of the joint to act as guides to keep the residue contained. Place the tape first, and then run a bead of silicone caulk over the joint; work carefully so that the bead is even. Bead about two feet at a time, then with a dampened fingertip, smooth the caulk over the joint. Repeat as necessary until finished.

Be careful to not get any caulk residue on your clothes as it will not come out of fabric. For drying time, consult the instructions on your particular product.

When you’ve spent so much time and energy cleaning and staging your home, a little step like re-caulking your bathroom can really make a big difference in how your bathroom is perceived. Give your home a little more sparkle and help prospective buyers create only good perceptions.

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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/caulk-the-figurative-icing-on-the-cake-for-bathroom-staging-1063834.html

July 24, 2009 - 8:42 AM No Comments

How to Make Lime Scale and Beat a Retreat From Your Bathroom With These Everyday Tips

Anyone that lives in an region with hard water knows how difficult it is to ‘bump off’ Lime Scale buildup and watermarks in the bathroom.      Even in a perfect bathroom the unsightly mineral buildup and stains in the sink, toilet, tub, shower and on the tiles and fixtures caused by hard water makes it look sloppy and dirty.

Anyone that lives in an region with hard water knows how difficult it is to ‘bump off’ Lime Scale buildup and watermarks in the bathroom.

Even in a perfect bathroom the unsightly mineral buildup and stains in the sink, toilet, tub, shower and on the tiles and fixtures caused by hard water makes it look sloppy and dirty.

If you have hard water, you know that Lime Scale deposits are so hard that most people need a chisel to ‘boot it out’ .

One way to eliminate this botheration is by installing a water softener – but that does not cast away the buildup and watermarks that are already there.
So here are some ways to get rid of the Lime Scale from your bathroom…

* Showers and Tiles – Use a heavy-duty gel cleaner made especially for removing buildup.

Refrain abrasive cleaners as they can scratch tile, porcelain, and other finishes.
Also be careful to leave the window or bath door open for ventilation and wear rubber gloves.

Use a damp cloth or sponge and rub on the cleaner to the tiles, shower door and other surfaces. Leave it on for the length of time the manufacturer suggests and then rinse thoroughly.

Soak the showerhead in white vinegar for one or two hours to remove lime buildup.

* Sinks – Most people can use the equivalent heavy-duty gel cleaner on your toilet sink and faucet.

Use an old, soft toothbrush to rub on the cleaner behind and around the faucet. Also use warm water to rinse it thoroughly.

* Toilet – There are a few liquid and gel cleaners for removing Lime Scale made particularly for toilets. Put this around under the rim and on the scale – abandon it for the suggested length of time, scrub with a toilet brush, and then flush distinct times.

Another way is to use a mixture of half borax and half vinegar. Drain the toilet bowl, apply the mixture to the buildup and leave it on for several hours before removing.

Finally, one last trick for removing buildup and water marks is taking an empty spray bottle and filling it with a half cup of white distilled vinegar and two cups of water.

Spray this on all the problem areas and wait for an hour or so but be careful not to let it dry. Spray again if necessary.

Rinse all the problem areas with warm water and repeat if necessary.

If the buildup is very heavy, soak some extra-strength paper towels in white distilled vinegar or all-purpose washroom cleaner.

Drain the toilet and line the bowl with these soaked paper towels.

Do the same with the sink and shower if necessary.

Leave them for different hours but add more vinegar or cleaner if the paper towel starts to dry out.

And there you have it, everyday tips to help you win the fight against lime scale and water marks. Go ahead and give them a try.

Want to know How To Transform Your Home Into One That Is Quick And Easy To Clean And Organize?
To find out – go to: http://www.house-cleaning-tips-guide.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/how-to-make-lime-scale-and-beat-a-retreat-from-your-bathroom-with-these-everyday-tips-1061295.html

July 23, 2009 - 5:30 PM No Comments

Stylish Free Standing Baths

Free standing baths are a fashionable entry into the bathroom essentials. All bathroom accessories apart from adding elegance and glamour to the bathroom should also be easy to install. Bathrooms should not be crowded with accessories but they should be chosen in accordance with its utility. Keeping all these in mind a free standing bath is an ideal bathroom accessory as it fulfils all these criteria.

Free standing baths as the name suggests are highly suitable for any bathroom. Since they can be placed anywhere in the bathroom it makes the bathroom seem bigger. These baths can also be placed at any favorable place anytime one wants. These baths are available in various designs, styles and colours. There are single ended free standing baths as well as double ended ones. The baths are comfortable as they have a shallow seat, a comfortable head rest and finely angled sides. The deeper the bath tubs the better it is as this prevents water from spreading on the floor and making it dirty. Free standing baths are generally chrome plated but they can easily be finished and polished according to one’s specifications. Though the style of polishing, the style of foot of the tub and its wheels the colour and the quality choice depends on the customers. The suggestions for placing these baths can be taken from one’s plumber or architect. Free standing baths are available in round, rectangular, curved and square shape as well.

The various types of free standing baths are; Shower baths, straight baths, steel baths, corner baths, luxury baths, small baths, bath panels and bath screens. The well known companies which manufacture these baths are Acqualisa, daryl, Pheonix, Simpson, Sanitan, Sottini, Heritage, Caron, Duravit, Laufen, Clearwater, Victorua and Albert, Royce morgan and Pura baths. So what are you waiting for? Get your own free standing bath and enhance your bathrooms appeal. As it saves the trouble of pipe fittings and water connections this hassle free product is a surely a must have.

For more information about Free standing baths and bathroom suites. Please visit our website: http://www.atlasbathrooms.co.uk/

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/bath-showers-articles/stylish-free-standing-baths-1055358.html

July 23, 2009 - 2:55 AM No Comments

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