If the bathroom floor remains wet after regular cleaning, you fear slipping just a few steps, and a sewage smell appears after cleaning, people often blame the quality of cleaning or think the problem is the small size of the room.
However, the reason for this problem is not always related to cleaning or area. Sometimes the discomfort in a small, seemingly cluttered, damp, and stuffy bathroom is due to incorrect design and placement of items. That is, the zones intended for water ingress and the zones that should remain dry are not properly separated.
The good news is that solving this problem does not require tearing down the entire bathroom or spending huge amounts of money. It is enough to pay attention to some small details to separate the wet and dry areas in the bathroom.
A bathroom can be simply divided into two parts. The zone where shower water drains is called the wet zone. The rest of the bathroom, including the toilet and sink, is the dry zone, which should be kept as dry as possible.
The problem arises when the flooring throughout the bathroom is uniform, and water from the shower area spreads across the entire floor. This leads to constant floor dampness and hinders movement.
The main cause of falls in the bathroom is a wet and slippery floor. This is especially dangerous in the shower area if glossy tiles are installed, as the risk of slipping increases after water contact. Therefore, it is preferable to use tiles with a matte and slightly rough anti-slip surface in the shower area. Such tiles maintain grip even after getting wet, reducing the danger of falling.
Furthermore, the floor slope must be correct. The floor should have a slight incline towards the drain so that water flows directly into the sewer, rather than spreading around.
Many believe that completely glazing the shower area is necessary to separate the wet and dry zones. However, this is not a mandatory condition in small or budget bathrooms.
If the shower area is located against a wall or in a corner, a half-glass screen can be installed. This uses tempered glass about 8 mm thick, which is installed on one side of the shower, leaving the passage open on the other. This significantly prevents water from spreading throughout the bathroom while the room does not look closed. Thus, the water is controlled, and the space remains visually open.
A small curb or curve of about 4 inches can be made under the glass screen. This helps keep the water within the required zone and reduces the likelihood of it escaping. Estimates suggest that such a half glass screen and curb might cost around 7000 rupees, although the price may vary depending on the city, glass, and fittings.
If the bathroom starts smelling like sewage half an hour after cleaning, it is not always related to dirt. Sometimes, water collected in a long-unused drain dries up. This water usually prevents sewage odors from rising. When the water dries up, the unpleasant smell begins to spread throughout the bathroom.
To avoid this, it is necessary to periodically add a little water to rarely used drains. When building a new bathroom, it is also important to install the correct siphon in the drain so that gases from the sewer do not enter.
Suppose the shower water no longer spreads throughout the bathroom, but there are droplets on the glass, the walls remain wet, and the towel feels damp. This means moisture is accumulating in the bathroom. Consequently, it is not enough just to stop the flow of water; it is necessary to ensure the removal of steam and moisture from the bathroom.
In this regard, the location of the extractor fan is very important. It is desirable for the extractor to be located near the shower area, as this is where the most steam and moisture is generated. To help remove moisture and odors, a timer switch for the extractor can be installed, which will automatically turn off the fan after a certain time after showering.
Sometimes the bathroom seems smaller due to improper placement of items. Stacks of toothpaste and creams on the sink, buckets and mugs on the floor, and many bottles near the shower make the bathroom feel cluttered. Therefore, you should try to designate a permanent place for every item.
Daily used items can be stored in cabinets behind the mirror. Buckets, mugs, and cleaning supplies can be placed in lower cabinets under the sink. For shampoos and soap near the shower, a small shelf can be installed on the wall. If space allows, a niche can be made in the wall so that storing items does not take up extra space in the bathroom.
