The Proper Care And Feeding Of Your Bathroom Shower

Really now, is there ANYTHING that can beat the feeling of relaxing and getting really clean with a good, hot shower at the end of an exhausting work day? A good lather and rinse - and you are left with that 'all-day-clean' feeling. I think you would agree that the shower area is one of the most important parts of your home.

One very important matter: shower room hygiene. Do you practice it? Think about it: what area in your home gets as wet or humid as the shower area? And who loves wet and humid conditions? Right - mold, mildew and germs. It's a perfect breeding-ground for these little critters - so you need to take the time to clean your shower area with a good disinfectant and mold/mildew cleaner.

On to soap scum: what is it, exactly? Well, soap scum is produced as a kind of chemical reaction in homes that have hard water. Most soaps have ingredients that react with the high lime concentration in hard water. Hard water can also cause magnesium and calcium to build up and dry on shower walls, as well as on drains and shower heads.

So, if you use traditional soaps and also have hard water, you will need to stop and -perhaps daily - clean off all that soap scum build-up. But here's a good tip: if you switch to a shower gel, you will not have soap scum build-up, as shower gels have a different formulation than traditional soaps.

When it comes time to fix-up your shower area, you'll find that you have lots and lots of choices: You can go the traditional bathtub-and-shower route if you like. Or you can install a free-standing shower enclosure. If you really want to go all out, you can get a very beautiful shower enclosure made entirely of heavy glass, on special mountings.

Did you know that it's possible to install a shower unit outdoors? Yes, many special-purpose outdoor shower enclosures are available today. If you need an area to shower off after swimming at the beach, or at poolside, they are just the ticket. And if you are an outdoor worker in the field or farm or garden, you can use an outdoor shower enclosure to get nice and clean before you head inside for the day.

In your shower room you can use traditional (and ever-popular) shower curtains - available in many designs and styles, or you can install doors that open out, or doors that slide along on rails (usually attached to the floor or tub edge). You can also tile up or seal your entire shower room and have a floor-level shower installed.

A final note of caution: installing shower enclosures is not for everyone. It's an involved, and sometimes messy job, and if it's not done right it will have to be re-installed. As always, secure the services of a trained professional if you are not properly trained to do the job yourself.

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About the author: Ken Landis discusses home fixit projects and Shower Installation Projects Read about installing Fiberglass Shower Drains by visiting his site today.