There are a range of chemical cleaners available on the market; however there are concerns about their negative impact on the quality of indoor air. The use of these cleaners can cause skin irritation, and unfortunately carcinogens – any substance directly involved in causing cancer – can constitute some of the key ingredients.

In addition to this, with some makes of shower enclosure (such as the EasyClean cubicles) it is not advisable to use chemical cleaners. This is because they damage the special cleaning coating, and the extended use of such cleaners will ensure that you will not see the benefit of the expensive nanotechnology.

The cleanliness of the enclosure can also be dependent on the type of water which you have in your area. For example, soap doesn’t lather as well in hard water, and it can leave behind a light scum on the shower surfaces. And not only will the shower enclosure glass need cleaning, but the tiles, grout and drains may also need some attention. Below, if you follow our steps, you can make a multi-purpose cleaner in a matter of minutes.

Walk-In Shower Enclosure for Alcove, with a special EasyClean coating, from BathEmpire

The Easy Single Solution

1. Mix the above ingredients, with two parts of baking soda, with one part vinegar; lemon juice can be used as an alternative to vinegar.

2. Mix this into a thick paste, and apply with a damp, warm cloth. This mixture can be used on shower doors, sinks, as well as tiles and grout; to apply to grout, rub in with a toothbrush.

3. Leave on all affected surfaces for at least 10 minutes, then rub with a sponge. As you rinse this off, the benefit will pass to the drains.

This is a quick, simple solution that will let you cross commercial cleaners off your shopping list permanently!

Given the truly diverse range of bathroom furniture and design available today, it is easier than ever to create a space which is both accessible and contemporary, in a style that is suited to your taste!

In the second part of this series, we focus on baths and shower enclosures.

For most people, bathrooms are fairly easy to navigate. However, once a user is faced with joint and muscular weakness, the perception of what is ‘easy’ changes very quickly.

Bathing can become somewhat more of an ordeal, and the hardest part of the process being actually getting in and out of the bathtub. One move would be to install a walk-in bath, level with the floor; however, given the price costs of such units, this would not be a viable option for many people.

Of course consult with the rest of your family first, but getting rid of the bath and opting for a shower enclosure instead can be an excellent solution – and a little less harsh on the wallet!

2 Way Shower Mixer by BathEmpire

No Burning

Choose a thermostatic temperature control and make scalding a distant memory. Such a feature will guarantee a steady stream of water, so those with limited mobility or motor control will not have to worry about moving out of the way of the scalding water. If someone flushes the toilet or opens a tap elsewhere in the house, the shower experience won’t be affected.

Slimline Tray

One essential feature to look out for when considering showers is slimline trays. While most quality shower trays are between close to 100 mm in height, there is growing popularity for more slender versions.

Some varieties, such as the Quadrant Shower Enclosure, include a slim 44mm tray with the purchase. The absence of the high step will certainly help accessibility, as less effort will be required to enter the shower, and hence less strain will be felt on the joints.

Wet Room, 1000mm, by BathEmpire

Ultimate Ease of Access

To fully negate the mobility concerns, it may be worth investing in a wet room. With no obstacles to consider, such as doors, steps or handles, wet rooms make life much easier for those with walking aids. It also enables those with chairs to manoeuvre under the shower. Although installation costs may be higher for concealing all plumbing under floor level, the result would allow independence for many years to come.

Today, there are a numerous options which combine style and practicality, ensuring a designer solution to everyday life. If you would like help or advice in creating your ideal bathroom, feel free to contact the BathEmpire team.

In fact, here are 5 things i really hate about shower curtains.

1. They turn a grimy yellow colour after a few months of use.
2. If you haven’t trimmed it to fit, it’s quite likely you will end up having to stand on the bottom.
3. They block out the light from my window.
4. What are you supposed to do with them when you want to bath ( I used have to drape ours in the basin!)
5. They stick to you when you’re showering (grrrr, i really hate that)

Obviously, if you have space for a separate shower enclosure, or you’ve taken the bold step of doing away with your bath tub, this isn’t really an issue for you. For the rest of us the options is fitting a bath shower screen.

In a recent article about renovating bathrooms in the The Telegraph, Rose Millard stated:

What else must we do if our bathrooms are to stand out? Firstly, get rid of any children. If they really must share your bathroom, then assign a lidded box for all those scummy toys. Secondly all shower curtains, washing machines and clotheslines must go, too.

What we want from our bathrooms are clean, ordered space where clutter is kept to an absolute minimum. Which simply puts means, shower curtains are no longer welcome!

On the other hand

OK, so shower curtains can be fun. There are some very cool, funky designs available.

UrbanOutfitters.co.uk have an excellent selection of bright, playful designs. But when it comes to selling your house, these really aren’t going to help.

To make this transition easy for you, at BathEmpire we’ve just released our selection of Shower Screens. Available in either 800mm or 1000mm widths these glass screens feature hinges and optional towel rails. They do not turn yellow and they definitely will not stick to you!

Shower Screens now in stock

For more information either browse the bath shower screen section on our site, or contact a member of our team.