Jennifer Baiceanu

It is no surprise that Marbles are the ideal choice of stones for many to be used as bathroom countertops.

For years, the natural stone has been used in the most luxurious palaces and mansions. Today, it has made its way to the common home, and people are loving it especially as bathroom vanities. Not only is marble highly efficient and functional in the bathroom, but it also has the power to turn it into a room that is palatial.

Moreover, marble comes in a wide variety of colors and designs, which means that you get to choose exactly what you want. This makes making your dream bathroom come to life so much easier.

 

Let us look at the top reasons why you should definitely consider marble for your bathroom countertop.

• Instantly adds a touch of elegance and luxury
As we have mentioned before, marble has a natural appearance that has the power to instantly transform any space into one that is elegant, classy and luxurious. This easily makes it the best natural stone to use as a countertop. On top of this, you can choose from a wide variety of designs and colors including lighter hues such as white and gray, darker spectrums like black, as well as more colorful ones like rose, yellow and green. You can model your bathroom exactly the way you want it.

• Is resistant to heat and water
Not only does marble provide pleasing aesthetic appearances, but it is also highly functional as a bathroom vanity or countertop. This is because of its resistance to heat and water. Often, we use devices that heat up such as curling irons, hair straighteners and hair dryers on bathroom vanities, and because marble is heat-resistant, no damage will be caused to your countertop. Moreover, marble is also pretty water-resistant compared to other natural stones, which makes it a great bathroom countertop material.

• Can be cleaned and maintained easily
Another reason why marble makes amazing bathroom countertop is that it requires little maintenance and is easy to clean. You only need a cloth or sponge to clean it, and it will be sparkly and shiny as new. Sure, there is the problem of staining but you can just seal your marble bathroom countertop and you don’t have to worry about getting stains on it anymore. This means that you need not to worry about make-up or wine spilling.

Over the years, quartz has managed to acquire quite the fan following as a decorative surface material. Today, it isn’t uncommon to find several homes with quartz countertops or even quartz flooring.

So, how did this once obscure material become just as popular as granite, marble, or travertine? Well, it’s because the material manages to offer a significant number of benefits. In this blog, we’re going to discuss one of its most noteworthy strengths.

But, before that, let’s explore what quartz is and how it is manufactured.

What is Quartz?
It’s common for people to confuse quartz with natural stone. This is actually wrong, but the confusion arises due to the natural stone quartzite, which, as you can see, has a similar name. Quartz, on the other hand, is the name of the crystalline material that gives rise to the natural patterns found on many other natural stones.

However, when looked at as a construction material, quartz is just a mixture of rock fragments and a high concentration of silicon dioxide. This basic mixture is then blended further with bonding resins and coloring substances. So, technically speaking, quartz is an engineered material.

The Fabrication of Quartz
In general, around 93% of quartz is composed of natural rock fragments and recycled natural stone. The other 7% is usually made up of artificial pigments and synthetic resin. The resulting compound is then placed inside vacuum chambers that mix and mold them into slabs, bricks, or tiles. Then, the finale mixture is heated, cured, finished, and polished.

Porosity
The greatest benefit with quartz is the that it’s non-porous. This is because the finishing process ensures that the mixture is cohesive. In other words, the surface of a quartz slab or tile is practically impenetrable.

This is exactly why a quartz surface will never need sealing. On the other hand, natural stones like marble or granite are known for being highly porous, which is why they need timely maintenance. So, if you’ve got a granite countertop, you’ll need to spend more, on a periodic basis, to ensure that it stays perfect.

With quartz, you don’t have to seal the surfaces. This is one of the reasons why quartz is more expensive. But, it’s a one-time cost. So, when you choose quartz for your kitchen countertop or your bathroom, you’re basically choosing a material that is meant to be used in such conditions.

The sinks in your bathroom and kitchen are prone to harbor dirt and bacteria of all kinds. You may think that they are pretty clean considering that water runs on them every single day. However, simply running water is not enough to combat the dirt that collects over time. It is crucial that you sanitize and deep clean your sink every once in a while.

Here are some tips to help you thoroughly clean both your bathroom and kitchen sink and rid them of dirt and germs:

• Scrub using a cleaning spray or liquid
One way to make clean your sink is by scrubbing it hard. Scrub away all the dirt, the stains, deposits of food and soap, water spots and rust. You can use either a multi-purpose cleaning spray or make your own scrubbing liquid. All you have to do is mix your dishwashing liquid with warm water and this will help you get off all the dirt. Another option is to mix baking soda with salt. This will help remove anything.

• Remove limescale using lemon
Limescale on your sink and tap can be difficult to remove. However, with this simple method, you can say goodbye to dense limescales and say hello to sparkling sinks. The best part is that you don’t have to the cleaning part yourself! Just cut a lemon in half and scrub it over the surface of the sink and the tap, letting the acidic juice squeeze out. Leave it on and rinse after two hours and you’ve got yourself a shiny sink.

• Use toothbrush to clean gaps and ridges
The small gaps and ridges of your sink, especially around the spout of the tap, can be difficult to reach while cleaning. There’s a simple solution to this – toothbrushes. Instead of throwing away your old toothbrushes, use them to clean such areas of the sink. You’ll be surprised at how well it cleans.

• Use paper towels and bleach to bring back the shine in your porcelain sink
If you have a porcelain sink, you may wonder how you can bring back the shiny, sparkly look of your sink. All you have to do is cover the surface of the sink with paper towels and cover it in bleach. Leave this on for about half an hour, then remove the paper towels. You can rinse the sink and get rid of the bleach simply by running the water and your porcelain sink will look completely new. However, make sure you don’t use this method for colored porcelain.

Your bathroom should be a place of peace and relaxation, a place where you can be alone and contemplate all you want. However, one common enemy can stop you from doing exactly this – mold. Mold growth is usually found in dam, wet places, which makes the bathroom one of the most likely targets.

It is crucial that you keep your bathroom free of mold so that you can have a clean and hygienic space. Besides, mold growth can cause severe damage to your walls, floors, vanities and ceilings. Consider incorporating mold-resistant materials and colors inspired by avant-garde interior design to enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of your bathroom. Here are a few practical and effective tips to prevent mold growth in your bathroom:

• Wipe all surfaces regularly with a clean cloth
Make sure that all bathroom surfaces such as walls, shower glass, vanities and countertops, shower and tub surrounds, etc. are cleaned regularly. Wipe them with a clean, dry cloth at least once every week. If you have glass shower, remember to squeegee the moisture from it after every shower.

• Wash your towels, rugs and shower curtains regularly
Items in your bathroom such as towels, rugs and shower curtains should be washed regularly as they retain moisture longer than the other bathroom surfaces. This makes them the ideal spot for mold growth. Wash these every week if possible to have a safe and clean bathroom free of mold.

• Keep the fan running when you’re showering
You should keep the fan running while you shower or bathe, and about half an hour after you get out. This helps to dry your bathroom faster and get rid of any lingering moisture that could lead to mold growth. The mold could cause damage to your ceilings and walls otherwise. If you have windows in your bathroom, make sure to leave them open too.

• Make sure all your leaks are fixed
From time to time, make sure that you check if there are any leaks in your bathroom. Leaky faucets, pipes, and other fixtures can contribute to the dampness of your bathroom, creating the ideal breeding ground for mold. Don’t wait till it’s too late to get leaks fixed.

• Don’t forget to seal your grout lines
If you have tiles in your bathroom, it is crucial that you seal the grout lines once every year so as to prevent mold growth in between the tiles. You can even do it yourself by using a standard grout sealer.
These simple tips can help prevent mold growth in your bathroom which, if untreated, can cause wheezing, coughing, itchy skin and eyes, not to mention that it’s unhygienic.