How to Design a Self-Cleaning Bathroom (Well, Almost!)
Say goodbye to mouldy grout, awkward taps and scummy shower screens and say hello to a low-maintenance bathroom that's a cinch to clean
If I never have to scrub and bleach (and scrub and bleach) another piece of mouldy grout in my lifetime, it will be too soon. As an eternal renter, I have seen my fair share of badly designed, poorly maintained bathrooms, and not only seen them, I’ve had to clean them … every, single, week.
The process of standing in the shower while inhaling bleach as I toothbrush the dark mould out of square upon tiny square of white grout, or virtually hugging the toilet to clean the dust that has accumulated in the hard-to-reach crevices and crannies of the exposed piping, or awkwardly wiping around fiddly tapware again, and again and again, well, quite frankly, I’d rather be doing something else with that time.
When I daydream about the future home of my dreams, it’s not beautiful bedrooms, elegant kitchens or backyard wonderlands that I dream about. No, it’s a simple, thoughtfully designed bathroom that has as its one shining goal – to be as easy-to-clean as possible. And from my experience, here’s how I reckon you get it.
The process of standing in the shower while inhaling bleach as I toothbrush the dark mould out of square upon tiny square of white grout, or virtually hugging the toilet to clean the dust that has accumulated in the hard-to-reach crevices and crannies of the exposed piping, or awkwardly wiping around fiddly tapware again, and again and again, well, quite frankly, I’d rather be doing something else with that time.
When I daydream about the future home of my dreams, it’s not beautiful bedrooms, elegant kitchens or backyard wonderlands that I dream about. No, it’s a simple, thoughtfully designed bathroom that has as its one shining goal – to be as easy-to-clean as possible. And from my experience, here’s how I reckon you get it.
Or in this Melbourne bathroom, which employs a minimal aesthetic.
Remember, concrete doesn’t have to be grey. This warm, cream bathroom is entirely concrete, including the walls, floor and sink.
Back-painted glass, such as the design in this New Zealand bathroom, means you can spray and wipe and never worry about mouldy grout again.
Not a tile in sight here. Instead, this bathroom was coated with a waterproof epoxy paint on the walls, floor and ceiling. The streamlined standalone bath, simple basin and lack of shower screen make this a seriously exciting bathroom for the cleaning-averse.
Or, choose dark grout
Tiles don’t have to be struck off entirely, but if mouldy grout is your nemesis, then consider darker tiles that will suit dark grout. Stains will be less noticeable than on white grout making for an easier clean. This beautiful Sydney bathroom has limited the tiles to one wall, while the other two are rendered concrete, as is part of the floor. Lovely yet low-maintenance.
Tiles don’t have to be struck off entirely, but if mouldy grout is your nemesis, then consider darker tiles that will suit dark grout. Stains will be less noticeable than on white grout making for an easier clean. This beautiful Sydney bathroom has limited the tiles to one wall, while the other two are rendered concrete, as is part of the floor. Lovely yet low-maintenance.
This bathroom goes to prove that easier-to-clean can still be glamorous. Dark tiles with matching dark grout means not every spot of dirt or mould is be obvious. Large-format dark tiles, a freestanding bath without mounted tapware, and limited glass for the shower, are other good lower-maintenance choices.
Lose the cubicle
Enclosed shower screens are great at keeping water contained (a pet hate is totally open bathrooms that remain eternally wet from one end to the other), but the traditional shower frame is also freakishly good at attracting mould and gunk in all those corners and crevices. The glass panes themselves are also a pain to keep clean. In time, they can develop glass rot which leaves them permanently foggy and streaked. A small, non-enclosed shower screen is not only easier to clean, but less expensive to replace down the track.
More: Bathroom Inspiration: 9 Life-Changing Additions to Your Shower
Enclosed shower screens are great at keeping water contained (a pet hate is totally open bathrooms that remain eternally wet from one end to the other), but the traditional shower frame is also freakishly good at attracting mould and gunk in all those corners and crevices. The glass panes themselves are also a pain to keep clean. In time, they can develop glass rot which leaves them permanently foggy and streaked. A small, non-enclosed shower screen is not only easier to clean, but less expensive to replace down the track.
More: Bathroom Inspiration: 9 Life-Changing Additions to Your Shower
Or, if you have the space, go for a shower in an alcove. No glass required.
Choose a standalone tub
Moisture-attracting nooks are the enemy of the easy-clean bathroom. Bathtubs that are enclosed against the wall leave plenty of opportunity for mould to gather in the creases and corners against the wall and also the lip of the bath, so the more streamlined your bath, the easier to clean. This bath sits on the ground (as opposed to a clawfoot for example) preventing any awkward spaces to try to squeeze your mop around or under.
More: Bath Lovers Unite: 18 Deluxe Tubs You’ll Love
Moisture-attracting nooks are the enemy of the easy-clean bathroom. Bathtubs that are enclosed against the wall leave plenty of opportunity for mould to gather in the creases and corners against the wall and also the lip of the bath, so the more streamlined your bath, the easier to clean. This bath sits on the ground (as opposed to a clawfoot for example) preventing any awkward spaces to try to squeeze your mop around or under.
More: Bath Lovers Unite: 18 Deluxe Tubs You’ll Love
Lift it off the floor
Mopping becomes much easier when there are fewer permanent obstacles on the floor to mop around, so consider raising your cabinetry. It also creates less opportunity for moisture, dust and mould to gather in the area where the cabinetry and the floor would meet. Win-win.
Mopping becomes much easier when there are fewer permanent obstacles on the floor to mop around, so consider raising your cabinetry. It also creates less opportunity for moisture, dust and mould to gather in the area where the cabinetry and the floor would meet. Win-win.
The toilet. Ewww, right? No-one wants to spend any longer than they have to cleaning the loo, or getting any closer than is absolutely necessary. Opting for a streamlined wall-mounted toilet, as pictured, makes it easier to mop under and wipe quickly (with less awkward curves and corners to gather dust and dirt). Make sure there’s enough room between the toilet and the wall to comfortably wipe the toilet and mop around it.
If you don’t want to wall-mount, at the very least opt for a skirted toilet – this streamlined design gathers less dirt and is much easier to clean.
More: Just Where Do You Put the Toilet?
More: Just Where Do You Put the Toilet?
Choose simple tapware
Try to track down simple tapware, like this streamlined mixer tap, for a quick wipe clean. Having the taps wall-mounted also makes cleaning easier. When attached to the basin, you often get a small awkward space between the taps, basin and wall, making it trickier to swipe that sponge around them.
Try to track down simple tapware, like this streamlined mixer tap, for a quick wipe clean. Having the taps wall-mounted also makes cleaning easier. When attached to the basin, you often get a small awkward space between the taps, basin and wall, making it trickier to swipe that sponge around them.
Opt for a solid basin surface
It’s much quicker to wipe a solid surface where the basins are built-in than to have to clean around raised bowl-style basins. While they look great, it can be more awkward to clean around it and into the narrow space between the bowl and the wall.
It’s much quicker to wipe a solid surface where the basins are built-in than to have to clean around raised bowl-style basins. While they look great, it can be more awkward to clean around it and into the narrow space between the bowl and the wall.
Here’s a stylish concrete version that again would be so easy to wipe clean, especially with those streamlined wall-mounted taps.
Fast-clean flooring
Light-coloured tiles with light grout may look lovely and fresh, but they’ll show up hair, dirt and mould most quickly (not so fresh!). Believe me, I’m living with them. Choosing a darker, groutless surface, such as polished concrete, makes mopping a cinch.
Light-coloured tiles with light grout may look lovely and fresh, but they’ll show up hair, dirt and mould most quickly (not so fresh!). Believe me, I’m living with them. Choosing a darker, groutless surface, such as polished concrete, makes mopping a cinch.
Bold patterns are another lower-maintenance tile option, as they’ll show up unsightly floor dirt less quickly.
Tell us
What are some things you’d recommend for designing a low-maintenance bathroom? Are you living with a bathroom that’s a cinch to clean or do you dread it every week? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Tell us
What are some things you’d recommend for designing a low-maintenance bathroom? Are you living with a bathroom that’s a cinch to clean or do you dread it every week? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
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There’s no need to stick to traditional tiles (and grout) when there are so many excitingly easy-to-clean alternatives on the market. Rendered concrete is a low-maintenance alternative to tiles, and it looks fantastic in this modern Melbourne bathroom, especially with the wooden vanity, which adds warmth to the room. The geometric floor tiles with dark grout also mean it’ll take longer for any dirt to be obvious.
More: 8 Surprising Ways to Use Concrete That Won’t Leave You Feeling Cold