Toilet Hygiene

                      To prevent bacteria from waste matter from affecting the health of your family, everyone at home must observe proper toilet hygiene. Children, especially, must be strictly taught to clean themselves and wash their hands properly every single time they use the loo.

Remind everyone at home that their hands will pick up germs from anything they touch in the toilet, including their own bottoms as they wipe them, the flush handle, the tap at the sink, the outside of the hand-detergent bottle, and even the door handle as they leave the loo. You may diligently wipe the handles and levers daily, but all it takes is one household member to touch with unwashed hands any of these items after using the toilet, and it will be immediately recontaminated in time for the next user to pick up the germs.

It may seem a bother, but the best way therefore of keeping toilet germs out of the rest of the home is for people to wash their hands immediately after wiping their bottoms and flushing, then open the toilet door and wash their hands all over again - because the door handle may well have traces of another family member's fecal matter on it.

And reduce bacteria transmission from hands to tap handles, it may help to change the handles to swivel levers that one can easily turn on and off with a quick touch, rather than a stiff knob that one has to wrestle in the grip of one's palm to operate.

Teach everyone to wash their hands well, soaping and rubbing their palms, fingers and backs of the hands, and between the fingers too, for 20-30 seconds before rinsing, because that is about the length of time it takes for soap to kill germs on skin.

Regular hands soap will do for killing germs. over-use of antiseptic washes could actually prove counter-effective in the long term, because these kill off good bacteria and the weakest of bacteria, while leaving the strongest alive to develop immunity to their antiseptic properties, which will make such washes less effective against germs when they are most needed - in hospitals, for example.

Wash the toilet and bathroom regularly, using a separate brush for the inside of the toilet bowl. This separate brush should not be used on any other surface in the bathroom or even any other part of the toilet bowl, and should be washed by flushing it inside the toilet bowl itself. It should obviously never be washed at the sink or in the bathtub.

Home Eco Toilets

The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the entire house, and a major source of water waste and inefficiency. Showers and toilets are two of the biggest consumers of water.

According to a 2009 report released by the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States flushes over 4.8 million gallons of water per year and the average American flushes 9000 gallons of water per year. The report also stated that replacing flush toilets that use 3.5 gallons per flush with eco toilets that use 1.6 gallons per flush will result in a 34% savings in household water consumption.

There are a variety of different toilets that homeowners can install to reduce water consumption, save money, and save the environment. Many homeowners are choosing to install eco toilets such as the dual flush toilet to reduce water consumption.

The dual flush toilet works by providing the user with a half flush option and a full flush option on the same toilet. Typically a user would choose a half flush for urine and a full flush for feces. The half flush option only uses 0.79 gallons of water per flush, compared to the 1.6 gallons of water required for a full flush.

Many satisfied users report that the half flush is adequate for almost all flushing needs, and that the full flush is rarely needed. Experts suggest that a household can reduce household flush volumes by 68% using a dual flush toilet.

The composting toilet is gaining popularity around the world, and is just beginning to be introduced into American markets. Composting eco toilets work by using naturally-occurring bacteria to break down human waste into a usable compost material called humus.

The toilets do not use any water, are completely self contained, and all waste is collected and composted in the same unit. The toilets are carefully constructed with a special venting and air flow system to prevent unpleasant odors, bugs, and pests.

The composting toilet can even accommodate regular toilet tissue. A composting toilet is more expensive than a regular or dual flush toilet, and will require professional installation to ensure that the venting system is properly installed.

The squat toilet, although common in Eastern countries, is rarely used in the United States. These eco toilets are located flush to the ground, and the user must sit in squatted position to use the toilet.

The waste is removed by pouring water into the bowl with a hose or bucket. A squat toilet requires much less water than a conventional toilet, and many experts believe that it is more sanitary, as the buttocks and thighs do not come into contact with the toilet surface.

Save Money With Some Basic Toilet Maintenance

   Home Inspector   

                                  Conserve money simply by doing maintenance on your toilet. Home Inspectors are expected to flush toilets to see if they work correctly every day. Most of them work correctly and other ones do not work so well. By far the most common problem I personally come across is toilets that need tightening because they are loose at the floor. This tends to cause problems in several different ways; leaks will contribute to major damage of the floor and can evolve into a mold problem, not to mention staining the floor covering. A leaking toilet can create a water supply for termites along with other wood destroying organisms, and if left unchecked a leaking toilet can cause considerable structural damage to the home Every so often you should check your toilet to determine if it is loose, you can actually just wiggle it back and forth to see if you have movement. In the event you actually feel it move tighten the closet bolts located on the sides of the toilet at floor level. Please do not over tighten these bolts; you could break the porcelain toilet. If tightening doesn't solve your water leak you may have to take the toilet loose from the floor and replace the wax seal on the base of the toilet; Unless you are actually a do it yourself individual this is probably a job for the plumber. You should be constantly looking for issues in houses, if you look also see so much thrown away and wasted money simply because of poor toilet maintenance. Did you realize that a toilet flapper valve, quite often known as a flush valve ball that is not effectively seating could very well leak over six gallons of water a day that is virtually two thousand gallons a year!

To actually check the flapper valve look inside of the toilet bowl and look to see if you can notice a little steady stream of water flowing, it is actually due to the flush valve is leaking and needs to be replaced. Another great technique to check for a seeping flapper valve would be to drop just a little food coloring in the tank water and then check out and see if the shaded water is leaking directly into bowl. If you need to replace the flapper valve you'll be able to take a look inside the tank and look to see what variety you have. Buy a replacement at your local hardware store; Just take out the existing one unhook the main flush chain, rod or plastic-type strap (No matter which design you have got) and snap the new one directly onto place. A different situation to look for is going to be the water level inside the flush tank. If the actual water level isn't actually at or near the marking inside the water tank; adjust the float to get the water level the place where it really needs to be. If the water is flowing directly into the overflow pipe this really is costing a considerable amount of your hard earned money; by going straight down the drain. In conclusion general maintenance of your toilets can save you almost 2,000 gallons per toilet.

Toilet Odors - How To Eliminate

Home Made Toilet Cleaner.

Natural cleaners for toilets:

There are several natural ingredients you can use to formulate your own toilet bowl cleaners. Making your own allows you the freedom to use whichever ingredients you feel are safest for your family, are readily available, and will perform the best.

White vinegar: You’re probably bored of hearing all the hype on green-living websites about  for natural cleaning. But I can’t stop singing its praises. Vinegar is a mild acid. It disinfects, eliminates odors, and is extremely safe.

Borax: Contrary to inaccurate information on some websites, borax is NOT the same thing as boric acid (which is toxic). It is actually sodium tetra borate, or baking soda, in very LARGE amounts. Borax is a great multi-purpose cleaner that whitens, deodorizes, and removes stains.

Lemon juice or citric acid: Citric acid, also found in lemon juice, binds to minerals in the toilet bowl making them easier to eliminate. It may help diminish tough toilet stains left by hard water

There are the things you do with a toilet, the germs you associate with it, the images you have from public restrooms, the fact that you have to clean it-all of these details leave the toilet somewhat... tainted.

What's the worst taint of all for the toilet? It's the taint of smell; after years upon years of use to rid you of your own refuse, something is bound to give. Perhaps it's the toilet bowl itself? Or is it the tiles, the walls, the sink, the drain or the bathtub? Pray that it isn't the septic tank though, because that will really stink.

So your toilet and bathroom doesn't exactly smell of flowers, or it does smell of flowers... the carrion flower variety, that is. What should you do?

Try to identify the toilet smell, of course. Does it smell damp? Musty? Does the odor smell like urine? Feces? Or sewage? Or does it smell like something died somewhere in your bathroom? You'll need to try to locate the smell too. Do you smell it everywhere in the room or only in certain places like near the toilet or near the sink? Do you have a smelly clothes hamper in your bathroom that's stinking the whole room up? Identify the origin of the smell, and then go from there.

Basic Toilet Odor Removal

* If you smell an unpleasant odor in your bathroom, and you need to cover it up fast, simply light a wooden match in the middle of that room. Lighting a match produces sulfur dioxide. This chemical is so strong that it hides most other odors from your noses for a short time.

* Obviously the easiest way to make your bathroom smell better is to just open the windows and let the fresh air in! Unless the temperature is below zero, that is, or it's raining. If you can't let fresh air in, there are many other methods available.

* You will probably need something stronger than soapy water to get rid of toilet smells. Specifically, white vinegar or hydrogen peroxide counteracts the natural oil in bathroom scum. Just get 1 liter (or quart) white vinegar or 3% hydrogen peroxide (peroxide may cause bleaching), ¼ c. baking soda, 1 tsp. dish detergent (also removes grease) and mix them together. This solution of vinegar/peroxide will dissolve and remove the odor-causing crud instead of just spreading them around.

* Lighting a candle... even an unscented one... in your bathroom can eliminate odors. Or, if you don't want to create a possible fire hazard because you have kids or pets, set a candle that has a strong fragrance in your bathroom. It will just cover up odors instead of getting rid of them, but at least that room in your house will smell better for awhile.

* Ammonia is also a very useful cleaning agent in killing that salty toilet smell. Clean your toilet with ammonia once, especially on the outside. Do not let ammonia get near the bleach, though.

* Baking soda is a good odor absorbent. Put a generous amount of baking soda in an uncovered container (the size of the container depends on the size of the bathroom) and leave it for several days. Remove the baking soda and replace it with a new batch and leave it for a couple of days. Continue replacing the baking soda until it has cleared the toilet smell.

* Hydro chloric Acid is also advisable. Only for very stubborn stenches, this caustic chemical is very powerful and can tackle smelly stains as old as forty years. But be very careful in its usage and do not leave for it for any longer than the directions say, as it can eat away at the porcelain itself, thereby causing surface roughness that will make the toilet stain even quicker and smell even worse in future.

* Get a sack of charcoal to absorb the bad smell; charcoal is used not only to filter water and other things, but is also utilized to soak up odors, just like baking soda. If you see charcoal in an odor-removing product, it's likely to succeed at removing odors.

* Disinfect the walls, ceiling, flooring and all fixtures; a lot of people forget to clean them, but these areas have probably collected quite a bit of toilet stink from all those years of use. Do yourself a favor and put the shower curtains and the carpet in the washer, scrub the tiles, and wipe down porcelain tub and sink with a good dose of ammonia, just to make sure that the toilet smell is gone.

Maybe the toilet smell is in the floor tiles grout. If that's the case, then a strong chlorine bleach soak will work. Also some bleach in the bowl overnight may help. Turn the fan on to remove the bleach smell.

* Clean your toilet. Speaking of the toilet bowl, perhaps a more detailed method in cleaning it is in order. Use liberal amounts of cleaning agent or disinfectant and a bowl brush to really scrub at the porcelain. Afterwards, let the solution sit for a minute before the inevitable flush. Whatever chemicals you use, remember to respect the directions given and follow them exactly; in particular; never mix chemicals as this can be extremely hazardous. Make sure there is sufficient ventilation while you are working and ideally, wear eye and skin protection.

Advanced Toilet Odor Removal

Assuming that your bathroom is clean, i.e., the toilet is scrubbed and has been disinfected, there is no mold or mildew present, the shower curtain/door is free from soap scum, the shower/bathtub have been scrubbed, the tile floor has been swept and mopped, or the carpet is dry and free from spills, and you still smell something unpleasant in the air, then it's time to investigate the problem.

* Septic Ulcer. Do you have a septic tank? The odor is a warning that there is a problem with the septic system. Sometimes, the sewer might be clogged and needs to be checked, which is the reason why the smell still remains. This bathroom odor can spell big trouble if it's not remedied as soon as possible.

If your house is connected to a city sewer system, you'll need to contact a plumber or the city to check out and identify the exact cause. If you live in a rural setting and your sewage is handled by a septic tank, then you'll just need to call a plumber. Sewage odors in your bathroom drains can mean there's a problem in the system. That is, the sewage may be backing up and not running out as it should.

Another thing to check is the exhaust pipe which may be clogged too. This is one big problem to solve. If you're renting, let your landlord know before the septic starts to back up. Now there's a smell!

* Wax on, wax off. This is another common problem that can make your bathroom smell as though it's never been flushed even after flushing. If the wax ring that seals the base of the toilet to the sewer pipe has gone deficient, it can allow gases and odors to come into the room from the pipe.

It could also be that the toilet is not seated well when installed; as such, it may require a new wax gasket underneath. Call a plumber and see if they can find the problem. Or do it yourself by replacing the ring then resetting your toilet; the problem should stop by then.

* Check the Gasket. There is a gasket in the connection with the bowl and the pipe leading to the outside. In Wales, for example, there is also the gasket which sits between the floor and the bowl. Either could be damaged.

Check the level of water which is entering the water tank; maybe the water flush is set to light and the lack of water is emptying the trap at the S bend. Try filling the bowl half full with clean water and put some food dye in the water tank, then flush.

Check the level of the dye in the bowl; you should see the color plainly. If not, your toilet is emptying too much. If that's the case, then get someone who can service your type of toilet. There should be water left in the bowl after a flush to act as a seal against sewer gas even with the low-flush type.

Toilet Odor Removing Products

* Lime-A-Way Toilet Bowl Cleaner has been specifically formulated with extremely strong lime fighting ingredients to remove those stubborn, unattractive calcium deposits that form in your bowl. These ingredients are biodegradable and organic, are safe for the environment and on your septic system. Lime-A-Way also contains highly potent hydrochloric acid, which is its main cleaning ingredient and is extremely tough on odor-causing germs, grimes and toilet residue.

Kitchen Sinks Types

The sink is the most important spot in any kitchen and it also one of the most frequently visited spot in the home. It is considered that at any given day, the morning work starts at a kitchen sink and the night work finishes at the kitchen sink. So, it is absolutely essential for the homeowner to select on the best type of kitchen sinks that will perfectly compliment the look as well as the entire set up of the kitchen area. It is also imperative that the homeowner should select the right sink that will be easy to maintain apart from being highly durable. Nowadays, markets all over the world are flooded with a wide array of shapes, sizes and designs of kitchen sinks that are made from various types of materials. There are so much of models available in the market, that the homeowner will not be finding it difficult to choose the right kitchen sink that suits the need and the decor of his or her kitchen.

The different mounting types are surface mount, wherein the sinks rim is visible on the top of the counter and the under- counter mount, where the sink mounts under the counter and the rim is not visible. The newest and trendy look that the sinks have these days, go well with the latest and contemporary designs of the modern kitchen. The looks of the kitchen sinks range form the normal domestic look to the more commercial or professional look to the contemporary old world styling look. Once the desired look is arrive at, it becomes relatively easy for the homeowner to choose the sinks made of materials like stainless steel, porcelain, marble, granite, copper or brass.

Stainless steel kitchen sinks are the most popular and common type of sinks seen all over the world. They bring out the professional look to the entire kitchen and will be a perfect compliment to any modern designed modular kitchens. The reason for their popularity is that they are highly durable and are very easy to maintain and will last a lifetime if little care is meted out to them. Another kitchen sinks that are slowly gaining popularity all over the world is the granite kitchen sink. They are also the most durable type of sinks whose surfaces are resistant to scratching, chipping and staining apart from being heat resistant. The granite kitchens are slightly on the expensive side, but are highly durable and also resist the rigors of everyday life and needs least attention or care.

If one desires to add a touch of class and antiqueness to the kitchen, then going for the copper or the brass kitchen sinks will be the best option. Copper sinks provide the most contemporary and elegant look not only to the kitchen but also the entire home. They are made from heavy, solid weathered copper or dark brown copper sheets with visible hand hammered prints by artisans on them. The extra thick casting provided on the copper sinks will easily help it last for a lifetime and also help them in absorbing noise. They are highly resistant to stains and discoloration and become more elegant as it ages. Copper kitchen sinks are usually under mounted and are very expensive and fall in the luxury category of kitchen sinks. Kitchen sinks, generally are available as a single or double sink and also come in round, rectangular, square and oval shapes.

Kitchen Granite Top

A lot of women, and not a few guys, are rather specific about their kitchen area. They like every thing to be just so and detest anything to look messy. If they have Formica counters it drives them crazy as the Formica frequently cracks and chips and it can be tough to replace as the patterns alter on a regular basis. This is the reason most top chefs and people who adore their kitchens enjoy having a granite top instead of a Formica covered top.

It might not be the cheapest thing in the world to have granite tops installed in your kitchen though. The granite needs to be mined as well as processed and polished as well as cut as well as shaped prior to it being installed in your house. It is a rather lengthy as well as labor intensive procedure which means that the actual completed product is not going to be cheap either. The end result is definitely worth it though.

It's also entirely possible that you will need to either reinforce your cupboards or replace them to support the stone. Granite tops are usually a lot heavier than pressed wood covered in Formica. It really will look a good deal prettier and will last a great deal longer too.

You can be sure that once you have changed to a granite top you won't look back and will want to make sure that each and every kitchen you have from then on has the exact same type of counter top. Granite doesn't chip or crack or peel when it's used just a little roughly. You may also make use of the counters as cutting boards, something that you would not get away with on a Formica top counter. It's also very easy to clean. All you need is hot water and a cloth and even the most sticky mess can be wiped away. Formica has a tendency to form cracks as well as crevices where food debris and dirt get caught and make even the most clean counter-top appear dirty since you are not able to get rid of the dirt.

This hard wearing property of the granite top also makes it a much more hygienic surface for kitchens than Formica will ever be. You don't have the actual cracks and crevices where food could possibly get caught as well as breed germs when your kitchen counters are done in granite. Which means that your kitchen can be a great deal cleaner as well as safer for your loved ones.

It's no surprise that the best chefs and people who love their kitchen area would rather have a granite top as opposed to a wood or even Formica top. Granite simply lasts so much better as well as keeps things so much more healthy in your kitchen. If you are planning to be redoing your kitchen it may be a good idea to hold off as well as save a little longer to be able to afford to have granite put in instead of just replacing the old Formica with new Formica that will wear out just as rapidly. Think about it, you will like the result, I promise.

Modular Kitchen Advantages

Cooking has become a joyful experience with the advent of modular kitchens. These kitchens have transformed the complete decor of a home with its amazing designs and styles. Now a days these become so popular that most of the people prefer to install them in their homes regardless of their prices. The dual advantages of both style and convenience have escalated their demands.

Reasons Why These Kitchens are So Popular

The modular kitchens are far better in comparison to the ordinary ones. These kitchens appear modern and chic and can be fitted even when there is space constraint. There are many advantages of using these fitted kitchens and some of them are:

Trendy and chic: these appear quite chic and stylish with a variety of contemporary designs and colors. A huge variety of colors can be obtained including blue, green, red, orange, birch and hues of gold and cedar.
Maximum utilization of space: the modular kitchens are ideal for even small spaces as with a proper design and plan, you can obtain maximum storage facilities.
Easy to clean: these kitchens are quite easy to clean and maintain.
Variety of designs and colors: You can choose from a variety of designs and attractive colors. Kitchens with simple designs are also in vogue these days.
Quick installation: it takes very little time to install them kitchens as most of the fittings are ready made. The experts needs little time to install them and it's quite handy for homeowners as well if the gets a short session of installation guide training.
Maintenance: it is also easy to repair individual components of the kitchen separately.
Durable: the kitchen accessories and components last for a longer period of time if all the materials installed are authentic and of superior quality.
Accessories in Modular Kitchens

A well equipped kitchen requires a number of accessories but the modular kitchens are inclusive of some of the best accessories which make cooking a fun activity. Some of the essential accessories include:

Cooking range or hob: electric stoves and gas stoves have been transformed into a new compact unit which can be engraved into the granite counter tops. Such hobs are clutter free and leave ample space for cooking. It is a single unit which has multiple burners for quicker cooking.

Units or pull out drawers: the units are the best features of modular kitchens as it helps in storing many items like utensils, food items and so forth. There are different storing capacities for different units. You can choose them according to your requirements.

Cooker hoods: cooker hoods are essential in eliminating smoke from the kitchen. Electric cooker hoods are efficient and used in many modular kitchens.

Adjustable shelves: these shelves have handles for sliding drawers which can be used for storage facilities.

Shutters: Shutters are widely used in modular kitchens as it is best way to store crockery like plate and bowls safe and clean.

A variety of modular kitchen designs are available online where you can select the best among them according to the space available in the kitchen and the estimated budget. These fitted kitchens prove to be a style statement with its contemporary designs and functions.