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It’s not exactly news that white vinegar is a great safe and natural cleaner for all kinds of surfaces. But today I wanted to talk about one place that vinegar is particularly useful – the bathroom! Bathrooms are a gathering place for all sorts of hard-to-clean messes, but you can tackle almost all of them with the help of vinegar! The high acidity level of vinegar helps loosen mineral deposits (such as lime & rust) and dissolve soap scum , making it perfect for bathroom cleaning ! And because it is so acidic, it creates a “hostile” environment for many microorganisms, making it a powerful disinfect as well. A 1997 study in the Journal of Environmental Health showed that undiluted vinegar was just as effective as bleach in eliminating E. coli from surfaces and sponges. It’s also incredibly effective at deodorizing  and cutting grease . Now that’s cleaning POWER! Here are 8 of my very favorite ways to use vinegar in the bathroom. 8 Ways To Use Vinegar In Your Bathroom Clean ...

When designing a bathroom, the key is to look beyond this space. Does the style blend with the rest of your house? Now, keep in mind, you don’t have to be matchy-matchy and blending doesn’t have to be boring. But if your door knobs and hardware throughout the home are oil-rubbed bronze and you choose nickel for a hall bathroom, the change in finish could be distracting to the eye. Same goes for color scheme, except for the powder room, where drama reigns. If the master bedroom walls are painted a cheery yellow and you go for a burgundy wine colored bathroom , the jarring contrast will create a choppy feel, not the smooth transition you’re after. Unless you plan on renovating the bedroom and changing the colors there, you want an adjacent bathroom design to go with the flow. “If the bathroom is part of a master bedroom, it needs to tie in with color or texture—something,” says Eileen Kollias, designer/owner, Eileen Kollias Design , Boston, Mass. “If the bathroom is in the hallway a...

Photo The crowning feature of the Gainsborough is a two- level spa complex with three thermal pools. Credit Ytl Hotels Rates Rooms from £255 (about $315). Basics In a city that has attracted visitors to its mineral- rich thermal baths since Roman times, the opening of the first hotel with its own natural thermal spa on site was a major event. The Gainsborough Bath Spa , which opened in July 2015, occupies two historic buildings with handsome Georgian and Victorian facades. But the crowning feature of the luxurious 99-room property is the spacious, two- level spa complex , which has three thermal pools fed by the area’s famed natural spring water . Champalimaud Design, based in New York, created elegant interiors that, in conjunction with the staff’s considerate service, ensure guests’ comfort even when they’re not “taking the waters.” Location The property is on a quiet lane in Bath’s historic center, the entirety of which is a Unesco World Heritage site known for its lovely Geo...

Ted Marules' new bathroom is neither subtle nor cheap. "We had visions of grandeur," he says of the $20,000 renovation to his Houston-area home. "We planned to have some wonderful moments in there." Marules and his wife sprung for all the frills: special- order Spanish tile , marble floors, gold faucets and the Texas- sized whirlpool bathtub . "We got some really nice, fancy stuff, and we spent the damned money for it," says the 53-year-old accident reconstruction expert . "Looks like a Roman whorehouse, but it's beautiful." The centerpiece of Marules' marble palace is the hourglass tub, a 10- jet Jacuzzi mounted like an acrylic altar at one end of the room. It set him back $1,897.70. In its promotional materials, Jacuzzi says the tub Marules bought , the Real model, "surrounds the bather in sumptuous curves for an exceptional bathing experience ." Through the Magic Touch controls and PowerPro jet system , it promises ...

Humans have turned to the healing properties of water for centuries. The Ancient Egyptians used to bathe in the Nile for religious purposes and the Ancient Greeks were famous for their gorgeous, elaborate bath houses . The combination of water, warmth, and steam can alleviate joint and muscle aches, relieve headaches, open the sinuses, promote a healthy delivery for pregnant women and so much more. If you’re already taking baths, you’re a few steps ahead of many other individuals (who only stand in their baths and use the shower). If you aren’t yet taking baths, it’s time to finally clean up your bathtub so you can lie down in it. Taking regular baths could alleviate a number of ailments you’re suffering from. Once you’re in there, here are some healing things to add to your bath. Ginger Ginger has long been used to treat stomach ailments and fight off colds and flus. Adding ginger root to your bath can provide many of the same benefits. If you suffer from bloating, gas or digestive...

Excerpt from 'How Clean is Your House' By Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie Getting started Kim and Aggie's essential cleaning kit A glance at the shelves of cleaning materials in any large store will tell you that there is a breathtaking array of cleaning creams, powders, polishes, liquids, cloths, mops and tablets available. Of course you don't need them all! Some are time-saving, but buying so many products is hardly economical—we'll show you other cleaning methods that avoid buying a special product that does only one job. However, every home should have a basic cleaning kit . All the homes we visited contained cleaning materials —they just weren't being used. Their purchase was a sign of the best intentions, but then they had been buried at the back of a cupboard—often covered in grease or dust! Name a product and you can be sure that we have tried it. Here is a list of the supplies we never ...