Properly caring for your bathroom fixtures extends their life and keeps your house looking good. To avoid damage, it is important to know the kind of material with which you are dealing. For example, wooden bath vanities require different treatment than brass shower curtain hooks. Similarly, using the wrong cleaning method on a porcelain tub can result in unsightly scratches and discoloration. The first step when maintaining your bathroom fixtures, then, is to determine the material.
In most cases, you can tell what a bathroom fixture is made out of simply by looking at it. However, if you are not sure, a plumber can usually tell you. Shower curtain metal hooks are often created from stainless steel, chrome or brass and are finished with nickel plate or a similar material. In other cases, shower curtain rings and hooks are crafted out of resin or wood. Common materials for bath cabinets and vanities include stainless steel and various kinds of wood, including teak and maple. A regular light cleaning with basic soap and water is an excellent way of keeping your bathroom fixtures in good shape. If a fixture is grimy or develops a coating of lime, choose more intensive cleaners that do not damage the material. Avoid using undiluted bleach on porcelain surfaces, do not use abrasives on brass and keep chlorine away from stainless steel.
The best way to keep your bathroom fixtures in good shape is to perform regular maintenance, which usually takes just a few minutes each week. When items accumulate heavy soil or other damage, consult a manual, check online or ask a professional to discover the best cleaning methods for individual fixtures.