Let's face it... slippery bathrooms are a hazard in the home. Especially so for the elderly and young children. Even for adults in general we've heard of many users suffering falls, or sprained backs, ankles, wrists and muscles when trying to prevent one. So how can we design with safety in mind?
First and foremost - Design separate wet and dry areas.
It may sound like a no-brainer but it is something easily overlooked, or not thought well enough about. In the bathroom, bathtub and shower areas are considered wet areas. So there should be good separation from the rest of the bathroom.
So plan these zones away from the bathroom entry (so you don't have to actually walk past these zones to get to the toilet or basin area.
Put in shower glass or curtains, or maybe even a wall, to keep in the splashes. Get creative here with some of these ideas:
Featured item: Keuco Shower Curtain Assembly in Anthracite colour.
Non-slip bathroom mats are non-negotiable
Always. Always. Always... Always place a non-slip bathroom mat just after you step out of the wet zone. We can't emphasize this enough! People are wary when actually standing in the wet zone but let down their guard when they step out. Don't settle for cheap mats that are barely non-slip or have very poor absorbency.
What can you do if you don't like the design of those carpets available out there? How about making your own? Here're some pretty cool DIY ideas we came across:
DIY woven mat. Fancy this? See how to make this here!
DIY Teak bathroom mat. Love this look? See how to make this here!
Hose away all slipper soap suds
A good practice to instill in all users is to rinse the floor clear of all soapy residue after use. While at it, rinse your faucets, accessories and glass doors too! It's a good habit that goes a long way into contributing to safety and into keeping your fittings looking great for a long time.
Check out our previous post about soapy residue and how it harms your fittings here!
Accessorize!
Grabbing a few bathroom accessories designed for, well, grabbing onto, is another way of preventing the unwanted occurrence. Place them strategically for maximum effect.
Check out some of these accessories which are suitable not only for preventing falls, but also in general fantastic and practical for users who require more assistance.
Featured item: Keuco Plan Care grab bars in L-shape configuration with removable tip-up seat. Shower holder is integrated with the grab bar for maximum function.
Featured item: Keuco Plan care wall mounted tip up seat and Keuco Plan Care wall mounted grab bar.
All Keuco Plan Care products are tested to withstand more than 120kgs by international test boards.
Featured item: Keuco Plan Care Flip Up Grab Bar for WC area.
Also, try to keep the bath towel rail close by the wet zones. It doesn't add to safety if the users have to plod across the length of the bathroom to get to the towel. The risk is present in every step and it doesn't help to wet the entire dry zone that way.
Choose non-slip floor tiles
Once again, this sounds like a no-brainer but often times we get carried away in selecting the design we forget we need to choose floor tiles with more texture on them for better grip. Of course we don't want to go to extreme textures that would make it difficult to walk or clean.
Last but not least - Let the breeze in
Don't be shy! Throw open that door - and that window, after you've done using the bathroom. Let the bathroom be well-ventilated. This gets drying done at a faster rate and thus, keeps the place safe!
So there! How many of the precautions above have you done to keep your loved ones safe?
Do you know of more tips? Share with the community about your interesting methods!
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The picture painted by the article is funny but serious, unlike in the movies, bathroom injuries are very serious. The lighting, flooring material, pointed edges, everything should be perfect. A list can be found on the SF Bathrooms website for all this thing. A good looking and safe bathroom can be also good for taking good photos for social media.