A new bathroom vanity is normally a substantial purchase, which can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. After you have made the decision on the style and price point of your new bathroom decor piece, it's time to talk about how to keep the vanity looking fresh for years to come.
Vanity Cleaning Products
Think before you clean. Most common cleaning solutions used on floors, glass, and even tile are not suitable for cleaning bathroom vanities. Pine-Sol, scrubbing powders, bleach and acid-based sprays may result in serious damage to the surface of your vanity’s countertop or cabinet finishes. Make sure to read instruction and warnings on the container of the cleaning product before application.
Where to Start
Begin the cleaning process by taking all items off the vanity top. They usually have grime and dirt deposited underneath, which are crucial to getting rid of during the cleaning process. After you have removed everything, do a pre-cleaning wipe down, to get rid of loose hairs, built up makeup powders, toothpaste and soap deposits. A wipedown will help to better assess how dirty the vanity actually is and what areas to focus on when cleaning.
How to Clean Natural Stone Countertops
Granite and marble are the most popular bathroom vanity countertop materials, known for their durability and natural beauty. Even though they do a good job withstanding the test of time, they are quite porous and can develop spots and stains without proper care and maintenance. After wiping down the surface, do not begin vigorously scrubbing the marble countertop. If you have tougher built up grime, consider soaking it with warm water for about 10 minutes to loosen up built up dirt then wipe it down with a soft cloth. Use dishwasher liquid and a sponge on leftover stubborn stains. When there is no more dirt left, wipe down the stone countertop dry with a paper towel or a dry cloth.
Cleaning and Maintaining Wood Cabinets
Nowadays most bathroom cabinets are put together using strong hardwoods such as birch, poplar or maple. Even though these materials are quite resistant to moisture and temperature changes, they still need proper handling in order to remain looking new over the years.
Bathroom vanities are water resistant, not waterproof. Don’t let water or any chemicals soak into the vanity for extended periods of time. Wipe off all water spills immediately as they happen. Use a soft damp cloth to get rid of toothpaste, aftershave or any other acidic chemical spills. If you leave them on for hours at a time, the wood might permanently stain or deform in the affected areas. Prevent mold from developing on your vanity, as well as other parts of the bathroom, by always leaving the bathroom door wide open to let the steam out after showering or taking a bath.
Prevent your vanity from losing color and shape. Avoid the unit getting exposed to direct sunlight. Extreme heat will make the finishes lose color over time. Do not install your vanity directly under an air vent, since extreme temperature changes might result in deformations or even cracks in the wood.
Cleaning and maintaining a bathroom vanity is not complicated or overly time consuming, as long as you put a little bit of effort into eliminating potential damage causes as they happen. Be sure to reseal the vanity's granite or marble countertop once a year.