Why Baths Are Good For Your Health

Almost everyone loves a good bubble bath, they're so calming and relaxing. Unfortunately, adults don't get to take as many baths as they want. There are a number of reasons for this; they aren't as convenient as showers and just no spare time to take time out of their day. We are here to explain to you that not only are baths a great way to relax there are also lots of health benefits.

Baths Can Delay Aging

According to dermatologists, taking baths can reduce aging and adult acne. Why? Baths help lower cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can increase acne and induce premature aging. In order to get the full benefit with regard to cortisol, you have to make sure to moisturize fully after your bath, so your skin doesn’t get dehydrated.

Baths Can Relieve Sore Muscles

Many of us know that heat is a great solution when our muscles are sore. Applying heat to inflamed or sore muscles can help your muscles relax. In a bath, you are fully submerged in warm water, which relieves the muscles throughout your body. Additionally, bath additives such as Epsom salt can help relieve aches and pains as well.

Baths Are Just As Clean As Showers

A lot of people feel that baths are dirtier than showers since the water isn’t draining, but this actually isn’t true. According to Hygiene Experts, showers are better than baths only when you’re dirty or sweaty from being outdoors or exercising. If you’re just washing off from a normal day, a bath will get you just as clean as a shower. Plus, the steam from a bath can open up your pores and release the dirt.

Baths Can Lower Blood Sugar Levels

If your doctor has ever told you to watch your blood sugar levels and try to keep them low, baths may be a great option for you. Scientists in the U.K. recently discovered that taking a hot bath can actually reduce your blood sugar levels. Our blood sugar rises after we eat, and the amount it rises is one of the risk markers for diabetes, so keeping your blood sugar down can be really beneficial to your health. Obviously, baths should not replace healthy eating and a good exercise regimen, but it can be a great addition!

Baths Are good For Your Skin

Hot water is known to dehydrate your skin, so many people think showers are better than baths in the skin department, but that’s actually not the case. Your body has natural oils that it needs, and both showers and baths can strip your body of these nourishing oils. The difference between the two bathing methods is that you can put additives — like essential oils, mineral salts, bath bombs, oatmeal, honey, etc. — into your bath. These additional bath time ingredients can moisturize and replenish your skin. Just don’t forget to slather on the lotion to lock in the moisture when you get out of the tub!

Baths Are Good Stress Relivers

Many adults take baths for one reason: stress relief. Sitting in a bath forces you to stop multitasking and just take a few moments for yourself. According to Tub Yoga, increasing your body temperature can improve circulation, calm your nervous system, detoxify your body, and release endorphins. These endorphins make you feel good and can get rid of the stress that builds up throughout the day. Plus, you can light fragrant candles or drip essential oils into the bath for some at-home aromatherapy.

Baths Are Heart Healthy

Baths have been proven to lower blood pressure, which decreases stress on the heart and the cardiovascular system. According to a study published in The Journal of Physiology, a warm bath can improve cardiovascular health in a variety of ways, including lower blood pressure, increased blood vessel dilation, decreased arterial stiffness, and more. Just be sure to keep the temperature mild, because too much time soaking in very hot water can ramp up your heart rate.

7 Tips & Tricks to Help You Keep Cool This Summer

Too Hot? Take a look at our tips and tricks to help you stay cool and refreshed this summer! 

TAKE A WARM SHOWER

A cold shower to cool down after a long hot day will probably be your immediate choice, but did you know warm showers are more effective at keeping you cool in the summer heat?Contrary to popular belief, warm showers will lower your core body temperature because they increase blood flow to your skin, increasing heat loss from your body! Cold showers will drive your core temperature up because of the reduction of heat on your skin. 

TAKE A WARM BATH

The same thing happens when you take a warm bath... Plus they’re the perfect way to wind down after a long hot day. If you’ve been drinking plenty of water throughout the day then there’s no harm in bringing along a chilled glass of wine too (just remember to stay under your daily alcohol limit)! 

DRINK A WARM DRINK

Drinking warm drinks will help to lower your body's core temperature, the same way taking a warm shower or bath will help. If you’re a coffee lover, grab a hot cup of coffee instead of an iced one. If you’re looking to stay hydrated, as well as cool, drink a herbal tea. Coffee can dehydrate you because the caffeine part will make you go to the toilet more often! Hot countries with high humidity, such as Japan and Malaysia, will drink a warm cup of green tea to stay refreshed and cool throughout the day. 

THE FAN AND ICE DUO

Grab a bowl, add some ice, and place it in front of your fan. Fans won’t make your room any cooler, but they will make you feel cooler by moving air over your skin. If you add some ice into the mix (which will act like a cool mist humidifier) this will make the room feel a little cooler because you’re adding cool moisture to the air. 

CLOSE YOUR CURTAINS

Up to 30% of unwanted heat comes from your windows, so keep your blinds and curtains closed during the day! Blackout curtains will block sunlight from entering a room and neutral-colored curtains will deflect the sunlight from entering a room. 

TURN ON YOUR FANS

Bathroom fans and cooker extractor fans both hep to extract hot and humid air. We’re not suggesting you leave them on all day, but they will help to remove hot air and moisture when you use the bathroom or cook inside. 

COOK OUTSIDE

It’s an obvious one but, cooking inside will increase the temperature in your home. It’s also the last thing you want to do on a hot day. Some of us will already be taking every opportunity to use our BBQs now that summer has arrived, but for the rest of you, here’s your excuse to use your BBQ every single evening.

How to: Choose the Perfect Shower for Your Bathroom

Showers are often chosen by design preference, but what type of shower you’d like is very different to what type of shower your home might need. The type of shower which will work best in your home is determined by the pressure of your water from whichever water system your home runs on. Do you have a hot water system, a combination boiler, or a gravity system? Water systems and the water pressure they provide will affect the type of shower you will need. There are showers for all types of homes and pressures, there's also solutions such as shower pumps to fix low pressure gravity systems. Once you know your water pressure, you’ll know which type of shower to choose, then you can choose from a variety of designs these types of showers offer.   

Types of water systems

 Gravity system - If you have a gravity system you’ll have a cold water tank in your loft and a hot water tank in your airing cupboard. This is a low pressure system so you may need a pump to increase water flow. If not, use a low pressure shower valve with both feeds coming from the storage tanks.Best type of shower to have: Install a shower pump to boost pressure or use a low pressure shower valve Combination boiler - If you have a combination boiler, which is very common in modern homes, you’ll have a wall hung boiler and no storage tanks. This is a high pressure system and it relies on mains pressure to deliver water around your home, giving you hot water on demand. Cold outlets are connected directly to the incoming water main and hot water is produced when cold water passes through equipment specifically designed for heating water at pressure.Best type of shower to have: Any thermostatic valve or kit for shower use & a manual valve which is ideal for exofil bath fillers Unvented water system- If you have a unvented water system you’ll have a cold mains water supply with a hot water storage tank, and wall hung boiler. The hot water storage tank is filled with cold water from the mains and heated within the tank. The tank then stores a quantity of hot water at mains pressure. Best type of shower to have: Any thermostatic valve  & manual valves for bath filling 

Types of showers

 Thermostatic mixer - A thermostatic valve maintains your chosen water temperature, keeping it consistent, even when someone else uses a tap elsewhere in your home. It does this by regulating any possible temperature changes, to protect you against temperature fluctuations, which can cause scoulding. Thermostatic mixers require hot and cold water supplies. They’re great for family homes because they’re the safest way to shower. They’re becoming the standard shower to have in most modern homes.Suitable for homes with: Unvented water systems, combination boiler systems & gravity systems Electric shower - Suited to homes with low pressure, electric showers have their own heating element, producing heated water on demand from a cold mains supply. So you can have a warm shower at anytime of the day. Suitable for homes with: Combination boiler systems & gravity systems with poor pressure. Consider this type if you have poor pressure from your existing system Digital shower - Popular in modern bathrooms, digital showers offer state of the art technology.  They sometimes allow you to control your shower via a remote control or even your smartphone. They also offer ease of installation in modern bathroom renovations. Digital showers allow you to set an exact water temperature much like a thermostatic mixer, but fancier, so the showers already at your prefered temperature for when you’re ready. Most digital showers offer touch control and can also change colour from blue through to red depending on the water temperature.

Suitable for homes with: Any system, plus digital showers can come with/or without a pump

Still unsure? Please visit a showroom to speak to one of our bathroom experts for full clarification.

Types of shower designs

             

Unsure of your water pressure? We can help with that! Why not contact us or visit us in-store?

Our bathroom experts will be able to show you a variety of showers suited for your water pressure and your bathroom!

Good to Know: The 5 Essentials of any Wetroom

Think of a wet room and it’s hard not to think about expensive and large, luxurious spaces... But wet rooms come in all shapes and sizes, and can be created in any environment, at any cost. Traditional English bathroom design is awkward and very space consuming. Picture large, chunky built-in baths and confining shower cubicles. Both offer little to no space to move or relax in. Most importantly, climbing in and out of tight spaces is a hassle and it's often a big difficulty for many people.

Before...

 Though households around the world look to the wetroom to save and introduce space (and have done for many years), this type of bathroom style has only become popular in the UK over the recent years. Complete shower enclosures and traditional bath structures are now being eliminated completely because wet rooms offer so much more than your standard UK bathroom; accessibility, ease of use and design flexibility. Without common bathroom barriers you can create a soothing and flexible sanctuary, while every centimeter of space is utilised. This ultimately makes the everyday bathroom experience fuss-free, enjoyable and inviting.

After...

The 5 essentials of any wet room:

1. Create a zone for your wet room area. Think about where the shower head and valve should be located. You can also separate the wet zone with a dividing glass panel and additional flipper panel (see above).

2. The zone should be waterproofed. You can either install a wetroom try that can be tiled, or you can choose the latest shower trays which can be inserted into the floorboard space. Think about tiles to protect the walls, or opt for a simpler option such as nuance panels (100% waterproof wall panels which take way less time to fit than tiles).3. For safety you'll need waterproof lighting. Plus any heated towel rails should be kept out of the way of any splash zones.4. Create enough ventilation to keep the bathroom free from condensation and damp patches, and also make sure to buy an extractor fan even if the room has a window. Condensation free mirrors are a fantastic wet room feature, plus underfloor heating can create additional warmth and help to eliminate excess moisture.5. Consider additional comforts and safety features such as storage, shower seats, grab rails and non-slip areas. How about some recessed wall niches for easy access to toiletries (see below)?  Practical, modern design provides bathrooms which function better for the users, instead of what you think you should be getting... The traditional notion of what a bathroom should be. Wetrooms are practical and easier to clean. They also become a beautiful feature in any home and can add value to your home if you decide to sell. Plus they're a welcoming fit for smaller guest bathrooms depending on their design. Your bathroom floor is also better protected than it would be in a standard bathroom. So no leaks or flooding will occur if they're fitted properly. Most importantly, wet rooms can be accessible to anyone in your family. Regardless of age and ability.While the initial idea of a wet room can be luxurious and costly, they are simple and affordable depending on the design you opt for. You can also be creative in designing a unique environment that's just right for you and your family. If you're looking to update your bathroom or guest bathroom then a wetroom should be considered!  

3 disadvantages to keep in-mind:

1. Everything can get wet, so you'll need to be careful to keep the area dry, wiping down the wet areas after use.

2. The temperature of a wetroom will stay the same temperature as the surrounding area (the warmth from the shower won't increase the heat in the room). If you prefer warm showers then choose a shower enclosure instead (the heat will increase around you as you're showering).

3. You may need a professional to do the job depending on the type of design or products you choose.

  

5 Important things to remember:

1. Depending on the wetroom tray you are using, you may need a professional's help

2. You will need a good extraction fan and waterproof lighting for safety

3. Be aware of where the shower valve and outlet should go

4. Choose a 25mm shower tray or tileable wetroom tray

5. Think about your individual needs (& your budget!); do you want a shower seat or do you need safety grab rails?

Wetrooms our customers had...

 

Need more inspiration? Check out our wet room inspired Pinterest board or take a look at our wet room Ideabook on Houzz!

6 Tips & Tricks to Help Get Your Bathroom Back on Track

We should all understand by now that the more you ignore a problem, the worse the problem will get and with many of us this applies to household cleaning. In the UK 1 in 4 people are frustrated with their daily chores and will delay them for up to 3 days before they are completed.If you don't have the luxury of being at home during the week, then you're probably trying to fit in all the cleaning as and when you can, or delaying cleaning until it becomes too much to handle! UK homeowners will spend around 5 hours cleaning in a typical week; that's either 5 hours at the weekend or 1 hour spent every night after work during the week... So if you don't enjoy cleaning or have limited time in your day, these hours are better spent elsewhere!From time to time we all have issues with keeping our bathrooms clean throughout the week, especially if they're used every single day! Ideally, all bathrooms would look as spotless as the one below — cleaned by someone else... and styled ready for a close up — but that's just not possible on a regular day to day basis. 27% of people in the UK revealed that they wish they had help with their cleaning, so there's probably a lot more undocumented people out there who need help; whether that's hired and paid for help, or help from some quick and easy tips and tricks that won't cost you your time or your money!All 6 tips and tricks below are designed with regular household items in mind and can be carried out on a weekly basis to keep your bathroom clean, functional and maintained. These creative tricks will help to cut those hours worth of chores right down to something more manageable! 

6 tips & tricks to help you get your bathroom back on track:

 1.  Quickly prepare for anything!Solution: Run round with the hoover nozzle and suck up any dust, hair and unwanted dirt. Then wipe your bathroom around with various old clothes or a big towel to remove any loose soap residue and dirt. 2. Got a toilet in need of TLC?Solution: Grab a can of coke, empty it into the toilet bowl, leave for as long as you can and then scrub, scrub, scrub. 3. Mysterious leftover odors?Solution: Place an almost finished, scented candle jar on top of/under your radiator, turn up the heat and then crack open the window a little! You could also add in half an orange to the jar for an extra burst of natural aroma. 4. Scuzzy grimy shower screen?Solution: Use white vinegar, furniture polish or shaving foam for a super fast clean...Yes, really! These products will provide a protective film coating to prevent build-up during future use. Use an old cloth or t-shirt to wipe away any dirt, or use a microfiber cloth for an even faster clean! 5. Is your dirty mirror giving you a distorted view?Solution: Make up a simple 50/50 white vinegar and warm water mix, spray on and then wipe clean with an old cloth or even better, use a microfiber cloth. This mix will also clean tiles, counters, cabinet fronts and shower doors! 6. Toilet not flushing the way it used to? Don't have a plunger?Solution: Pour shampoo and then hot water straight down the loo, leave for about an hour and then flush!  If your bathroom's still too large to handle and you're looking for some extra help, click on the links below:

• Bournemouth cleaning service
• London cleaning services
• Cleaning quotes
• Rated People

 Have a cleaning tip you want to share? Comment below!