A comfortable refuge - the bathroom

CEBU, Philippines - The bathroom is one of the most important parts of the house – not only for house residents but for house guests too. When visiting a friend’s house, for instance, one would probably have a need to use the bathroom at least once. And this could make a lasting impression.

First of all, a nice bathroom is for the sake of the house residents, who are understandably going to use it far more times than the house guests. It should be a truly comfortable space; hence it is also called comfort room. And it can only be a space of comfort if it is clean and smelling fresh.

A clean bathroom requires wiping surfaces daily and deep cleaning weekly in order to prevent illness and infections affecting aging and unhealthy individuals in the home, according to Neil Rotter, in article at www.accreditednursing.com. He cautions about the possible ill effects of an unclean bathroom:

? Inhaling mold and dust can cause health concerns for those who may already suffer from breathing problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, or other conditions.

? Microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, and pathogens can live on bathroom surfaces for up to a week or more. Keeping a clean bathroom means wiping surfaces daily with bacteria killing solutions like vinegar, bleach, and anti-bacterial cleaners; paying special attention to the surfaces of the toilet, tub, sink and all handles and faucets.

In some houses, the bathroom doesn’t get the pride, care and attention it deserves. It’s only the living room and the dining room that are often pretty well minded. The only time the bathroom gets shown off is if it is just remodeled, notes Justin DeMarco in an article at www.thoughtcatalog.com.

DeMarco cites the importance of the bathroom. He says it should not be a place “in which you can’t sit down on the toilet without your knees hitting the wall.” Instead, the bathroom should be truly deserving of its alternate name, comfort room.

The bathroom is where one starts and finishes each day. He wakes up, uses the toilet, wash his hands, takes a shower, brushes his teeth, style his hair, and then get out the door. Before going to bed, he relieves himself, washes his hands, brushes his teeth again, she removes makeup or washes her face, applies any creams or moisturizers, and is then ready for bed. The average person spends about one and a half years of his or her lifetime in the bathroom.

It’s the ultimate judgment zone. Anyone visiting another home is probably going to use the bathroom at some point. If there are urine stains on the toilet seat, random stray hairs everywhere, toothpaste in the sink, brown marks surrounding the bowl, and no soap in the dispenser, the visiting friends, family, or any guests will have a bad impression of the homeowners. And they may be right.

One can truly be himself or herself in the bathroom. It’s a very private, judgment-free zone. He doesn’t have to worry about what he’s wearing, how he looks, and can take as much time reading the paper or doing anything else that he wants in the bathroom so long as there’s no one else waiting to use it after him.

The space offers solitude and serves as a great hiding spot. If one wants to take a break from anyone or anything, it is the place to go. Most people won’t bother someone using the bathroom. One is safe in the bathroom – as long as the door is locked, of course.

People who have had a bad day or simply want to disconnect from the world for a little while, may do so by taking a long bath or hot shower. Or they may just sit on the toilet cover and relax. The bathroom is a good place to decompress. 

A way to appreciate the importance of the bathroom is during the time when one wants to use it and there is none. That will certainly drive home in him the idea that the bathroom is a refuge from physical and mental discomforts and, thus, shall be maintained properly for such purpose. (FREEMAN)