Do-It-Yourself Video - Bathtub Caulking Tips

Irwin Weiner ASID - The old caulk between my NYC apartment bathtub and the tile wall is gross. It's starting to mildew and it refuses to look clean, even after a solid scrubbing. And I don't think the seal is very secure, so it's time to remove the old caulk and start again. The following featured video is from The Family Handyman and shows you the best ways to remove old caulk and how to lay a nice, smooth caulk bead without sloppiness.

Click on the photo above to learn a clever trick for smoothing a caulk bead with your fingertip, without the sticky mess. And click this link for more Bathtub Caulking Tips from The Family Handyman. With all these tips, I guess there's no excuse not to remedy the caulk problem in my bathroom. (Now if there were only a video with tips on how to avoid DIY procrastination!)

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5 Skinny Bathtubs Important for Tight Bathroom Spaces

Irwin Weiner ASID - I'm grateful to manufacturers for producing skinny bathtubs. Instead of the standard 32- to 35-inch-wide tub here in the States, it's great that companies like Duravit are offering a 27 inch or 700 mm alternative.

Many apartments and smaller homes have to meet code-required door swings to allow access in and out of bathrooms, or tubs have to fit into a too-narrow alcove. For many homeowners, they've had to eliminate the bathtub due to limited space.

The problem is, tubs are

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How to Safely Clean Mirrors

Irwin Weiner ASID - There are so many inexpensive mirrors available for home decorating; it's nice to finally see the prices going down on essential home accessories! But with the rise of popularity of inexpensive, cheaper mirrors - as well as the collectibility of antique mirrors - comes an epidemic of what's known as "black edge."

This is the condition where a chemical like ammonia from many window cleaning products seeps into the cracks or edges of a mirror and begins to eat away at the silvering on the back edge of the mirror. This can also occur on mirrored walls or on smaller mirror panels when the cleaning product is sprayed into the cracks where two pieces of mirror butt up against one another. And in the case of antique mirrors, you have enough spotting and silvering and natural streaking with age without ruining something beautiful and weathered through improper mirror care. 

The solution is to use a non-ammonia based or green cleaning product, or to make your own natural cleaner. Apply the cleaner to a cloth or spray it in the center of the mirrored panel and swoop down on it with a non-soy-based-in newspaper sheet or paper toweling before the drips get to the edge or in cracks and crevices. For more complete information, go to this thorough How to Clean Mirrors article from HowtoCleanStuff.net.

And today's featured video is from Julie Edelman, author of The Ultimate Accidental Housewife - learn a simple trick for how to keep a bathroom mirror defogged for several weeks!

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4 Quick Decorating Tips for Boring Bathrooms

Jessica Ackerman - If your bathroom is a visually boring place, perhaps it's time for a much-needed change. Although bathrooms are generally the smallest rooms in a home, there's no need to go small on the decor and overall look. In fact, with just a modest amount of decorating and perhaps the addition of a bright new shade, your bathroom just might become the most visually exciting room in your home. If you're ready to transform your boring bathroom into a decorating showcase, here are some tips to help get you started.

1. Pick a Fun Theme

Although you might not want to choose a fun and funky theme for a formal master bathroom, it can be a nice approach to take with other bathrooms throughout your home. For example, imagine how great your children's bathroom would look when decorated in a funky theme. A low-key, casual beach theme, for instance, is a great approach to take when decorating a bathroom. Not only does it look great, but the casual nature of the decor also makes it easy to keep neat, tidy, and organized.

It's easy to create just the right look when decorating a themed bathroom, thanks to the wide variety of themed bathroom accessories you'll find on the market today. For example, you'll find no shortage of beach metal wall decor from which to choose.

2. Keep It Sleek and Simple

You might enjoy a more detailed decorating style throughout the rest of your home. However, the bathroom is one room that can definitely benefit from a simpler approach. When you factor in all the time and effort it takes to keep a bathroom neat, clean and sanitary, you can definitely see how simple and sleek is better than frilly and fussy when it comes to decor.

When choosing decorating accents for the bathroom, it's a good idea to think in terms of how washable and water-resistant the items are. For example,

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