Bathroom Vanity Cabinets - Considerations Before Buying Bathroom Vanities Online

Bathroom vanity cabinets are an essential component of any bathroom and can add drama to your design and decor. Bathroom sink cabinets provide countertop space, a place for the sink and faucets and great storage below. It is amazing how often bathroom cabinets and storage are left out of the planning process. It is important to have a place for everything in your bathroom that is easily accessible to everyone. Bathroom vanity cabinets and storage provide home organization and reduce clutter. You never can have too much bathroom storage!

Here are some considerations before buying bathroom vanities online or in stores:

Bathroom vanity cabinets are available in widths of 18 inches up to 48 inches and in increments of 6 inches. When looking for bathroom vanities online or in stores, shop where you can find a wide variety of styles and sizes. From traditional to contemporary, you should be able to choose from vanity cabinets made of woods such as walnut, oak, maple, cherry and finished with high-gloss lacquer that showcases the natural wood finish.

Here are types of bathroom storage cabinets:

1. Cabinetry - bathroom vanity cabinets, wall cabinets, recessed cabinets and medicine cabinets.
2. Open shelving - recessed shelving, corner shelving and surface mounted shelves.
3. Over the toilet cabinets - cabinets that use the wall space over the toilet for storage cabinets.
4. Linen closets, towers with baskets, built-in closets and cabinets or freestanding bathroom sink cabinets that often extend from the floor to the ceiling and provide excellent bathroom storage for linens and other bathroom items.

You should be able to find bathroom vanity cabinets in these two styles:

1. Face-frame vanity cabinets. These bathroom cabinets will give your bathroom a more traditional and formal look. The frame and panel doors are designed to frame the cabinet box, and hinges can be either hidden from view or visible.

2. Frameless vanity cabinets or European style cabinets. These modern bathroom vanities will give your bathroom a more contemporary look. Frameless vanity cabinets will provide you with heavy-duty cabinet boxes and hinges that are hidden and easily adjustable.

When selecting bathroom sink cabinets and door hardware, make sure you match the period cabinets with period style knobs and pulls. You can sometimes find the antique type of knobs you may be looking for at flea markets. Knobs for your cabinets can be $3 to $5 each, and some can run $20 or more each, perhaps creating a problem for your budget.

For your bathroom vanity cabinets countertops, you have several options. You can choose from laminates, ceramic tile, wood, composite materials or solid surface materials such as stone, stainless steel or concrete. Laminates, composite materials, solid surface materials and stainless steel are more susceptible to scratches. However, composite or solid surface materials can be repaired and replaced very easily. Stone countertops are beautiful and durable, but they can stain easily and are expensive.

Ceramic tile is the most commonly used countertop surface. It is durable and you can select from a wide variety of sizes, colors and textures. However, the grout used between the tiles can stain and the tiles can have irregular surfaces. Wood surfaces are beautiful but can stain or mildew if not maintained well. Concrete is a durable and heat-resistant countertop surface, but it can discolor or crack.

Whether upgrading an existing bathroom or planning a new one, the bathroom is one of the best home improvement investments you can make. You, your family and guests will enjoy the bathrooms in your home every day. And should you ever sell your home, attractive and functional bathrooms add to the desirability and to the selling price of your home. Before you buy, read as much as you can on choosing the bathroom vanities online or in stores that will be the best for you and your bathroom. Learning as much as you can will be time well spent.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

About the author:
David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com- visit the website to learn more about home decorating and remodeling, home plans, kitchen and bathroom design and decor tips, home storage, outdoor decks, fireplaces, log cabin rentals and more.

How To Find The Right Type Of Humidifier Filters?

There are many reasons people choose to humidify their homes. Dry air caused by winter or living in a dry climate is responsible for a range of problems. Physical symptoms of dry air include: a dry nose and throat, which can make you feel sick. Other physical problems include chapped lips and tight, dry skin. Dry air can wreak havoc on your home as well. Static electricity is caused by lack of moisture in the air. This lack of moisture causes the air to pull moisture from your wood furniture and floors, causing cracking and splitting.

You can choose a room humidifier or a whole house model. Whole house machines are only available if you use a forced air heating system in your home. Your basic choices for humidifying your home are warm mist, vaporizer, or cool, pure mist humidifiers. Vaporizers cause the least amount of health problems, while cool mist models spread the most germs.

Benefits of Humidifier Filters

For many years, people with respiratory problems have been advised to use a humidifier. This advice is changing, as more is learned about potential dangers associated with these products. Humidifiers can cause respiratory problems, even in people with no history of difficulty. The main causes of these problems are bacteria and mold spores.

Improper use of a humidifier can spread bacteria and mold through the air. These particles are then breathed into the lungs, causing breathing problems and illness. To prevent this, you need to use care when using one of these products in your home. Many cool mist humidifiers are now being made with humidifier filters to help prevent the spread of these particles.

Materials used in Filters

A variety of absorbent materials are used in humidifier filters. Some have microbial coatings. These help reduce bacteria, but can clog easily. To be efficient, they must be changed regularly.

The best choice is a machine that uses High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA). People with allergies or asthma need these products, which are the air filtration option most often recommended by doctors. The material used in making HEPA filters is fiber glass and synthetic resin in a tight weave. This construction traps tiny particles as small as .3 microns. More particles are removed with HEPA than any other filter on the market.

There are a few models on the market that are combination humidifier and HEPA air purifier. People with severe respiratory problems sometimes use a separate air filtration system to keep the air clean. Both machines can be used simultaneously to both moisturize and clean the air without making you ill.

Replacing a used filter

In most cases, you can purchase a replacement filter in the store where you bought your machine. Depending on the store, there may be a less expensive option. Replacements are easily found on the internet for all humidifiers. You need to make sure you get the right product and size for your machine.

Pictures are available on most websites. Look at the brand and model number as well as the picture to be sure you are getting the correct size. Find out if the vendor has a return policy, in case you accidentally order the wrong item. Many companies charge a flat rate for shipping. To save money in the long run, purchase a few at a time. You will always have a spare when you need one.

It's important to change filters regularly. Check the manufacturer's directions to determine the frequency. This information is only a guideline. If your machine gets heavy use, replace the filter more often. With even the most minimal use, it should be changed at least once a year, at the end of the season. Discard the old filter before you pack the machine away and put in a new one for the next season.

Humidifier bacteria treatment products are said to extend the life of humidifier filters. These solutions kill bacteria in the water, keeping the filter healthier. You place the solution in the water before every use. A large bottle will last the season because you only need one capful for each application. These products can be purchased in many stores selling humidifiers and at most hardware stores.

About the author:
John Elrow contributed many articles to http://www.humidifier-tips.coman online home improvement site. Within his publication he is working on topics such as filters ( http://www.humidifier-tips.com/humidifier-filters.html) and air cleaners.