You already know that your new vanity unit won’t clean itself. But that doesn’t mean that you can pick up any old detergent and start scrubbing away! You might cause unthinkable, irreparable damage.
After reading our Vanity Unit Care Guide, you’ll know exactly how to take care of your new bathroom piece. Let’s take a look at what you need to know.
What is a Vanity Unit?
Let’s explain what a vanity unit is. A vanity unit is a piece of furniture that houses the main bathroom sink and also provides suitable storage. While its primary function is purely aesthetic (hence the name), it also conceals any untidy plumbing.
A vanity unit gives you the opportunity to avoid using tired, traditional-style sinks and add a wow factor to your bathroom with a stylish, cool display. As well as hiding any plumbing and piping that you don’t want to be on display, it also creates incredibly useful storage space.
Get it right, and you’ll have an attractive new focus piece in your bathroom. But get it wrong – and believe us, it’s easily done – and you’ll clutter the bathroom’s character completely.
Make Sure Your Vanity Unit is Suitable
You’ll be surprised by how many different vanity units there are out there.
Your vanity unit will become an important part of your bathroom’s overall style. As that style changes over time, you want to make sure that your new unit doesn’t need to be replaced every year or two. Pick neutral, minimalist styles, and it will retain a look that never fades.
Think carefully about the contrast between your vanity unit, sink, and bathroom décor. Does it match the colour of the wall? Does it complement the bathroom flooring? And what about other units, do they work well together? Or is there awkward demand for attention between the different pieces of furniture?
As well as considering the different styles, colours and concepts for your vanity unit, you’ll need to consider which material will suit your room best.
Granite, marble, metal and wood can all be used to create vanity units. Each material has its own pros and cons. Some of them are incredibly durable, while others are more suited to completing the look of a stylish, lesser-used room.
More importantly, each material can get you one step ahead when it comes to maintaining the look of your vanity unit. By choosing a clean, sharp-looking surface, you’ll have less to do when it comes to cleaning and future-proofing.
OK, So How Do You Look After It?
Now that you’ve spent all that time and effort choosing the vanity bathroom unit that suits your room best, you don’t want to do it all over again, do you? These are the best ways to take care of your unit.
Choose the Correct Cleaning Product
Don’t just pick up any old surface cleaner for your vanity unit. How much have you spent on the unit itself? Are you going to risk damage to it by using a cheap, nondescript surface cleaner?
Make sure that you use the cleaning product that works best for your unit. Specifically, ensure that it’s friendly for the surface of your unit. If you use products that contain bleach or acid, don’t be surprised to find your vanity piece stained, damaged and requiring extensive repair. Normally, there’s a product for each of the major surface materials.
Remove Decorations and Ornaments
Next, remove everything that you need to remove from the surface. Remove decorations, plants, utensils and furniture from the vanity unit surface. It’s highly likely that dirt and grime have developed underneath these objects. By removing them, you’ll be giving your unit a much deeper clean and preventing the dirt from spreading any further and getting worse.
Wipe the Right Way
Now that you’ve removed all of your ornaments, don’t just start scrubbing away. First of all, do an initial wipe-down. This will remove any further dirt, hair and even toothpaste residue from the surface.
If your vanity unit surface is made of marble or stone, it’s a good idea to soak the area in warm, soapy water for at least 10 minutes. This will help to soften and remove dirt that develops in the microscopic pores and holes. Then, repeat until you’re satisfied. If there are stains, then work that area (and that area only) with a sponge. Wipe down the surface with a dry cloth and take care as you do so.
Simply attacking the surface with a scouring pad could create long-lasting damage. But, follow these tips and you’ll have a pristine surface.
Take Care of the Wood, Too
It’s less popular, but there are certainly vanity units complete with wooden surfaces. These surfaces are water resistant. That means that they need to be maintained and sealed when required – they aren’t waterproof.
Be sure to remove liquids, chemicals and daily materials as soon as you can – don’t leave them on the surface for long. This allows stains and mold to develop. But it also affects the shape of the wood.
The rest of your unit is likely to be made from hardwood. This needs to be preserved too. Take the time to regularly inspect it for the growth of any mold. Don’t expose it directly to sunlight, and ensure that your bathroom has good ventilation. Both moisture levels and the temperature inside your bathroom can severely damage the shape and strength of the wood.
Aspenn Furniture Vanity Units
Stick to these vanity unit care guides, and you shouldn’t find yourself with any problems. If you would like to speak to our experienced team about vanity units and caring for them, then please feel free to get in touch.
Be sure to check out our Aspenn Furniture vanity unit range. Our bespoke units are made with the highest quality wood, and can be adapted to suit any style you have in mind. You can even design your own vanity unit, and be absolutely certain your stylish new piece completes the look of your bathroom perfectly.