The bathroom is a place to enjoy a great bath or shower, and it’s not supposed to be a place to break bones and do yourself serious injuries. The fact is that most bathrooms are a lot more dangerous than people think. Making the bathroom safe is like home insurance – It’s nice to know you’ve got things covered.
Photo: Ken Doerr
The risks of slippery surfaces
It’d be nice to think that slippery surfaces were predictable, like soap on the floor, or something like that. The trouble is that they’re not at all easy to recognize. Some floors treated with non-slip materials just wear out, and bare patches emerge.
Some “non slip” mats, even with suction pads, are more dangerous than the floors. The floor may or may not be slippery, but they definitely are. all that’s needed is some moisture to get under them, and you’ve got an instant flying carpet.
Some surfaces are pretty good, like treated stone, which is flamed and prepared properly, but others, like ceramic tiles can be tricky. The problem is that people tend to assume these surfaces are naturally non-slip, and they’re not.
Some older places are virtual death traps. If you’ve ever spent a couple of years on a truly slippery surface, (real fun) you soon learn to appreciate the value of safety features like handrails and big, hard to move, bath mats.
There’s another problem too- Molds and algae. Molds and algae love water, and they hydrate very easily. Particularly on bathroom floors, where they pick up more moisture. These small colonies of mold, when wet are like waterslides. If you put your weight on a slippery patch, you slip.
The safest way to non-slip bathroom
There are a few easy ways of drastically reducing the slip hazards in bathrooms, but remember you need more than one approach. A non-slip surface alone isn’t quite enough. A bit of soap doesn’t stop being slippery because it’s on a non-slip floor. You need some supports which are stronger than the just nearest thing handy when you try to break your fall.
The basics:
- Full non-slip treatments- This is just a general spray, which bonds to the surfaces. These treatments usually last for about 10 years, and will do the basic job.
- Hand rails- strongly mounted tube steel with double or triple screws. These things can take the weight of very large people. One in the shower, one in the bath, and one close at hand in the area where you walk will do the job effectively.
- Heavy duty bathmats- These mats are so heavy that they usually won’t move when people step on them. They also hug the floor. As long as they’ve got waterproof surface underneath, they’ll sit tight on the floor, and the top of the mats will provide a lot of traction. (If you’ve seen those “tangle” door mats, that sort of surface is excellent.)
- Search and destroy mold and algae missions- These are necessary anyway. Mold can be a serious irritant and cause allergic reactions and even skin conditions. Get rid of them whenever you see them in the bathroom.
These things are the “contents insurance” to go with your fabulous shower or bath. Relax and enjoy.
