“The rectangular shaped bathtub is currently our highest-selling shape, followed by ovals,” says Haley Davis, product manager with Mansfield Plumbing. “And, at the end of a long day, apparently most people enjoy a stimulating whirlpool tub to ease away tensions, since those are our highest selling bathware products.

“The most popular tub feature in 2014 was the quiet, induction motor pump with variable speed control that ranges from 1 to 10 or can be set on oscillating. The keypad displays the water temperature, minutes remaining in the 20 minute cycle and the speed of the pump. This feature jumped ahead of the most popular option in 2013, which was the inline water heater that maintains a consistent water temperature no matter how long you soak.”

According to Davis, there are several other “tub tidbits” that the company is sharing, including:

• The company’s largest tub, the Castille^TM corner model, is 66 inches by 66 inches and holds up to 100 gallons of water. Bring a friend, because this tub has three separate seating areas.

• Forget about letting your tub air dry. The company’s Ariance^TM and Pro-Fit Air massage baths have a purge and dry cycle. Twenty minutes after your bath is finished the blower will restart to blow warm air through the empty air channel and air injectors. This flushes out any remaining water droplets from the system and begins the drying process.

• How does Mansfield make its fiberglass reinforced acrylic tubs? With long chop fiberglass strands that are hand rolled twice to add strength and support to the tub. And, tubs are buffed before shipment to assure they shine upon delivery.

• If you desire a rejuvenating soak, opt for a Swirl-way basic or luxury whirlpool. A much sought after standard feature is the Hydro-v back jet system that targets the upper, mid and lower lumbar areas of the back to provide a custom massage.

“Some people want a good, long soak in a deep tub with quiet music in the background while others enjoy a vigorous whirlpool experience with pulsating jets of water to soothe their muscles,” says Davis. “Fortunately we have a wide variety of options in our air massage baths, soaking tubs and whirlpool tubs.”

The post Tub Tidbits appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

“Imagine the time and effort it takes to keep an older toilet clean,” suggests Adriana Miller, product manager with Mansfield Plumbing. “That tedious chore goes away when adding a newer toilet to the home that is designed for easy cleaning. In addition, older toilets use a great deal of water, so it’s like flushing away your cash as you pay for escalating water bills.”

Miller recommends homeowners consider the clean and green rimless bowl design of the Cascade^TM high efficiency toilet (HET). The rimless bowl reduces germs and bacteria that typically hide in difficult-to-access rim areas of the bowl, so they may get left behind during a routine cleaning. With a rimless bowl design, that problem is eliminated.

“Cleaning is so much simpler with the Cascade toilet because a strong swirling action cleans the bowl with every flush,” says Miller. “The unique rimless bowl design makes it easier and faster to clean. And, thanks to the bowl’s 800 grams MaP flush rating, clogs of masses are virtually eliminated, so that the toilet needs less maintenance overall.”

Available in either a round front bowl or elongated SmartHeight^TM bowl design, the Cascade HET uses just 1.28 gallons per flush (Gpf), saving 20 percent more water than older 1.6 Gpf toilets. Thanks to its unique design, the Cascade is WaterSense^® approved to meet EPA standards for water efficiency in the home. Toilets earning the WaterSense label have been certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance.

The post Start Spring Cleaning in the Bathroom appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.

In the interest of saving you and yours some holiday hair pulling and maybe even some last-minute tears, here are a few of my favorite cleaning tips and products that will not only help beforehand but will make cleaning way less gross if you do find yourself with an up-do and a dirty bathroom.

#1: Don’t Let It Get Dirty in the First Place: Self Cleaning Toilets & Tips

I don’t mean you need to be one of those super humans that dusts every night. There are, however, some sneaky things you can do to keep things from getting super dirty to begin with. For instance, put Epsom salts in your bathwater to keep soap scum from building up in the tub.

And have you heard of the rimless toilet? Under the rim… that’s the part that get’s extra dirty, so take away the rim and add in extra strong swirling action, and you’ve got the Cascade toilet. In addition to the self cleaning toilet properties, it’s also a high efficiency toilet at 1.28 gpf, saving 20% more water than the 1.6 gpf toilet. Save yourself from dirty work and save dollars on water so you can serve fancy hors d’oeuvres.

I used to be embarrassed when someone inevitably peeked inside my oven during a dinner party. That is, until I started dousing the oven with cleaner on the nights we eat out. Let it sit overnight then give it a good wipe. So much easier than waiting until it takes a chisel to remove the char.

#2).  Green cleaning: Keep the Cleaning Clean

There used to be an extra special feeling in my lungs after I’d bleached the color out of the bathroom tile. Believe it or not, you can get your dirtiest cleaning jobs done without using harsh chemicals. I have one bottle filled with vinegar and water. That cleans pretty much everything, along with some baking soda and borax. Seriously, you can clean an entire house with these three things without singeing your precious lungs.

Some people point out that harsh chemicals are the only way they feel like bacteria are wiped out, but a little tea tree oil takes care of that. This is another way a rimless toilet can keep cleaning cleaner. No more bleaching out the ick… it’s cleaning itself so well, you just have to give it an occasional scrub. (Can you tell I don’t like cleaning the toilet?)

Other tips: use baking soda and water on shower doors, use a halved lemon on faucet water spots, and grab olive oil to clean stainless steel surfaces like dishwashers and refrigerator doors.

3). Invest in the Best Cleaning Products for Your Least Favorite Jobs

I can’t stand vacuuming. So cumbersome. That’s until I invested in a heavy duty vacuum cleaner that is seemingly fueled by pet hair (a Dyson, if you’re curious). I also own a high-powered steam iron, because ironing is a thankless job but sometimes it has to happen (a Rowenta). I now believe that it’s worth it to invest in appliances and cleaning products that will help you get the job done in the most pleasant way possible. It might even change how you feel about your most hated chores, so that you’re not waiting until a molehill is a mountain to do the really hard work.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, it’s time to jingle some bells.

The post Cleaning Doesn’t Have to Be a Dirty Job: Cleaning Tips & Tools that Make the Worst Jobs Easier appeared first on Mansfield Plumbing.