Although the bathroom storage rack is small, it is very troublesome to choose it poorly.
Many people only found out after buying them that they were either very prone to rust, or were shaking quite badly, and were in a precarious state if they placed some items even slightly.
Today, I will explain the complicated process of choosing bathroom shelves at once, covering everything from materials to installation, to help you avoid the pitfalls you usually encounter.
Let’s look at the material first: stainless steel and space aluminum are the mainstream
Nowadays, most of the bathroom shelves with a relatively good reputation on the market are made of stainless steel or space aluminum.
These two materials are naturally resistant to moisture, so they are very suitable for use in places with heavy moisture such as bathrooms.
The glossy stainless steel shelf is heavy on the hand, wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant, and will rarely cause problems after five or six years of use.
However, it has a small disadvantage, that is, it is relatively heavy. If the conditions of the wall are normal, you need to pay special attention to fixing it firmly when installing.
Those materials made of space aluminum are much lighter than other materials. At the same time, their surfaces are not prone to water stains. You can feel dry after wiping them after taking a shower.
Its shape is generally more simple and is formed in one piece. Its board surface is flat, which is especially suitable for families who prefer modern style.
No matter which one it is, it is much more reliable than iron or ordinary painted shelves.
Check the stability: press it with your hands and you will know
Many people only look at the appearance when buying a shelf and ignore a key point – the load-bearing capacity.
Bathroom storage racks are used to store heavier items such as shampoo and shower gel. However, the bottom is not strong enough and is easily deformed.
When performing the selection on site, you can use your hands to press the surface of the shelf with moderate force to feel if there is any obvious shaking. A squeaking sound when slight pressure is applied indicates that the structure is not strong enough. In addition, you also need to check the design of the support points at the bottom of the shelf. The design with triangular structures or reinforced ribs will be more stable.
Moreover, the method of fixing the shelf to the wall is also very important. Although the suction cup type does not require drilling, it is easy to fall off after a long time. Drilling holes and using expansion screws to fix it is the most stable. It can withstand gravity very well. Once it is done, it will always be comfortable.
Size and style should match the bathroom
The bigger the shelf, the better.
Before purchasing, it is best to measure the remaining blank space on the bathroom wall in your home, and then think about what items you usually need to place.
If you just want to place a few bottles of toiletries, then a corner shelf with a width of 30 cm is enough; if you want to place a family's towels, bath balls, and scrubbing brushes, then you need a multi-layer floor shelf or a long towel rack.
Bright silver stainless steel, a common color on the market, cannot be ignored. The matte color of space aluminum cannot be ignored either. Neither can black paint. They are all versatile.
If the color of the tiles is lighter, such as white or silver shelves, it will look cleaner; if you are going for an industrial style decoration, choosing black will have a more texture.
The shelves on which items are placed should be as consistent in color as possible with the faucets used to collect water, the showers used for bathing, and the rods used to hang dry towels at home, so that the overall effect will appear more coordinated.
Detailed workmanship: Welding points and edge processing should be smooth
When the bathroom is in a humid state, the welding points and corners of the shelves are the places where problems are most likely to occur. The solder joints of a high-quality shelf are round and smooth, with no obvious bulges or burrs. You can use your hands to stroke along the edge of the shelf to see if it will scratch the skin of your hands. If the edges are sharp or the solder joints are rough, it will not only easily rust over time, but may also scratch your fingers. In addition, the thickness of the pipe wall is also very critical. Generally speaking, it is more suitable to be in the range of 1.0 mm to 1.2 mm. If it is too thin, the bearing capacity will be poor, and if it is too thick, it is unnecessary.
best choice Stainless steel pipes are directly welded into shape, so there is no risk of the electroplating layer falling off.
The surface of some low-quality shelves may look bright, but after a few months of use, they will begin to peel and rust. This is because the welding process and surface treatment do not meet acceptable standards.
Choose the appropriate type according to the size of the space
Depending on the size of the bathroom, the type of shelves should also change.
For smaller bathrooms, corner shelves or suction cup wall mounts are great helpers. They can make full use of the space in the corner and make reasonable use of the gaps in the shower area.
If there are a large number of family members and a lot of items, you may want to consider floor-standing multi-layer racks or combination racks with hooks, which can store a larger number of items and can also hang bath balls and bath towels.
In addition, there is a storage rack above the toilet, which uses the wall behind the toilet for storage, which does not take up space and is practical.
If the space is really not enough, you can also directly look for a company that customizes bathroom shelves to make one specifically according to the wall size and storage needs. Although the price is more expensive, the storage effect is the best.
The installation method directly affects the user experience
If you buy a shelf and install it incorrectly, it means you bought it in vain.
Punch-hole installation is the strongest and is suitable for placing heavy objects, such as large bottles of shower gel and laundry detergent.
The disadvantage is that it will damage the tiles and requires an impact drill tool.
If you don’t plan to drill holes, you can choose nail-free glue for installation. Its load-bearing performance is also very good. However, you need to wait for the glue to completely dry before placing items. The usually required time is 24 hours.
The suction cup type is the most convenient, but it is only suitable for placing very light items, such as soap and small bottles of hand sanitizer, and you also need to ensure that the wall is completely smooth and flat.
No matter which installation method is used, it is best to do a test first to make sure that the shelf will not become loose before it can be officially used.
In fact, bathroom storage does not need to be too complicated. As long as you choose a properly adapted storage rack, the countertop can suddenly become refreshing.
Keep in mind the materials involved, carefully check whether it is stainless steel or space aluminum, use your hands to press it to see if it is stable, measure the dimensions accurately for the wall, carefully check the details including solder joints and edges, and follow these steps to complete the operation process. Basically, there will be no purchasing errors.
It doesn’t matter if the bathroom at home is small. If you choose the right storage tools, it can still be clean and tidy.
