A Quick Bathroom Makeover

It's summer and soon you will be bombarded with visitors from family to long-lost friends and they all have one thing in common - they will have need of a bathroom. So now you're panicked. But if you have 2 full days you can toss your worries away.

The first thing about a bathroom is cleanliness, both real and implied. Of course a bathroom has to be clean but does it look clean? Therein lies the rub. Here are some tips:

1) Clean every cranny of the bathroom including the ceiling. This includes behind the toilet. Use a stiff scrub brush and a good disinfectant soap.

2) Change the grout. In a shower or small bathroom this can be accomplished in less than

half a day and make the bathroom shine. Using a small rotary tool or drill with a circular sanding end the dirty grout can be removed. Fill with a colored grout for a fresh look. The instructions are on the box

3) Remove all silicone seal from the tub and surrounding crevices. Despite it being "mildew-proof" most of it looks skunky after a year so replace it. For a clean bead use masking tape on each side of the area. You will get sharp lines.

4) Buy a new shower curtain, towels and floor mat from a discount store. Make sure they are color coordinated with the bathroom.

5) Paint the walls ceiling if you have time. In a small bathroom this will take one day max.