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A bathroom is a room that may have different functions depending on the cultural context it is used in.
- In its literal sense it means "a room with a bath", but as bathtubs have partly made way for showers and steam showers, the more general sense of "a room where one bathes" makes more sense. There can be just a shower or just a bathtub or both, sometimes combined and sometimes separate (in which case the bathtub may have a second shower). Usually, it also contains a handbasin or sink and often also a toilet.
- In the United States, "bathroom" commonly means "a room containing a toilet" (in other countries this is usually called "toilet" or alternatively "water closet" (or "WC"), or "lavatory"). For this interpretation of the word see bathroom (American). In America they are categorized as full bathroom, containing a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, and a sink; half (1/2) bath containing a toilet and a handbasin (lavatory); and 3/4 bath containing a toilet, a handbasin (lavatory) and a shower.
En-suite (French for in room) refers to a bathroom attached to a bedroom, or shared among several bedrooms. If it is attached to a master bedroom it is known as a master bathroom.
Design considerations
The design of a bathroom must account for the use of both hot and cold water, in significant quantities, for cleaning the human body. The water is also used for solid and liquid human waste to a sewer or septic tank. Water may be splashed on the walls and floor, and hot humid air may cause condensation on cold surfaces. From a decorating point of view the bathroom presents a challenge. Ceiling, wall and floor materials and coverings should be impervious to water and readily and easily cleaned. The use of ceramic or glass, as well as smooth plastic materials, is common in bathrooms for their ease of cleaning. However, such surfaces are often cold to the touch and so water-resistant bath mats or even bathroom carpets may be used on the floor to make the room more comfortable. Alternatively, the floor may be heated, possibly by strategically placing heater conduits close to the surface.
Electrical appliances, such as lights, heaters and heated towel rails generally need to be installed as fixtures, with permanent connections rather than plugs and sockets. This minimises the risk of electric shock. Ground-fault circuit interruptor electrical sockets can reduce the risk of electric shock, and are required for bathroom socket installation by electrical and building codes in the United States and Canada. In some countries, such as the United Kingdom, only special sockets suitable for electric shavers are permitted in bathrooms, and are labelled as such.
Bathrooms can also be a source of decorative inspiration. One can easily decorate the bathroom by choosing shower curtains or cubicles to match a theme.
Criticism of Bathrooms
It has been pointed out that too much emphasis has been placed on bathrooms in modern society. The growing trend of ensuite installation has been questioned in particular. Critics claim that the concept is a red herring because ensuites are touted as convenient (since one does not have to pass a hall, landing or corridor to get to a toilet), yet it is often more difficult to open a door in a cramped ensuite, and health experts point out the health benefits of the exercise received from travelling a longer distance to the bathroom.
Statistics show that ensuite bathrooms tend to be dirtier than regular bathrooms because they are not frequented by visitors. Many interior design experts claim that they are also often poorly designed and shoe-horned into houses for which they were not intended.
Odor
Some use matches and aerosol cans to mask scents of defecation. Built-in fans and open windows are also popular methods of odor dissipation. For some people, a combination of two or three of these is practiced because of the severity of the odor they produce. In such extreme cases, these people will often shut the bathroom door on their way out, as a powerful enough smell can spread to several adjacent rooms if the door is left open.
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"Bathroom"