Hi Kristimama, I thought I'd give you some of the things I have been using. First, I have absolutely loved my Lotus Sanitizing System -- you can read reviews and threads on Gardenweb about them. Some people love them; others hate them. I personally have had good luck since I got the upgraded model (I wouldn't recommend the LBU100 standard model as it's had a lot of problems). The machine ozonates water which makes it a sanitizer/disinfectant. Since you're just using 'water' to clean -- it's friendlier to you and the environment. I spray down my bathroom surfaces -- let them sit for about 5-10 minutes, then follow-up with a microfiber towel. It leaves everything shiny and clean. There's no smell and no chemicals to worry about. You can safely use it around kids and pets. The downside is that the product is expensive. The base model is over $100 and the higher-end model is about $150. Once I got a model that works as it should, I've come to rely on it and use it in the kitchen and bathroom daily. It is registered with the EPA and FDA as an approved food surface sanitizer. The other suggestions is to try a vinegar/water mixture with Tea Tree Oil added to it (about 20 drops). Tea Tree is a natural germicide and has mild disinfecting properties -- probably enough to get the troublesome germs out of the bathroom. There's lot of recipes for non-toxic cleaners on this site and you sometimes have to experiment to find one that works for you. For example, a lot of recipes call to add vinegar and baking soda with tea tree oil. I find that solution to leave a white film on everything if you don't rinse well, so I don't like using it. There are also a few new disinfectants on the market that are safer than traditional chemistry options. You can Google them to find out more. I tried one, PureGreen24, but found that it left everything kind of 'sticky.' The most important thing to remember when cleaning is that you're trying to remove as much dirt as possible. Not all cleaners are disinfectants. Regular maintenance cleaning will leave a surface sanitary (meaning most of the dirt and germs are gone). If you want that true extra step of disinfection, you must use an EPA registered disinfectant--most of which require proper application and safety handling instructions. I'm attaching a link on some of the FAQs of disinfecting. Hope it helps! Here is a link that might be useful: Soap & Detergent Association FAQ

Thanks for the info on the tub-- we remodeled master bath about 4-5 yrs ago in home we owned but rented to our son--we neeed to find a smaller tub for space that the acrylic soaker was in-- ordered it at Ferguson's and think it was AS--was a fiberglass tub--not my favorite but wasn't that expensive and fit the space... Maybe if my husband sees there are no nice small tubs he will agree to the shower upgrade We are familiar with aging in place stuff--house we bought in TX has roll in showers in both downstairs bathrooms and some other features... but thanks for the link This shows the entrance into part of bath with tub and shower the area just to left of pocket door is linen closet--then the small shower--the toilet is on that exterior wall-- I think there might be room to extend the side of the shower closest to toilet a foot or so which can make a difference in such small space...but it would make toilet sort of lopsided on the wall spacing...

If you are considering flooring for a bathroom where continuous moisture is expected, you will want to select a product other than hardwood. While the moisture resistance of an engineered hardwood makes it suitable for rooms below grade or ground level when installed with a moisture barrier, it is not advisable to install any hardwood flooring in a bathroom.

If you have to pay for labor, there isn't a lot that 1K can buy. DIY is the key. New laminate countertops in a kitchen, even a pretty large kitchen, can be done for under 1K if you DIY. A pretty tile backsplash. Even at a relatively pricy $30 a square foot for something special, it's still under 1K for the average kitchen if you DIY. New knobs and pulls, DIY again. It's pretty easy to go overboard on this, but doing it under 1K should be doable. New tile floor, DIY. Even if you have to buy a wetsaw, there are plenty of bargain tiles out there that look great! Replace a window with a french door. If you're OK with a moderate priced door and can DIY it yourself, including redoing the exterior and interior trim, you can do this for under 1K. The bigger factor will be if you have the right sized window to change out where you don't have to reframe any of the headers. A paver patio adds a lot to any landscape and is inexpensive to DIY. A 10 x 12 patio and some new furniture can be done for under 1K. A new landscaped garden bed with a focal point like a pretty bird bath or new mail box can be done for well under 1K, and that's with decorative edging as well. A new accent chair in a funky color can be had for under 1K. You can also roam Craig's List and recycle an older one with new upholstery. A basic new stainless steel refrigerator can be had for under 1K, especially with the Cash for Clunkers appliance rebates that many states are offering. There is plenty that can be done for under 1K that dramatically impacts a home's current livability and will still be appealing at resale time.