henna staining bathroom surfaces

[lillielil]

I hope this isn't too off-topic; it is related to henna, but not to hair.

Right now I'm in the process of buying a house that has two of the ugliest, least functional bathrooms I have ever seen. The upside to that is I get to decide exactly what the new ones will look like! Since I greatly enjoy not having big orange splotches, I would like to find out what type of bathtub/counter is most resistant to henna staining. Can you tell me anything about how much it stains the following surfaces?

Countertop
Laminate
Granite
Solid-surface (quartzite)
Something else?

Tub
Fiberglass
Enameled steel
Acrylic
Something else?

I know tile is the DANGER ZONE when it comes to henna because of the grout - my last apartment pretty much had orange grout by the time we moved out because I was not at all careful.

[Anje]

I don't have any suggestions, but I recently bought a house that also has tiny and not very functional bathrooms. Sadly, they're low on the priority list and I can't see any way to enlarge them (short of knocking down a stone exterior wall), but If you get an answer for what doesn't stain, I'd be interested to know!

I can tell you that probably-1950s getting-porous enameled bathtub picks up stains readily. :P

[lapushka]

You just have to remember, whatever surfaces you go for, to cut up 2 big garbage bags. Put one in the sink, underneath your bowl and cover the most surface area with the remainder of the bag, that you can. Then put the other one on the floor. You will limit the staining by 99%! ;)

[KittyBird]

I second Lapushka's suggestion about the trash bags. You could also use a big ugly towel on the counter and put one on the floor to stand on. That's what I usually do. I also keep plenty of tissues around, in case I manage to stain something despite my efforts. As for the shower/tub, I've never experienced any staining in there, as long as I rinse it properly afterwards, and maybe scrub it if necessary.

[lillielil]

How do you contain the henna when rinsing it out? I finally figured out how to keep it tidy when I am applying it, but it gets everywhere when I am rinsing it out. I also tend to apply it in the tub with my head upside down.

Anje - is yours enameled cast iron? I would love to get an antique one one but don't want to have to reinforce the floors. And I hear you on having to knock out walls. I think what we will do is swap out the large sink cabinet for a much smaller one, swap out the radiator for the smallest one we can find, and potentially lose a closet in one of the bedrooms in order to move the tub 3' away from the toilet. I'm pretty sure that bedroom will be used as an office or guest room anyway, so losing the closet isn't a big deal. The other bathroom I'm looking at is in the basement (next to the sauna - hahahaha this silly house has a sauna!), and my plan is pretty much to flood it with bleach and then run away, and come back to it in 10 years...

[lapushka]

Anje - is yours enameled cast iron? I would love to get an antique one one but don't want to have to reinforce the floors. And I hear you on having to knock out walls. I think what we will do is swap out the large sink cabinet for a much smaller one, swap out the radiator for the smallest one we can find, and potentially lose a closet in one of the bedrooms in order to move the tub 3' away from the toilet. I'm pretty sure that bedroom will be used as an office or guest room anyway, so losing the closet isn't a big deal. The other bathroom I'm looking at is in the basement (next to the sauna - hahahaha this silly house has a sauna!), and my plan is pretty much to flood it with bleach and then run away, and come back to it in 10 years...

Mine is an enameled tub, old-fashioned maybe, but the *best* to clean (says my mom). Don't get a plastic tub, please!

[lillielil]

Mine is an enameled tub, old-fashioned maybe, but the *best* to clean (says my mom). Don't get a plastic tub, please!

I want as old-fashioned as possible! I am thinking more this (bun and toddler included)

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/72388000/jpg/_72388074_25415719_richandpoor_maryevans_10127374. jpg

Whereas now it is this (the big thing behind the sink is a huge radiator encased in a wooden box... I have no idea why)

http://rwimage.fnisrediv.com/ListingImages/mnrmls/addl_picts/0/0/4593332-16.jpg

[Hairkay]

I just oil my bath and sink before doing henna and it washes off nicely. They're white by the way. The floor gets covered in newspapers.

[RavenRose]

laminate counters can stain- But my plastic surround on my shower has never shown stains from henna, nor has my older some type of hard plastic tub, however the caulking has..

[Anje]

I think mine might be iron, but it's not one of those cool ones with feet or anything. It's just your standard (or maybe a bit smaller) rectangular tub set into the wall. There's some visible water damage under it, but I think I've solved all the active leaks (mostly cracks between tiles). Long term, I'd like to take up the little tiles on the floor that are reminiscent of a locker room, and generally make it not all be pebbly blue.

[Namratha]

I think that the garbage bags are the best to prevent the stains. Oiling the sink is also a good practice but I find it dangerous to be oiling the floor. So on the floor the garbage bag is much better. Also, what I do after washing the henna, is to clean the whole bathroom. When the henna is freshly washed, it will stain less than if you leave it for a few hours. So right after washing, you will have to wash the bathroom all over again.

[Autumnberry]

This is a good question, since our henna experience must be enjoyable and without stress! I bought several dark colored cotton towels. (Any dark color will work.) They have been exposed to gobs of henna many times and not one stain is visible. A dark towel goes on the floor during application, and I put some wax paper over my sink where the henna bowl sits. My plastic shower has had the henna sit on it during rinsing and has not had any staining. I would not use oil on the surfaces because of the hazard of slipping. I use a towel over my pillow case, too, and make sure that for several days that my hair is not damp when I lie down. I also have a special set of "henna clothes" so I never worry about the drips too much, as long as they don't hit the floor around the house. The day after hennaing, all these towels and henna clothes get washed together--with no issues. My only issue is the scalp henna staining that lasts a couple of days and is eradicated after a good shampoo.

[Anje]

See, I just stand in the bathtub to apply it, wrap up my hair, then shower off all the inevitable slop. Wrap hair them in a dark towel, just in case anything drips. Tends to contain the mess nicely.