Not knowing much about plumbing fixtures, we simply grinned and bore it, remembering to allocate an extra minute or so each time we cleaned the floor.

The same ailment afflicted the sink in the guest bathroom, where, eventually, we had a guest with more knowledge of plumbing than we claim. This guest suggested unscrewing the cap at the end of the faucet, which contains a mesh screen for filtering out large particles. Apparently, there’s a cap at the end of each faucet with a mesh screen for filtering out particles. I repeat that last bit because it was so new to us. This should give you an idea how far our plumbing knowledge extends.

Interestingly, both men and women tend to view the bathroom as a haven, but each one stereotypically focuses on a different plumbing fixture. Women would place a magazine rack within easy reach of the bathtub; men would place it near the toilet. Women might prefer fluffy or decorative toilet seat pads; men use the seat less often, and consequently see less need for them.

But the key to the right look and feel of the bathroom fixtures remains subjective, so choose wisely.