The whirlpool bath manufacturers, such as ourselves, have made great strides in reducing the amount of water left in the plumbing harnesses in conventional whirlpools. In the past, only flexible tubing was used in the plumbing harness. This flexible tubing would sag over time and hold substantial amounts of water in them. The results were the black mold build up discussed. Now, some manufactures use rigid PVC piping that is heat formed to allow the water to automatically drain out of the jets. MTI Whirlpools took it a step further and patented a cleaning system that back flushes the entire plumbing harness using your incoming potable water supply. You can clean the entire plumbing harness will less than 10 gallons of water. We have a very detailed illustration on our website. Here is a link that might be useful: MTI Whirlpools

Thank you everyone for all of your replies! Sorry for the absence...I have no internet here at the house yet. In response to questions/comments: kudzu9: There are areas of the grout that are missing, and the remainder has turned yellow. I would like to replace the missing grout and whiten the yellowed. We hope to rent out the home, so I don't trust tenants to wipe down painted walls. I'm hoping to find a complementary alternative. benjesbride: Unfortunately, the reason I have little budget now is that most of the original plumbing has to be redone. The drains are all old cast iron, and have degraded...there are lead pipes too. So, since they are replacing them, I figure that now would be the time to relocate. Thank you for your advice on "embracing the retro" and your link! nosoccermom: I cant really remove the shower head, as its the only bath in the home. I LOVE your idea of glass, and will research it. Have to figure out how to seal it from moisture and how to make area where it meets tile waterproof. Fori is not pleased: LOL!!!! I'm not pleased either! Thanks for the laugh and suggestion. I will def head over there once I have internet at the house, and am ready to make all the decorating decisions.polly929: I had considered having a company reglaze the tub & tile white, but the many opinions of keeping the original intact have made me reconsider. I am keeping the home, but am trying to fix it up to rent out for now. bpathome: Thanks for sharing your experience. I was considering adding 4x4 tile above the existing, but someone else said it wouldn't look good and hearing your experience too really gives me pause. I agree that the glass sounds like a cool possibility, but I need to research the installation issues. Would wallpaper hold up in a shower??? Yes, I absolutely need to redo the floor. Its a pier and beam home, so I am avoiding any real tile. However, I have looked at black & white LVT alternatives in both the hex and penny. jesshs: That is amazing! I cannot believe someone on here has actually had this tile! And its funny you mentioned grey....that is exactly the color I was thinking of going with on the walls! As far as paint on the shower walls, as I said above to kudzu9, we are planning to rent the home out and I worry about tenants taking the time to do that sort of maintenance. I want to go with something I don't have to worry about them taking care of. cpartist: Another retro vote! I'm coming around :) The grout is yellowed, and missing in a few areas. I'm hoping there is a way to bring it back to white. I agree with you, and everyone else, about the grab bars, as well as the shower head. And so glad to get another grey vote! I am absolutely redoing the floor. Just haven't decided what would go best. Again, THANK YOU everyone for your opinions and suggestions. Please, keep the ideas coming!

Sterling makes a very nice "Vikrel" tub! it is typically less than $300 and it is deeper than most tubs, wider than a lot and some models have a sloped arm rest inside to make it more relaxing to sit in. We have it in our house and our 2 children take baths in it all the time! it's a great tub, we have installed it in many many remodels over the last 5 years.

Smaller windows above the water line,and a big shower. I have a 4 1/2 x 10 shower and I thought it was ridiculous (and to some it is) but I really like having my own area. .We have shower heads on each end with a rain head in the middle. If anything were to happen, it easily would accomodate a shower chair or an extra person if need be. We are in Florida so temperature and being chilly isnt a concern. I wouldnt dissuade you from building a big shower. You have to weigh whats important to you. I had the same size shower as you have in my last home, the larger shower is a game changer.