Bath plugs come in a variety of fun and whimsical designs, as well as traditional finishes and styles. Relatively inexpensive, whatever type appeals to you should be within your budget. A bath plug basically serves one purpose: to prevent water from draining from the tub. Therefore, there are not many different features to bath plugs, which the exception of a buoy. The buoy floats on top of the water, which allows an individual to pull the plug out without reaching to the bottom of the tub.
There are some variations in the size of drains, so measure your bath drain before you purchase a plug. Most bath plugs have a graduated rubber stopper so that it can accommodate a range of sizes, usually within 1 inch (2.54 cm), but it still helps to know the size your of drain in order to make the best purchase.
Next, decide what style of plug you want. If you want a bath plug that looks sophisticated, choose a traditional style metal plug that coordinates with the finish of the plumbing fixtures on the tub. Similarly, a simple white rubber stopper will also suffice, but its design is purely functional. There is very little visual appeal to this style, although it is probably the least expensive.
You can also choose a bath plug based on a theme. For instance, there are bath plugs in bright colors, animal shapes, boats, and flowers. These come in both regular and buoy style plugs.
There are also many humorous bath plugs. For instance, a plug that looks like a fish that got stuck in the drain, or a buoy in the shape of a polar bear sitting on an piece of floating ice. There are also many children's plugs, based on popular television or movie characters, the alphabet, and numbers, or other themes.
When you've determined the size of your drain, and what style you'd prefer, you can find a bath plug in home improvement stores, home goods stores, and through online and catalog retailers. Sometimes shopping online is easier, since the item description typically lists the measurements for the plug so that you can make sure it will fit in your drain. Many websites also provide customer reviews of an item, which allows you find out if other people were satisfied with the product.
Whether you purchase online or through a brick and mortar store, double check the return policy. If the plug does not fit, or allows water to leak through, you will need to return it. Some companies charge a restocking fee, which deducts a percentage from the total refund. Others have a very short window of time for returns, some as little as three days. Find a store which allows plenty of time for a return and doesn't charge additional fees.