While many germs found in bathrooms may originate in or on the toilet due to the aerosol effect, bacteria thrive anywhere there’s a damp, dark environment. For example, one study revealed 60 times more bacteria on shower curtains than on toilet seats. Shower floors aren’t innocent, either.
Protecting your household from harmful bathroom germs is easy if you know how to clean a shower. The problem is that most people don’t wash their grimy showers the right way. Nor do they use the best shower cleaner.
This article includes shower cleaning tips guaranteed to help you clean your shower better and faster. You’ll want to read it before your next cleaning day. You may even discover a few tips to share with your regular cleaning service.
What Shower Cleaner Works Best?
Bathroom cleaning products have come a long way since our grandmothers’ and great-grandmothers’ time. In the good old days, women used scouring powder to clean many things around the house, including the shower. Bleach and ammonia were also popular.
Today, more people want to use non-toxic, environmentally-friendly cleaning products, especially in bathrooms. Whichever cleaners or methods you choose, you’ll reap the benefits of a clean shower and a clean home.
If you’re looking for a non-toxic shower cleaner to get a tiled shower floor clean, try a combination of baking soda and white vinegar. Vinegar alone reduces hard water stains on the shower floor.
Dish detergent is another common ingredient in homemade shower cleaners. Still, of course, you can always buy a pre-made cleaning solution at your local grocery or home improvement store.
The materials used to manufacture showers have changed too. While you can still find tile shower floors, today, it’s not uncommon to see shower surrounds and floors made from acrylic, fiberglass, and even natural stone.
Each of these materials requires a specific type of shower cleaner. Using the wrong cleaning solution or method can cause severe and costly damage.
Get to Know Your Shower
Knowing that different types of materials are used in manufacturing shower surrounds and floors, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with what works best for each type of material. First, figure out what kind of material you’re dealing with, and then follow these shower cleaning tips:
Ceramic Tile
The best tile cleaner for shower tiles is white vinegar. You can use it on glazed ceramic tiles without worrying about wearing down the surface. Use a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water.
Acrylic
Acrylic shower walls are water-resistant, but they may have a coating that you can damage by using the wrong cleaners. Use a soft cloth or sponge and baking soda, borax powder, dish detergent, or white vinegar. Always choose non-abrasive cleaners.
Fiberglass
The same pantry items suggested for cleaning acrylic showers work for fiberglass showers too. Although it’s rare to have mold problems with this shower material, if you should notice mold, you can use a small amount of bleach.
Natural Stone
Don’t use white vinegar or other acidic cleaning solutions on natural stone shower tiles or slabs. The acids in these solutions can break down the tile sealant leading to discoloration. Liquid and powder scrubs will do the same.
Instead, use dish detergent or a tile cleaner. Always use a microcloth, soft sponge, or cleaning eraser to avoid scratches.
How to Clean a Shower Wall
Regardless of the materials used to build your shower, you can follow a few general steps to clean the surfaces. Remember that you’ll likely need to tailor the shower cleaner to the shower materials.
Removing soap, shampoo bottles, bath sponges, and anything else you keep in the shower before you clean is always best. You don’t want to have to work around your bath accessories.
Next, clear the drain of hair and gunk. Then, turn on the fan. Now, you’re ready to get down to the business of cleaning. Here are the basic steps:
- Remove dust and dirt with a clean, dry microfiber cloth
- Rinse the shower wall with water
- Apply the cleaning solution to the shower walls and floor
- Allow the cleaner to sit for 3-5 minutes
- Clean with a cloth, sponge, or brush
- Spray down the shower with warm water
- Squeegee remaining residue
Tip: Help prevent the buildup of soap residue and hardwater stains by using a squeegee to remove water and soap residue after every shower.
Cleaning a Clogged Showerhead
There’s nothing like standing under a stream of hot water when you’re all sweaty or you’ve had a long day. What do you do if that steady stream of water is only a drizzle?
It’s not unusual for hardwater deposits to clog a showerhead. Follow these simple cleaning steps to keep the water flowing:
- Remove showerhead
- Turn upside down and rinse with water to loosen debris
- Scrub with vinegar and a toothbrush
- Remove mineral deposits from the nozzle with a toothpick
- Soak the showerhead overnight in a solution of vinegar and baking soda
- Rinse and reassemble
If you can’t remove the showerhead, fill a quart-size plastic bag with the cleaning solution, secure it with a rubber band, and soak.
Tip: If you have a brass, gold, or nickel-coated shower head, don’t soak for longer than 30 minutes to avoid ruining the finish.
How Often Should You Clean Your Shower?
Generally, you should clean the shower at least once a week. This helps prevent mold, dirt, and soap scum buildup. Weekly cleaning also helps you keep the shower area sanitized.
Ideally, you should deep clean a shower twice a month. You’ll need to set aside a few hours to get the job done right.
Deep cleaning consists of the following:
- Remove mold and mildew
- Clean tile and grout
- Clean the door
- Clean the drain
- Clean showerhead
- Remove tough stains
- Clean shower caddy
If you don’t have that kind of time available, why not hire a cleaning service to do a deep cleaning once a month?
Contact Us to Schedule All Your Cleaning Services
Now that you have a few tips to help you clean a shower, you’re ready to tackle the job head-on. Gather your white vinegar, baking soda, cloths, and brushes, and away you go.
While cleaning a shower isn’t so complex that the average person can’t handle it, not everyone relishes the thought—or has the time—to do a thorough job.
The professional cleaning team at Kathleen’s Cleaning Service specializes in residential and commercial cleaning. We will make your shower and the rest of your home sparkle.
Contact us today to request a quote.