How to Clean a Shower
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The Spruce / Ria Osborne
Body soil and soap residue, as well as mildew and mold, can easily build up in showers. So it's important to have a regular shower cleaning routine. Follow these steps for how to clean showers, including those with ceramic tile, fiberglass, and natural stone. And learn tips for how to tackle tough shower stains.
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How Often to Clean Your Shower
Regular cleaning with help prevent the growth of unhealthy mold and mildew or unsightly soap scum. A shower should be thoroughly cleaned each week. However, if you do 60 seconds of maintenance each time you use the shower, you might be able to stretch the more extensive cleaning to two weeks. Shower curtains should be washed at least seasonally or more often as needed.
If you're into the idea of daily maintenance, use a squeegee or a bath towel after every shower to wipe down the shower walls and clean the doors. Hang any shower tools (such as brushes or poofs) to drip dry completely, and clear the drain of any excessive hair. This quick routine will keep ceramic tile, fiberglass, and stone shower enclosures looking their best and make your weekly cleanings that much easier.
What You'll Need
Equipment / Tools
Cleaning Ceramic Tile Showers
- Sponge or plastic mesh scrubber
- Rubber gloves
- Soft-bristle brush or old toothbrush
- Squeegee
Cleaning Fiberglass Showers
- Squeegee
- Spray bottle
- Sponge or soft-bristle brush
Cleaning Stone Showers
- Microfiber cloths
- Spray bottle
Materials
Cleaning Ceramic Tile Showers
- Commercial shower and grout cleaner or a homemade solution of 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar, 1/2 cup ammonia, and 3 quarts of hot water in a spray bottle
- Chlorine bleach
Cleaning Fiberglass Showers
- Distilled white vinegar
- Baking soda or borax
- Sponge or soft-bristle brush
Cleaning Stone Showers
- Non-acid, ammonia-free stone cleaner or mild dishwashing soap
- Warm water
- Chlorine bleach
- Stone sealer
Instructions
How to Clean Ceramic Tile Showers
The biggest challenge with cleaning tile showers is the grout, especially if it has been left unsealed. The porous nature of the grout makes it the perfect growth medium for mildew spores, so it's important to keep up with cleaning to maintain your overall health.
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Empty the Shower
The shower will be much easier to clean if you remove all of the shampoo bottles, soap, razors, poofs, and toys. Combine products, and recycle any empty bottles. Wipe down each item with a cloth dipped in hot water to remove any sticky messes or mold. Remove hair from the drain.
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Ventilate and Wet the Walls
To help ventilate any fumes from cleaning supplies (and help the shower dry quickly), turn on the bathroom fan and open the bathroom door, as well as any windows. Use a bucket or a handheld shower head like the Waterpik ShowerClean Pro with a pressure rinse head to wet down the walls of the shower.
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Remove Mildew
If you notice mildew on the grout, tackle it before you move onto the usual grime. Mix a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach and 2 parts water. While wearing rubber gloves, apply the solution to the mildewed grout with a sponge. Allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes, and then scrub the grout with a soft-bristle brush or old toothbrush. Rinse the area well with hot water before moving to the next step.
Warning
Never mix cleaning solutions like chlorine bleach and ammonia that can cause toxic fumes.
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Apply the Cleaner and Wait
Spray cleaner on the walls and floor of the shower, and step away for at least five to 10 minutes. Whether you are using a commercial cleaner or a homemade solution, the key to easier cleaning is to give the product time to do its job. The cleaner will begin to break apart the soap scum and soil and lessen your need to scrub.
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Scrub and Rinse
Using a sponge or plastic mesh scrubber, clean every section of the walls and floor. Never use a metal scrubber or hard-bristle brush because they can scratch the ceramic tile. Rinse the walls with clean water starting at the top and moving down.
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Squeegee Dry
Use a squeegee or old towels to remove any water from every surface. Skipping this step will result in water spots.
How to Clean Fiberglass Showers
Fiberglass shower enclosures are durable and easy to clean if you use the right tools and products. It's very important to never use anything that will scratch the fiberglass surface, especially when it comes to what you clean with. When scratches occur, soil settles into the area, making it harder to clean.
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Empty, Spritz, and Squeegee
After removing all of the bottles and accessories in the shower, spray the walls and floor with distilled white vinegar. Use a squeegee to wipe down the walls. The vinegar will cut through soap scum and any minerals in water spots.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
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Scrub the Floor
Fiberglass floors are usually textured and need a bit of scrubbing to remove grime. Use a good scrub brush or soft-bristle brush to scrub away the dirt on the textured floor, and rinse with water.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
How to Clean Stone Showers
If you have upgraded to marble, granite, or another natural stone as a finish, your shower should be cleaned a bit differently. By wiping down the walls after every use, you should only need to clean the stone once a week.
Warning
Never use vinegar or harsh cleaners on natural stone because they can etch the surface.
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Empty and Spray
After emptying the shower of all loose items, spray down the walls with a commercial stone cleaner or solution of 1 tablespoon dishwashing soap in 1 quart of warm water. Wipe down with a microfiber cloth, using a bit of extra elbow grease on any water spots and soap scum. Rinse with clean water and dry with a microfiber cloth starting at the top of the shower and working to the bottom to avoid streaking.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
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Treat Mildew
If you spot any mildew on the stone or grout, mix a solution of 1 part chlorine bleach and 1 part water. While wearing rubber gloves, dip a sponge into the mixture and apply to the mildewed area. You can use a toothbrush to reach smaller grout areas. Let the solution sit and work for 15 minutes, scrubbing lightly with a soft-bristle brush and then rinsing away with plain water.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
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Reseal the Stone
Natural stone typically needs a barrier to prevent chemicals and water from penetrating into the stone. Sealing stone also prevents bacteria from settling into the natural crevices of the stone's surface. After the stone is completely clean and dry, apply a stone sealer in small sections following product directions. Buff with a soft cloth until all of the sealer is absorbed. This usually needs to be done at least twice a year.
The Spruce / Adrienne Legault
Removing Tough Stains From Showers
There are a few stains that seem almost impossible to remove, but there is a way.
Rust Stains
If a shaving cream can left a rusty ring in the shower, apply a paste of lemon juice and baking soda to remove the stain. However, if the stain is large or old, you will need to use a commercial cleaner that contains oxalic acid.
Warning
Never use chlorine bleach on a rust stain. It may cause the rust to become permanently set onto the surface.
Adhesive Residue
If you've had stickers on the shower floor or a removable accessory left some goo, use a bit of olive oil to saturate the area. Allow it to sit and work for at least 15 minute, and then use a plastic scraper or the edge of a credit card to remove the goo. If a bit of glue is left, some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball will typically remove it.
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How often should you clean your shower doors?
To keep the weekly cleaning down to a minimum, use a squeegee to wipe off the shower doors after each time you take a shower.
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Do shower heads need to be cleaned?
You should clean your shower head once a month to keep them running freely and not get plugged up with mineral deposits and scum.
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What tool should be used to clean ceramic tile in a shower?
Use a sponge or plastic mesh scrubber to clean your shower's ceramic tile. A metal scrubber or hard-bristled brush can scratch the tile.