How to Replace a Shower Soap Dish on the Wall

The soap dish in the shower is normally the first part that needs replacing. Metal ones tend to rust and wear out fast. Ceramic inlaid soap dishes get used as a bar to help people out of the tub. Either one is replaceable. To replace the ceramic soap dish in the shower, make sure you plan on not using it for a few days while you wait for the thin set and grout to dry.

Things You'll Need

• New soap dish Adhesive Adhesive remover Hammer Chisel Putty knife Thin set Grout Grout sealer Spacers Painters tape

Instructions

1. Remove the old soap dish. If it has been glued to the surface, put a putty knife up to the edge and gently hit it until it starts to brake the adhesives hold. Keep going until you get it completely off. If it is and inlaid tile soap dish you will need to break it out with a hammer and chisel. Be careful not to damage any tiles around it.

2. Remove the leftover adhesive. Use an adhesive remover to get remove and adhesive stuck to the tile, fiberglass or acrylic. A natural product like Krud Kutter will do the job well. For tile, use the chisel of putty knife to scrape away the old grout and as much of the old thin set as possible. Let the area dry well before reinstalling a new soap dish.

3. Apply adhesive to a new soap dish and place on the shower wall where you want it. Hold until it sets. For tile, apply thin set to missing soap dish section and place the soap dish in. Put spacers between the soap dish and other tiles.Use the same size spacers as the spaces between the other tiles. This will center your soap dish. Place painters tape extending from the soap dish to the tiles, to hold it into place and allow to dry overnight.

4. Remove the tape and spacers and grout the soap dish in. Make sure your grout matches the color of the rest of the grout. Allow the grout to dry over night.

5. Seal the grout with grout sealer. Put on at least 3 coats to keep the grout from getting discolored or allowing soap and dirt to soak in. Let the grout sealer dry for a few hours before using the shower.