What Is Good to Clean a Shower?
Considering your shower is where you go to get clean, it's the last place you want to see dirty. With so many commercial cleaners boasting the ability to clean anything, it can be confusing as to what to use. When it comes to cleaning your shower, you may already have several things around the house perfect for the job. Does this Spark an idea?
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Basic Cleaning
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Wipe down shower walls with warm soapy water and a clean cloth or sponge. If it's been a while since you last cleaned your shower and the grime is visible, you may want to consider turning on the hot water and leaving it on for a few minutes to steam the inside of the shower and soften up the dirt and grime before cleaning. After you have wiped down the walls, rinse them well with warm water to avoid leaving a soapy residue behind. Use a squeegee to help eliminate excess moisture when you are finished. Steam cleaning shower walls with a hand-held steam cleaner can be quite effective. Read and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully for use.
Hard Water Buildup
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If you have hard water, you can find the buildup in your shower as evidence. Hard water has a high mineral count, namely calcium and magnesium. Combat hard-water stains in your shower with a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water. Saturate the stains and let them soak for several minutes before scrubbing them away with a soft- to medium-bristle brush. If hard water has clogged up your shower head, unscrew it and soak it in white vinegar for 30 minutes to an hour to loosen the hard-water deposits. Rinse the shower head under running water, scrubbing it with a medium-bristle brush before putting it back.
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Dirty Grout
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In tile showers, grout can easily become a collection point for grime making your shower look dirty from the stains. Mix powdered oxygen bleach per the manufacturer's instructions and spray it onto the grout with a spray bottle. Keep the area damp for at least 30 minutes by reapplying the solution before it can dry out. Scrub the area with a soft- to medium-bristle brush and rinse with warm water. Grout can be steam cleaned with a hand-held steam cleaner.
Mold and Mildew
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A fungal growth that can accumulate in warm, damp places like the shower, mold and mildew are unhealthy to have around. Put on gloves, glasses and a face mask to protect yourself and dampen the area with water to prevent mold spores from becoming airborne. Scrub the mold or mildew away with a soft-bristle brush in warm soapy water and rinse the area well. Mix a weak solution of 1 tbsp. of chlorine bleach with 1 gallon of water. Saturate the area with the bleach solution to disinfect it and leave it to soak for 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it away. Squeegee the area to remove excess moisture so it can dry quickly.
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References
- Photo Credit shower image by Ekaterina Shvigert from Fotolia.com
