Showers are often taken for granted. It is only until there is a problem that we stop to think about our showers.
Hard water spots, soap scum, and mildew can build up over time. Debris can even lead to cracked tiles and leaks. This can also damage the shower tiles and grout and require repairs.
Luckily, these types of damage and repairs can be avoided with routine cleaning.
Shower Cleaning Schedule
Showers that have glass doors or walls should be dried with a squeegee after each use. This helps reduce water spots and staining.
A simple wipe down with a wet sponge after showers can also help keep the shower in good order.
We recommend a deep clean at least once a month.
Deep Cleaning Your Shower
The deep clean should include cleaning the titles and, for tile or stone showers, the grout.
Ceramic and tile surfaces should be cleaned with tile cleaner. You can find this at most home repair stores. You can also use a mix of vinegar and baking soda for this purpose. The cleaning itself should be done with a sponge that will not scratch the ceramic or tile surface. A brush may be needed to dislodge particles if you have calcium or hard water buildup or mold in your shower.
The grout should also be cleaned. There are special brushes you can buy for this job or you can just use an old toothbrush. There are also grout cleaning solutions that you can buy. Grout can be dry and crack, so we recommend you clean the grout after a hot shower. And you have to do so carefully as to not disturb or damage the grout.
Last, the hardware should be cleaned. These items include handles and even the shower head. The material that these items are made of dictates how they should be cleaned. In most cases, the same sponge that is used for the shower walls and floor can be used.
Inspecting the Shower for Needed Repairs
Any damaged tiles or grout should be fixed as soon as possible.
Damaged tiles can be easy to repair in some instances. You should give us a call for more extensive damage.
For small areas of damaged grout you may be able to patch the area with extra grout. We give clients a tube of patch that can be applied. This patch is applied after the damaged or defective grout is cleaned and dry. This can help seal the area and buy time to fix the damage when the trout is replaced.
You should also inspect the shower for any areas where water may be penetrating to the subsurface or walls or leaking around the drain. We often see this around shower pans that have been installed incorrectly. These are also repairs that warrant calling us to assess.