The shower is the place where we want to rid our body of all impurities. If this place is dirty, calcified or even plagued by mold, it is hardly possible to feel comfortable here.
In this article you will learn how you can clean your shower professionally and with little effort. We also clarify all questions about the regularity of cleaning and what else you should know about your shower.
In brief
- Make sure that you ventilate the bathroom regularly and give your shower a thorough cleaning at least once a month.
- The best way to combat limescale is with acidic home remedies such as vinegar or citric acid.
- If there is a lot of mold, you should use chemical cleaners. If you are not thorough when removing it, the mold can quickly come back.
What you should know about cleaning the shower
Unfortunately, it’s not enough to wipe the shower with a sponge once a week. Because there is generally a lot of moisture in the bathroom, cleaning and caring for a shower requires a little more background knowledge in order not to make mistakes.
How often do I have to clean my shower?
This also applies if a member of the household has a job that involves getting very dirty. Then cleaning is necessary more often.
Normally it is enough to rinse the tub or basin thoroughly with water after showering and clear the drain of hair and larger dirt every day.
After showering, you should clean the water from the windows or tile walls using a commercially available squeegee. This is how you prevent mold from forming. This should be done every day and doesn’t take long.
If you thoroughly clean the grout and shower tiles with a gentle cleaner at regular intervals, about once or twice a month, you will prevent both the formation of mold and the dissolution of grout.
What does basic cleaning of a shower involve?
Pulling the water droplets from the shower and rinsing the basin with water is something you should do every day. This doesn’t take much effort, but at the same time it’s an important part of the basic cleaning of the shower because it helps you prevent heavy deposits.
The monthly basic cleaning includes all components of the shower: the wall or the glass panes, the tub, the fittings as well as existing tiles and joints.
Every now and then you should also clean your shower curtain, if you have one, or take it out and let it dry completely.
If you stick to these guidelines, you shouldn’t have any problems with mold, limescale or other deposits. For basic cleaning, it is sufficient to use gentle commercial bathroom cleaners.
Try to avoid aggressive and acidic cleaners during regular basic cleaning.
What happens if I don’t clean my shower?
| Consequence | Origin |
|---|---|
| Schimmel | Mold spores multiply due to the heat and moisture left behind. |
| Calcium | Hard water remains on the glass walls and panes of the shower. |
| stink | Dirt residue and mold cause a musty smell over time. |
| Clogged drain | Hair, soap bars or other dirt residue can slow down water drainage. |
| Athlete’s foot and other skin diseases | Athlete’s foot multiplies in a warm, humid environment and can therefore be spread to the entire household. |
To avoid your shower breaking down or, in the worst case scenario, even making you sick, you should definitely pay attention to hygiene in your shower and use a cleaning cloth every now and then.
This will also make your shower last longer and you won’t have to replace it so soon. Good hygiene also saves you money – always keep that in mind!
What to do about a dirty shower: 6 tips for cleaning
In everyday life, it’s easy to forget to clean the shower at regular intervals. If deposits such as lime or mold occur, we have prepared six effective cleaning methods that you can use to combat them.
1. Remove limescale in the shower with vinegar or citric acid
Products from the drugstore or supermarket can also help against limescale, but these contain a lot of chemicals and are not always readily available at home. Proven home remedies for limescale are acidic liquids such as vinegar or citric acid.
When cleaning, mix the acidic home remedy with a little water and wipe it over the affected area with a sponge or soft cloth. To ensure the effect is particularly intense, you can leave it on for 20 minutes.
You can then scrub the area with the sponge or cloth until the limescale can be removed. If any residue remains, you should carry out the treatment again.
With both home remedies, it is important that you dilute them with water beforehand. You should especially keep this in mind if you use vinegar essence. In the worst case, if undiluted, these acids can cause damage to the material of your shower.
2. Use a steam cleaner to remove stubborn dirt
A steam cleaner is a versatile device that also works well in the shower and other areas of the bathroom. You can use the steam cleaner to clean shower walls made of glass or plastic, conventional tiles and most natural stone slabs.
It is important that you only use distilled water for a steam cleaner and only use it if the dirt is medium to heavy. Gentle agents are sufficient for basic cleaning.
If the grout is broken or damaged, you should not use a steam cleaner because the liquid could then settle under the tiles.
3. Take advantage of the lotus effect
Lotus effect? Doesn’t that have something to do with leaves and water? Correct! But this effect is also useful and easy to achieve in the shower. The term lotus effect simply refers to a low wettability of a surface by water.
For example, water has difficulty sticking to leaves and rolls off. This effect is also present on many glass shower walls, but can wear off over time.
To achieve the lotus effect, you’ll need to rub the wall with car polish, the open half of a split raw potato, or another agent that repels rain.
The beading effect helps ensure that less limescale forms on your shower wall. This measure is particularly worthwhile in households where the water from the pipes contains a lot of lime.
4. Clean the glass wall of your shower with rinse aid
A dishwasher rinse aid is also suitable for removing stubborn limescale deposits. This method is very simple and has little smell compared to vinegar or other acids.
The easiest way is to pour a small amount of rinse aid into an old spray bottle and spray it onto the calcified areas on the window. In most cases, simply removing the liquid will clean the window.
If the limescale is a bit stubborn, you can also try gently scrubbing with a soft sponge or microfiber cloth.
5. Remove mold in the shower with professional sprays
Compared to lime, mold in the shower is a tougher opponent. If it is not professionally and completely removed, it will usually be back in “all its glory” within a few weeks.
Because there is a lot of humidity and heat in the shower. Without regular ventilation and cleaning, it offers the perfect place for mold spores to multiply.
Slight mold
If you have mild mold, you can use home remedies.
- Vinegar: Works well against visible mold, but not against deep-seated spores. Simply spray the mold with diluted vinegar, let it take effect and wipe it over.
- Alcohol: Kills surface mold. Rub the alcohol on the affected area until the mold disappears.
- Yeast: Should also help against mold. Dissolve the yeast in water and rub it onto the affected joints. After ten minutes you can wash off the yeast with a damp cloth.
Please note, however, that most home remedies only have a superficial effect and deep-seated mold spores are not thoroughly removed. However, if the mold is not yet advanced, these tools are sufficient.
Strong mold
Home remedies often no longer help against severe mold, only chemical cleaning products from the shops. Chlorine-based cleaners in particular help to kill mold and eliminate its spores.
In addition, most chemical cleaners also have bleaching properties. Unsightly mold stains on tile joints can be removed in this way. Such chemical cleaners are also generally suitable for mold infestation.
In some cases, the mold has already penetrated so far into the joints that even a chemical cleaner is no longer of any use. If the mold returns after a short time, you should remove the joints completely and then continue the treatment.
6. Use baking soda on heavily soiled joints
Another home remedy that can be helpful in combating a dirty shower is baking soda. Anyone who likes to make cakes often has this tool on their shelf anyway.
Although it is not suitable for the glass walls of a shower cubicle, it is suitable for cleaning tiles and grout. To do this, mix water and baking soda together to form a paste and work it into the spaces between the tiles with an old toothbrush.
You then have to let the paste work for half an hour, rinse it off and you’re done. By the way, baking soda is said to help even with very dirty joints and make them shine again.
What else you should know about cleaning the shower
If you want to keep your shower clean, there are a few things you should keep in mind outside of the shower stall. In the following section you will find out what else is important when it comes to cleaning the shower.
How can I prevent mold, limescale and dirt in the shower?
There are many things you can do to prevent buildup in your shower. Most of the measures are not complicated at all and can be easily integrated into everyday life.
| measure | frequency | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| ++ | After every shower and at least three times a day | Reduces humidity and prevents mold. |
| Pull off the shower | After every shower | Prevents limescale from forming on the panes due to dried water. |
| Heat | On cool days | Warm air absorbs the moisture from the shower better and allows the shower to dry faster. Prevention against mold. |
| Dry the tub and joints | After every/every other shower | Drying everything with a towel after the shower sounds complicated, but it’s a great way to prevent mold and limescale. |
If your bathroom doesn’t have windows, you can either open the door and ventilate through the window in the next room or get a dehumidifier.
If you follow these tips, you will save yourself a lot of hassle and effort when cleaning the shower. It’s best to briefly remind yourself of the checklist after each shower.
What can I do if my shower drain is clogged?
Is the water building up at the bottom of your shower and just won’t drain? This is usually a sign that your shower drain is clogged. Unfortunately, the blockage cannot often be easily removed with bare hands.
To clear the blockage, there are two good home remedies that can help you: Sprinkle about three tablespoons of baking soda into the drain and pour half a cup of vinegar afterwards. Then close the drain with the stopper or alternatively with a wet cloth.
This mixture will begin to bubble in the pipe. This should clear the blockage. Then add hot water to completely rinse out the liquids.
Conclusion
Paying attention to hygiene in the shower is not only important for the shower itself, but also for your health and well-being. There are many small things that you can do every day, such as removing the shower drops or airing the room regularly.
Just as important is basic cleaning, which you should carry out at least once a month. If you follow these tips, you shouldn’t have any problems with buildup. If you do find yourself struggling with mold or limescale, home remedies can often help you.
