How to Clean Your
Shower Floor
By Frederick M.
Hueston
Chief Technical
Director, SurpHaces
You just stepped in your
shower and looked down and can’t believe what you see. The stone on your shower
floor just doesn’t look as good as it used to. It may have a white deposit
which is build-up of minerals, or it could just be scummy from body oils, skin
cells, and soap and shampoo products. It’s time to break out the cleaning
products and finally clean all that gunk…But which cleaner do you use that
won’t harm the stone? The following is a general guide that should help you
choose the proper cleaning products/solutions.
The type of cleaner you can use will depend on the type of stone you have. If
your shower floor is marble or limestone (travertine is a limestone), you will
want to avoid acidic cleaners. Toilet bowl cleaners, grout cleaners, vinegar,
etc. are all acidic and could damage the marble surface. If you are unsure the
product is acidic, read the label carefully. Most acid products will have a warning
label to avoid use on marble and limestone. Granite on the other hand can
tolerate mild acids without harm.
Before you start bombarding your shower floor
with an arsenal of chemicals it is best to first identify the type of build-up
you are dealing with.
Hard Water Deposits
These deposits are generally white and are hard to remove. They may start as a
white film but over time can build up into a crusty layer. They are usually
caused by the build-up of minerals in your water. The best way to remove them is
with a little elbow grease at first. Try scrubbing the floor with a nylon scrub
brush and a mild detergent or neutral cleaner. These cleaners are available
from most home centers and grocery stores. If this doesn’t work, you will need
to get more aggressive. If the floor is granite try an acidic cleaner. If
marble or limestone, a heavy-duty stone cleaner or alkaline cleaner is best. If
the hard water deposits are especially stubborn, I would recommend you call a
PRO for a professional cleaning.
Soap Scum
Soap scum build-up can accumulate on your shower floor and can not only look
unsightly but can also cause the floor to be slippery. Many store-bought scum
removers are acidic and will damage marble and limestone surfaces. On granite
they should be safe to use. There are several alkaline soap scum removers that
are safe for marble and limestone. Check the label carefully.
Mold and Mildew
These biological growths are unsightly and can cause all kinds of problems in a
shower of any type. To remove them you will need to use a mild bleach solution.
Care must be taken when using bleach around stone such as marble and limestone,
so it’s important to not overdo it and rinse the shower thoroughly after
cleaning with any bleach or products containing bleach. A good alternative to
bleach is a commercial peroxide cleaner such as any of the oxy products. They
take a while to work so you may have to let the cleaner dwell for several hours
to be effective.
The best way to avoid any build-up is to clean the shower floor on a regular
basis. When done showering, rinse the floor with clean hot water, then squeegee
the excess water. This helps a lot.
A good quality stone impregnator can help but
it’s best to consult a PRO as sealing stone in wet environments could result in
other issues. Avoid topical coatings which can make the floor slippery.
