The best ways to clean and maintain your shower

While your shower is a place for you to get clean, the moist and humid environment can also make it a breeding ground for bacteria, mould and other issues, which is why regular cleaning of your shower shouldn’t be overlooked. If left untreated, these issues can lead to blocked drains and shower heads, poor hygiene standards and potentially ill health due to mould and bacterial build-up. To avoid this, we recommend cleaning your shower regularly, around once a week.

It’s important to take time to clean each component of your shower carefully for a clean feel, but it can also feel like a daunting task with so many areas to care for. To help you keep your shower looking as new as the day it was installed, in this blog we are going to take you through a step-by-step on how to clean each shower component to help fight bacteria. From giving it a quick wipe down to deep cleaning your shower head, we are going to cover everything so that you can enjoy better hygiene and a fresh bathroom look.

What you’ll need before cleaning a shower

When preparing to clean a shower, we recommend tackling one shower fixture at a time, as the different materials of each element may require different cleaning solutions and equipment. We also recommend removing all your items like shampoos and shower gels and getting rid of any empty bottles to keep your shower from becoming cluttered, this will also make it easier to spot any mould that’s beginning to grow.

When it comes to the tools and solutions you’ll need for cleaning your shower, here is a basic list of things we would recommend you have when tackling this job:

• Soft bristle brush -  If you have tiles this will help clean tough stains from grout and scrub at any mould, as well as getting in between hard-to-reach areas.
• Microfibre cloths - They’re great for leaving a streak-free finish on glass shower screens 
• Surface cleaner - Great for quick cleaning solutions and a general refresh
• White vinegar - A strong solution for getting rid of mould 
• Lemon juice - Another strong solution for dealing with marks.
• Baking soda - For tackling any stubborn stains.
• Gloves - To protect your hands and arms from any harsh solutions and chemicals

You’ll also want to keep all the windows in your bathroom open to ensure it’s well-ventilated as you clean to avoid inhaling any harmful chemicals or bacteria while you work.

How to clean shower walls

Your shower walls are the areas likely to gather the most dirt, but the best way to clean your walls will depend on the type of material it is. To help you tackle the dirt and get your shower clean again, we’re going to take you through how to clean each type of shower wall material and the different cleaning methods that come with looking after them.

How to clean wall panels

Wall panels for your shower are a great, easy and low-maintenance choice to keep your bathrooms clean. Without the need for grouting, wall panels create a seamless finish without the dreaded mouldy walls that often come from bathroom tiles and won’t need as much care as stone tiles.

Wall panels don’t take up much time to clean and with a soft, non-abrasive, cloth and a bowl of soapy water, you can clean your wall panels in minutes without the need for scrubbing away mould - making them an optimal choice for your showers and busy lifestyle. Start by applying a lather of the soapy water onto your panels and let it sit for around 2-5 minutes, focusing on lathering in areas with the most stains. Once done, grab your cloth and give your panels a good scrub before wiping down with a microfibre cloth. If you want to learn more about how to clean your shower panels then you can read through our blog on how to clean PVC wall panels for more tips and advice.

Cleaning shower tiles

While tiles are durable and usually low maintenance, requiring nothing more than a quick wipe down, the grout between the tiles can very easily become a breeding ground for growing mould and bacteria. When it comes to cleaning your shower tiles, make sure to tackle the grout first to avoid having to wipe down the tiles more than once.

When cleaning the grout in your tiles, you’ll want to create a solution of two parts baking soda and one part white vinegar. Then, leave the solution on the grout for around 5 minutes as this will help break down the mould and bacteria. Finally, with a grout brush or old toothbrush, scrub the grout lines to get rid of the excess marks and then rinse with clean water and dry with a towel.

Once you’ve tackled the grout, it’s time to give your tiles a final wipe down to achieve that new, sparkling clean, shower look. In order to clean down your shower tiles you’ll need to:

1. Use vinegar or dish soap water to wipe down the tiles
2. Let the solution sit for a few minutes and then scrub with a small bristle brush.
3. Rinse and wipe dry with a towel.

Now your tiles should be sparkling clean and mould-free again so you can sit back and enjoy a relaxing shower without the worry of growing bacteria.

Cleaning stone in showers

When it comes to stone showers you’ll want to avoid using white vinegar and lemon juice as these harsh solutions can harm the structure of the stone surface. Stone showers including marble or granite and other natural stones need special care when cleaning as they are more susceptible to scratches and damage than other shower materials.

When cleaning natural stone, use mild soap mixed with water and gently buff the surface with a microfiber cloth. Rinse clean and dry immediately with a soft towel to prevent any markings and your stone shower will look as good as new.

How to clean a shower curtain

Shower curtains are more susceptible to bacteria than a shower screen and can build up dust, grime, mould and more. However, shower curtains are easy to clean and most can be machine-washed. Make sure you check the instructions on the care tag before washing and remove all the rings and clips before you put them in the washer. If your shower curtain isn’t machine washable then you can fill your bath (or a bucket) with water and washing up liquid and give your curtain a good scrub. Once done, let them air dry and your shower curtain will be as good as new! 

Cleaning a shower screen

Shower screens and doors are a modern step up from the classic shower curtains and require a lot less effort to clean, as a simple wipe-down is all it takes. However, the best way to get a streak-free and sparkling look is to create your own solution using white vinegar and baking soda.

1. Mix white vinegar with baking soda to make the solution.
2. Coat the shower door with the solution and leave it for an hour.
3. Grab a sponge or cloth and begin wiping away the grime and marks
4. Rinse the door with clean water until all of the cleaning solution has been removed.
5. Dry the door with a cloth or microfibre towel to avoid any streaks

How to clean a showerhead

Aside from water marks and grime, a telltale sign that your shower head is overdue for cleaning is the water will squirt out in every direction, this is because a build-up of limescale has caused a blockage in the nozzles. 

The best way to clean a showerhead is to first fill up a small bucket (or bag) with warm white vinegar, you can also leave it cold but the warm vinegar will be more effective and will need much less time for it to soak. If you prefer, you can also use fresh lemon juice and hot water for this process.

Secondly, take the showerhead apart as much as possible, such as taking the front off, and then leave the components to soak around for around 30 minutes in the solution - if you’re using cold water then you should soak it overnight. 

Once done, take the parts out of the water, it should be mostly clean but we would recommend taking a scrubber or a toothbrush and getting off any leftover grime or limescale for the best results. Finally, put your showerhead back together and turn on the water to flush everything out.

Unblocking and cleaning a shower drain

Just because you can’t see the dirt and grime doesn’t mean it’s not there. Cleaning your shower drain is just as important as the rest of your shower. If you’ve noticed your drain has become clogged with hair or that the water doesn’t drain as easily, then your drain might be overdue for a deep clean.

It might be best to tackle cleaning the drain first before doing the rest of your shower as it can be a particularly messy job. The good news is, this should only need to be done once every so often. There are several ways to unclog a drain, but the easiest and most common, time-efficient method is to use a drain snake - if you don’t have one of these, a wire coat hanger will do.

1. Remove the drain cover and soak it in some warm white vinegar for 30 minutes. 
2. Use your drain snake or wire to hook up any dirt and hair that may be stuck in your drain. 
3. Flush the drain with hot water to get rid of any remaining buildup.
4. Scrub at any covers, water catches, and the area where the cover sits with a soft toothbrush and dish soap solution to get rid of dirt build up. 

If you find that after this your drain still seems a bit blocked up then you might also want to consider calling a plumber for when the job requires a bit more TLC.

How to quickly clean a shower

You may not always have time to do a deep clean, if you want a quick refresh or maybe if you have noticed a little bit bit of limescale and want to get rid of it so you can enjoy a clean shower you can do a spot clean. You can do this by, using a cloth and some multipurpose cleaning spray on your shower head or your tiles, and this will be enough to fight the bacteria until your next deep clean.

Make your bathroom easier to maintain

If you find that your bathroom is just too hard to maintain or requires too much scrubbing for the amount of free time you have available then there are ways you can upgrade your bathroom to not only give it a fresh, modern look but make your shower easier to clean than ever. 

First of all, switching a shower curtain for a shower screen will save you plenty of time with cleaning. Rather than having to take down and machine wash your shower curtain, you will be able to give your screen a quick wipe down with some soapy water and a cloth, cutting the time you spend cleaning in half.

We would also recommend considering making the switch over to shower panels to help avoid all the scrubbing that can come with tiles or the worry that comes with having easily damaged stone walls. Shower panels are the perfect in-between to these solutions being both, easy to clean and durable - not to mention a stylish option for modern homes. They can also be placed over tiles, so you don’t have to go through a full bathroom refurbishment to install PVC panels.

Shower panels come in a wide variety of styles and designs, meaning you don’t have to worry about switching out your interior decor for the ease of cleaning - Shower panels can do both! If you love the tile look but just can’t deal with any more of the scrubbing that comes with them, then  try these Premium Large White Herringbone Tile shower panels for the same stunning tile aesthetic minus all of the cleaning hassle. They require only a quick wipe down for a fresh look and hygienic feel.

Premium Large White Herringbone Tile shower panels

Or you can try a stunning marble design in order to replicate that natural stone look without all of the worry of damaging the stone while cleaning, making cleaning a worry-free job. Our Large Subtle Grey Marble shower panels are perfect for the natural stone lovers who are looking for a low-maintenance solution to their shower cleaning problems. With all the same designs but with the added bonus of being easy to clean, cut the time you spend cleaning your shower in half with our shower panels.

Large Subtle Grey Marble shower panels

Make your bathroom easy to clean with wall panels

Cleaning your shower regularly is a must if you want to maintain good hygiene and a clean look in your bathrooms. If you find yourself scrubbing at your showers more often than you’d like then jump into our full range of easy-to-clean shower panels here at The Panel Company to discover the perfect blend of modern style and easy maintenance options.