... (crickets chirping)
Yep, I thought so. That would be nobody. Zero people like doing this.
Yes, you may find some folks that enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that comes from a job well done. Getting the house spic-n-span can, for some folks, put a smile on their face.
But a shower? Seriously? No way.
So let's discuss some tips and tricks to getting your shower clean with a minimal of effort.
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| I hope your shower doesn't look this bad... |
Rust Stains
In older showers and tubs, rust stains can be a problem. As the name implies, this is an actual stain, and can be as difficult to remove as it is unsightly.What causes shower rust stains?
There are two main sources:
1) Actual rust from metal fixtures or other parts that have been exposed to water over a period of time.
2) The water itself, rather than what it's coming into contact with.
If you have reddish-brown colored stains, it's likely caused by iron dissolved in your water. The iron decays into iron oxide, giving it this particular color. If the stain is more of a film or slime, this can be caused by bacteria in the water. The bacteria feed on the iron, and create the slime.
Black stains, which are more rare, can be caused by a couple of different phenomenon. It could be due to manganese dissolved in the water. Or this could be caused by sulfur bacteria. If the water and/or the stains have a rotten-egg odor, it's likely a sulfur problem.
Blue-green colored stains are usually caused by acidic water. The water may be acidic because of a high amount of dissolved carbon dioxide. If you are thinking acidic water may be a bad thing, you're right! This can corrode pipes more quickly, eventually leading to failure.
Fixing the Problem
Fixing the root cause of these problems is important in order to prevent you from having to clean and re-clean the shower. This may involve replacing rusting fixtures (see #1 above). Or if the water is the culprit, it may involve treating the water. This may lead to water filtration systems, water softening systems, etc. This is really beyond the scope of my article. Let's get back to the real problem at hand:How to Clean Shower Stains!
Cleaning a shower with rust stains may not be fun, but at least the solutions are fairly well documented.
Most folks have luck with the following protocol:
1) Dampen the stain with water.
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| Soap scum hack tool... |
3) Use a pre-moistened soft-bristle brush to scrub the stain. When done correctly ,the baking soda should stick to the brush bristles in a way that creates a paste or slurry. If this doesn't happen, you've done something wrong (too much or too little water, too much or too little baking soda).
Tip: If you use a brush with bristles that are too stiff or abrasive, it can scratch your shower. Although it will be effective in cleaning the stain, in the end it may leave your shower finish looking dull and beat-up.
4) Leave the scrubbed-in baking soda on the surface for an hour.
5) Rinse and evaluate. If the stains are gone, you're done. If not, proceed to step 6.
6) Take a clean cloth and wipe the remaining stain with acetone. (Safety note - ensure proper ventilation and use some gloves.)
7) Rinse the acetone off the surface.
Miscellaneous Hacks:
- You can make your own shower cleaning solution by combining one cup of vinegar, one cup of ammonia, half a cup of baking soda, and a gallon and a half of hot water.
- You can annihilate soap scum on shower doors by using a solution of 12 ounces of white vinegar warmed in a microwave with 12 ounces of liquid dawn detergent. Put this in a squirt bottle for application and scrub with a sponge then rinse.
- Although kind of a pain, and not for those who lack discipline, using a squeegee on walls and doors before exiting the shower will keep stains and scum to a minimum.
Automated Shower Cleaning
If you don't want to clean your shower yourself (and I think we've already agreed this is an awful job), the next best thing might be to convince someone else to clean it for you. You don't live with your parents anymore, right? And if you have kids, it's hard to convince them to pick up their dirty socks, much less scrub mildew and tile grout. That leaves your spouse, but let's not even go there.
Yes, you can always hire somebody. A perky maid who comes in once per week to do all your household chores? Okay, sign me up for that. But honestly, who has the money for that kind of indulgence?
Here's an idea - how about a shower cleaning robot?
No, this isn't some kind of Jetson's-esque fantasy. Surely we don't need some kind of domesticated Elon Musk to invent a robot for us.
A few years ago, a device was marketed as an automated shower cleaner. It was basically a battery-operated device that was full of shower cleaner. Once every so often it would engage and spray your shower down with cleaner (presumably when the shower was not occupied). The device received mixed reviews. Many commented that it was not durable, and tended to stop working after only a few months due to water intrusion. Because it wasn't terribly cheap, the idea that it would be "disposable", and didn't last very long made it fairly unpopular.
Our search for a feasible automated shower cleaner continues!
Shower Cleaning Tools
While we pine away for our futuristic robot, let's put together a practical list of everything you should have in your arsenal:
1) Squeegee - We already mentioned it. Use this thing to help keep your doors, walls, and tiles moisture and soap scum free.
2) Disposable wipes - Going through a rag or two every time you need to give your shower a wipe down is probably not feasible. I like using the disposable wipes that have bleach in them, but there are several different kinds on the market.
3) Rubber gloves - Along the lines of #2 above, you want to minimize how much contact you have with cleaning chemicals, mildew, and the dirty detritus you're trying to remove from your shower.
4) Old toothbrush - The bristles of an old toothbrush may be too harsh, stiff, and abrasive for some surfaces, but it's hard to beat this kind of bargain. Instead of buying a small brush this size, I just repurposed one of my old toothbrushes. Works great in those small hard to get to areas, and it's also great on grout.
5) Bottle of multi-purpose cleaner - There are some variants that leave chrome surfaces incredibly shiny. That's one of the looks I go after, as it tells me "ya did a good job cleaning today"!
http://abc7.com/archive/6320367/
Resources
A review of various shower cleanershttp://abc7.com/archive/6320367/
