How to Clean Your Shower

Cleaning your shower is a time-consuming task that often goes overlooked that not only makes it more aesthetically pleasing, but also safe to use. A regular cleaning routine can prevent the buildup of mold and mildew that can be hazardous to your health and remove any pathogens that may pose a risk. To help you out with cleaning your shower, here are our top tips to follow that will have you scrubbing without much effort. In this article, we will show you how to clean your shower so that it stays sparkling and looking like new.

What Is the Area That Needs to Be Cleaned?

The most important areas that need to be cleaned are the floor, the tiles, the shower head, the shower curtain, and if your shower isn't a stand alone cubicle, the bathtub. The grout between the tiles on the floor and walls of the shower can be most problematic and are likely to harbour mould and mildew. This also applies to any sealant you may find around shower screens. The final problem area is the shower head. Shower heads are notorious for limescale build up. Limescale can harbour germs being another area mould likes to hide, also lowering the effectiveness of your shower head by blocking the jets!

What Materials Do I Need to Clean a Shower Properly?

You will need to make sure that you have all of the right materials before you start. This includes bathroom cleaning sprays, brushes for scrubbing the shower and microfibre cloths for wiping down surfaces.

The products we would recommend are as follows:

• An effective bathroom spray cleaner such as Astonish Pine Disinfectant and Cleaner or Cif Power and Shine Antibacterial Spray
• Viakal Classic limescale remover
• A mould and mildew remover such as Astonish Mould and Mildew Blaster or Dettol Mould and Mildew Remover
• Red microfibre cloths (we recommend colour coding your cloths so you don't get accidentally used in order areas of your home)
• A nail brush, stiff-bristled brush
• A toothbrush for scrubbing hard to reach areas.

How Should I Clean the Shower?

You should always clean your shower from top to bottom. Start by removing the shower head and spraying it with a limescale remover such as Viakal. Once sprayed, let it rest for a few minutes for the cleaning fluid to break down the mineral deposits and rinse with warm water. Secondly, remove the head from the shower pipe. Pour some viakal inside the head and screw it back on. Again, let the shower head rest for a few minutes. Turn on the shower and rinse through thoroughly with warm water.

Next, spray all of the surfaces within the shower area with an effective bathroom cleaning product such as Astonish Pine Disinfectant and Cleaner or Cif Power and Shine Antibacterial Spray. This includes the ceiling, screens, tiled walls, and base/bath tub. Wipe down with a microfibre cloth and be sure to use a scrubbing brush if necessary to remove ingrained dirt or grime. Rinse well and make sure you do not leave any residue behind. Stubborn areas that harbour mould and mildew, such as tile grout and sealant, may require further treatment. For this we recommend using a specialised product designed to target mould and mildew such as Astonish Mould and Mildew Blaster or Dettol Mould and Mildew Remover. Apply the product to the area, allow to work for a couple of minutes, and scrub thoroughly with a stiff-bristled brush or toothbrush.

When using cleaning chemicals, always wear the correct PPE. This will be specified on the products safety sheet. When using a brush to clean, this can cause cleaning products to splash and flick unexpectedly so we would always recommend wearing googles to prevent the risk of contact with your eyes.