Shower tiles are the second filthiest part of any bathroom; the first, of course, being the toilet
bowl while the sink comes in at third. For many, though, it’s rather hard to believe that your
shower space can become dirty and unsanitary when all you do is bathe there. It almost makes
you question how dirty your body actually is before you take a shower! Well, the truth is that the
filth on your shower tiles is a combination of soap scum, body oils, dirt and dead skin cells.
These contributors to your dirty shower tiles do not appear on the surface immediately after you
bathe; however, you’ll notice soap scum and a grimy residue with specks of dirt on the floor
once it dries up.
If regular cleaning of your shower tiles is ignored, days or weeks of grime buildup will begin to
coat your tiles and fill up grout lines. Not only is this unsightly, but extremely unhygienic as well.
What’s more, leaving your shower tiles dirty for too long will make it harder and more time-
consuming to clean. Nevertheless, we’ve got a surefire cleaning method for both, mildly dirty
and extremely soiled shower tiles. Read on for more!
Regular Cleaning of Mildly Dirty Shower Tiles
Soap scum and body oils make for a nasty combination that builds up on shower tiles on a near
daily basis. This is why the experts advise cleaning your shower space right after you bathe as
opposed to allowing the dirt and soap scum to dry on the surface. What’s more, it’s rather quick
and easy if you’ve got everything you need at hand. Given below is a step-by- step guide to
making your own shower tile cleaner and how to use it in the most effective way.
1. Heat is a great way to loosen up grime and soap scum after the floor has dried. Do this by
dousing your shower tiles with hot water and allowing the heat to do its job. The temperature of
the water does not have to be boiling hot; just hot enough to keep your tiles warm for about 5-7
minutes.
2. While your shower tiles are being heated up, make a solution of water and white distilled
vinegar (1:1 ratio); mix in 1/4 cup of floor cleaner for every cup of water that you use. Pour this
mixture into a spray can or squeezy bottle to spray or quirt over your shower tiles and grout
lines. Pay more attention to obvious stains or grimy areas when applying the cleaner to your
shower tiles. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes and move on to the next step.
3. Take a medium-bristled tile brush and begin cleaning your shower tiles by brushing them
using back and forth motions. For corners and grout lines, use an old toothbrush to get rid of dirt
and grime buildup efficiently. You will be able to clean your shower tiles with minimal scrubbing
power thanks to the hot water and acidic content in the vinegar.
4. After cleaning the shower tiles thoroughly, rinse them off with mugs of water or (if you have
one) a handheld shower head. Lastly, squeegee the water into the drain and wipe up any
moisture left on the surface using a clean towel or absorbent cloth.
Deep Cleaning Soiled Shower Tiles
If you haven’t cleaned your shower tiles in a long time, they’re likely to be extremely soiled and
tough to unearth. In this case, a regular cleaning method (like the one above) will not be as
effective as you would hope it to be; hence, we suggest using the following, foolproof cleaning
process to clean and de-grime your shower tiles completely.
1. Make a non-runny paste of baking soda and water by mixing the ingredients in a bowl until it
is a thick consistency. When dealing with stubborn stains, it’s advisable to make the paste using
equal parts of water and hydrogen peroxide for a more effective deep cleanse.
2. Cover up your shower tiles with your baking soda paste by using a sponge to spread it
around. Pay more attention to dirtier areas as they will require excess cleaning agent to get out.
3. For this step, you can either use raw or diluted vinegar to spray over the baking soda for a
chemical reaction that will help eat away at stubborn stains. If you choose to dilute the vinegar,
mix it with equal parts of water and stir it up well before spraying the tiles. Wait at least 5
minutes after you’ve sprayed the tiles before moving on to the next step.
4. A tile brush with medium-hard bristles is recommended for scrubbing soiled shower tiles.
Depending on how stubborn the stains are, you may be required to use a bit of arm strength to
really get them out. As we mentioned earlier, an old (medium-bristled) toothbrush will aid in
cleaning corners and tile grout so avoid overlooking these areas.
5. To rinse your shower tiles, it’s wise to splash them with warm buckets of water to get rid of all
the ingredients used to clean them. Use a squeegee to push water into the drain and rinse the
tiles again; do this at least three times before drying them with a clean towel.
With a little bit of patience, effort and simple ingredients, you can make any line of filthy shower
tiles spotless again!