If you have a natural stone shower, congratulations! You have a beautiful and unique addition to your home. However, with that beauty comes responsibility- it is important to clean your natural stone shower regularly to keep it looking its best.
To clean the natural stone shower, the best way is to form a solution of a non-acidic detergent with hot water. Spray it onto the stone shower floor and walls. Let it stay there for a few minutes. Scrub off the areas with a brush or sponge. Then, rinse the walls with water and wipe off the stone surface with a microfiber fiber cloth.
Further, in this article, I will give a detailed method for cleaning natural stone showers and some tools you can employ to clean without distorting the shine and surface of the stone shower.
How to Clean a Shower Stone? [4 Simple Steps]
A special guideline is required to make the stone shower last for a long time. So, here’s a step-wise guide to cleaning a natural stone shower.
Step 1: Prepare a Cleaning Solution
First, create a cleaning solution. You will need a non-acidic chemical cleaner, or you can use the dishwashing liquid. If you want to make a homemade solution, you can use baking soda. However, don’t use vinegar since it is acidic. Add hot water to the solution, and fill it in a spray bottle.
Step 2: Spray the solution onto the Shower Walls
Spray the solution thoroughly onto the shower walls. On areas with scum, spray extra liquid. Let it stay there for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
Step 3: Scrub the walls
If the stains are not hard, only spraying and wiping will do the job. However, if the stone shower hasn’t been cleaned for days, then the stains would be hard. Use a soft sponge or brush to scrub the walls until the scum loosens.
Step 4: Wipe off with a Microfiber Cloth
Wash off the area thoroughly with water. Lastly, wipe off all the walls with a Microfiber cloth. Microfiber cloth is soft and doesn’t scratch the stone.
5 Tools to Use for Cleaning Natural Stone Shower
Many people use bamboo brushes or other things for cleaning scum. These tools are effective for cleaning other surfaces however they can scratch the natural stone surface. So, you need to be careful with the choice of tools. Here are five tools/methods you can use while cleaning stone showers.
#1 Squeegee
Squeegee, a rubber wiper, which is often used to clean tiles, shower doors, and mirrors, can be for cleaning the natural stone shower. It is an easy, feasible, and effective tool for cleaning the shower since it doesn’t scratch the natural stone.
#2 Microfiber Towel
Since most stone showers have smooth surfaces, it is easy to wipe out scum, molds, and mildews from their surface using a Microfiber towel. Unlike other clothes, microfiber towels are soft which removes the risk of scratching and damaging the surface of the stone.
#3 Steam Cleaners
Another method, you can employ to clean the natural stone shower is steam cleaning. In this method hot, pressurized steam is blown over the shower, which melts the scum, mold, and mildew over the natural stone shower. Moreover, it kills all types of germs and bacteria in the natural stone shower.
This method is a bit more costly than other methods however the results cannot be compared with any other methods. It is an effortless method of cleaning the natural stone shower since all work is done by a steam cleaner.
#4 Non-Acidic Detergents
Detergents are a common domestic way of cleaning showers. But in the case of Natural stone showers, you need to be careful. Most detergents contain acidic contents which may eat away the stone on your floor/walls. Natural stone is very sensitive to these detergents. It easily gets eroded and decays even when slightly acidic detergents are used. So, for natural stones, you will need non-acidic and neutral detergents like dishwashing liquids.
#5 Eraser Sponges
Just like a squeegee, eraser sponges are a great product for cleaning natural stone without any damage. You can rub the sponges against the shower wall, and friction heat will melt the scum off the walls. You can then wash the walls with water. Since it is a chemical-free tool, it can be used frequently without any worries.
Tips For Cleaning Natural Stone Shower
Natural stone’s life can be increased if you take care of them. The following tips will be helpful for you.
- Clean your stone shower once a week to avoid grime, mold, water deposits, and mildew build-up.
- Use stone-safe products, rather than vinegar or bleach products. Such products are too harsh on stone; their acid breaks down the sealants and also decolorizes the surface.
- Grout between stone tiles can be cleaned by using an old brush. It would allow you to rub the surface without harming the stone.
- Don’t use scrubs and powders for cleaning the stone showers. It wears and tears the surface of the stone, produces scratches, and roughens the surface.
- Remove excess from the surface after using the shower. It will help in preventing mold and mildew.
- Apply a good seal over the natural stone shower. It reduces the risk of water penetration into it. Resultantly, protecting it from damages.
- Polishing the stone protects its shine and aesthetic feeling. It adds a glow and gleaming effect to the natural stone. You can make the polish at home. Simply get 45 grams of baking soda mixed with one liter of water, and your polish is ready!
FAQs
Can we use vinegar for cleaning the natural stone shower?
Any acidic products including vinegar and ammonia are not recommended for cleaning natural stone showers. Since vinegar is acetic acid, its acidity can decolorize or erode the stone over time.
Is it safe to use bleach for cleaning my natural stone shower?
Using bleach directly over the tiles is not recommended. However, you may use bleach to clean the grout linings between stones using some old brush.
Is natural stone easy to clean?
In comparison to tiles or other floor types, it is a bit difficult. Since you have to be careful about the products to be used for cleaning. However, with proper guidelines, it will not be a difficult task for you.
Which type of cleaners should be used for cleaning natural stone showers?
Natural stone showers should be cleaned with neutral cleaners specifically designed for them. Cleaners with pH values closer to 7 will not cause any damage to the seal and even the stone remains protected.
To Wrap Up!
Cleaning natural stone showers is not a difficult task. You just have to be careful about the products that you use. With proper guidance and tips, your stone shower will look new for years!
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment below!
Amos Christen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Interior Design from Drexel University — Philadelphia, PA. Since 2003, Amos has worked with top interior design professionals in this area, including architects and interior/graphic/lighting designers. As a skilled interior designer, Amos Christen is highly versed in fine arts and crafts and uses that to supplement his main area of expertise. He often publishes articles related to home décor on several websites, including Sprucetoilets.com, Sprucebathroom.com, and Mybesuitedhome.com. He also contributes to leading interior design magazines.