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How to Keep Your Shower Clean

In addition to performing necessary repairs, cleaning your shower is an important way to ensure that it remains in like-new condition for as long as possible. Learning how to clean your shower like a pro will not only keep your shower clean and functional, as preventing the buildup of mould and other minerals can significantly decrease any shower repair bills you might have.

Your shower cleans you, so you should do the same for it. We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks that you can use on cleaning day to clean your shower faster and better. If you follow these, you’ll have a sparkling, squeaky clean shower in no time.

clean shower

Keep Your Shower Clean

No brushes or scourers. If you think you’re spending far too much of your time scrubbing the dirt and grime from your shower, then the problem is probably your cleaning tool. Brushes and scourers can damage the the grout. The constant rubbing will slowly erode the grout and form holes and crevices for water deposits… Allowing for mould to set in. We highly recommend after a newly fresh grout has been applied, to only use a micro fibre cloth with a cleaning product.

Try deep cleaning. This is best done right after you’ve had a shower, as the surface of your shower is already wet, and the steam will have loosened any grime or dirt, which makes your job easier! Use your preferred bathroom cleaner to wipe down your walls. You can also mix vinegar and dish soap in equal parts and spray it onto your walls before cleaning. Make sure you get in all of the nooks and crannies of your shower. Soap scum tends to build up on faucets and shower handles, and can easily be forgotten.

Spot clean often. Mix water and a spot-free rinse agent and spray it onto the shower walls, door and curtains. Buy a shower squeegee and use it quickly dry walls to prevent the formation of water spots and the buildup of soap scum. Be mindful that some surfaces require special care. Ensure that all the cleaning products and tools you use won’t damage or degrade the surfaces of your shower.

Keep your shower dry. Dark and damp environments are the perfect environments for mould, mildew and germs to thrive. You can minimize this by keeping your shower as dry as possible when you’re finished using it. You could do this by squeegeeing the water off the walls, floor and door, or wiping these areas with a towel to get rid of leftover condensation. Try to leave your bathroom window open for an hour after having a shower, or turn on your vent fan for 20-30 minutes to reduce the humidity in the room. You can also leave your shower curtain or door open to let the humidity from your hot shower disperse throughout the room.

See our services: shower sealers, retile shower & regrout shower

Check your shower products. The shower gels, soaps, shampoos and conditioners could be adding to your shower’s problems without you realising it. For example, opaque bar soap leaves behind soap scum, while liquid body washes and shower gels don’t. If the grout in your shower is turning an unusual colour, such as pink or green, then you should check the ingredients of your shampoo. Some shampoos contain dyes which can discolour certain parts of your shower. Consider switching to a shampoo without added colour.

Where you keep your products can also affect the growth of certain minerals. Don’t keep your bottles on the floor of the shower, as this lets water to collect under them to form slime and mildew. Try keeping them on a shelf or a shower caddy with a grated rather than a solid base.

Trust the experts. Always be on the lookout for unusual growths of mould and other substances. Sometimes, even when you clean often, your shower may just be in need of a repair. Leaks are a common cause of mould, mildew, bad smells and damaged tiles, so if your problems still persist even though you spot clean regularly and also do deep cleans, call a professional to come and take a look at your bathroom. The team at Elite Shower Repairs can help you with any problem you can’t fix on your own.

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How To Tell If Your Shower Is Leaking

How To Tell If Your Shower Is Leaking

Water leaks can be catastrophic. Showers by their very nature are at a high risk of leaking, and often these leaks are hard to spot until there’s extensive damage. Fixing showers as soon as you can see the effects of leaking is incredibly important, as costs skyrocket when you need extensive shower repairs. That’s why being able to spot the signs of shower leaks straight away and taking action against them is important, as doing these will save you a lot of money in the long run in both repair bills and water bills. It will also ensure that your shower is always in tip-top condition and so will last you your lifetime! To help you tell whether or not your shower is leaking, we’ve come up with 5 telltale signs that you should be looking out for.

  1. Mould or mildew. If you clean your bathroom regularly but you still keep seeing mould or mildew, chances are your shower is leaking. The places you should be inspecting for mould regularly are in the shower joints (where the tub and tile walls meet), around the tub, in grout (the substance used between tiles), and in caulk (the substance used between the tile planes). Look out for discoloured tile surfaces and black stains in grout. Mould spreads quickly, so tackling it when you first spot it is essential in maintaining a functioning shower. Although it’s normal for a bit of mildew to accumulate, if it’s on nonshower walls then you probably have a leak on your hands.
  2. Musty smells. Old water that has accumulated tends to have a distinctive smell. If you’re experiencing musty, stale and earthy smells in your bathroom and even around your house, then chances are that mould is present, even if you can’t see it. This usually means that the leaks are well hidden, which could require extensive repairs. Mould thrives in moist, dark areas, and so leaking pipes are often mould’s favourite starting point.
  3. Damaged walls. If your walls are starting to look a little worse for wear, you may be experiencing a leak. Look out for walls that are warping, bowing or staining, because this is almost always caused by leaks. Bathrooms are normally quite moist, however problems like these shouldn’t be occurring. Also keep an eye out for damaged paint or wallpaper, particularly blisters, as water leaks often damage the binding that attaches a wall covering to a wall.
  4. Damaged flooring. The floors of bathrooms are designed to survive some water exposure, so normal use doesn’t usually cause damage to them. However, if you see cracks, buckling or stains in your bathroom floor, then that usually means there’s a pipe leak. This is often from a pipe directly beneath the floor. Moisture may also make the flooring in your bathroom softer, meaning tiles may lose their ability to stick, so look out for tiles that have come loose.
  5. Damaged ceilings directly below bathrooms. If you’ve noticed that the ceiling of the room beneath your bathroom is sagging, stained (like a coffee stain) or has paint that is blistered, then you definitely have a leak. Sometimes you will be able to see the leak itself. If this is happening to you, then you need to get professional assistance straight away. Water can also travel a long way, so if your ceilings are damaged in another part of the house, then it still may be a bathroom leak.

Let The Professionals Help

If you can spot any of these signs in your shower or bathroom, it’s important that you address the problem straight away. Our friendly team of professionals can repair your shower and return it to pristine condition. Call us on 1300 035 483 for a free quote today.