How To Clean Bathroom Shower Tile Without Breaking Your Back

How to clean bathroom shower tile The EASY Way!

Let’s talk cleaning. Or maybe, the real topic should be…who likes cleaning their bathroom? We tend to cringe over that one daily or weekly task the most. To help, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite cleaning tips for bathroom tiles right here! Check out some of our recommendations to see if we can make cleaning your bathroom less cringy and more fun. Whether it’s which cleaning products work best or which accessories you need to get your hands on, we’ve got you covered!

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The Best Cleaning Tools for Bathroom Shower Tile

Cleaning bathroom shower tiles seems like a great place to start. Every bathroom has them, and we all struggle with how to keep them clean and sparkling. So, if you’re asking what tools or equipment you need to clean bathroom tiles effectively, we have a few recommendations:

First off, you CAN use a steam cleaner to clean shower tiles! We both like to use a steamer to clean the tile grout and shower walls, partly because they clean and disinfect without chemicals.

Shop Julie’s hand-held steamer, which is smaller and less expensive.

Shop Jodie’s household steamer, which is larger, rolls, and is a serious machine ready to tackle the entire house without refilling. 

We’ve got a secret to tell you (because we’re besties)

You don’t have to scrub those tiles by hand! 

If you’ve got a drill in the house, you can use it to do the hard work with a set of bathroom cleaning attachments. Isn’t that wild? And if you don’t have a drill, it isn’t a major investment. Most importantly, it will save you hours of strenuous physical labor. Shop our Amazon store for both a drill and the attachments if you are ready to get those ceramic bathroom tiles sparkling without scrubbing.

Here’s what we love about these purchases:

1. A household drill is an essential item in the home. It can be used for a thousand jobs. If you know you know.
2. The drill attachment set is long-lasting, versatile, and very inexpensive! It’s a no-brainer.

Shop Links Below!

These purchases are life savers, and we are not exaggerating, Friends.

Shop Our absolute favorite household drill here.

And shop our game-changing (and inexpensive) Drill Attachments set.

With the right tools, cleaning becomes less of a chore and a little bit more like something you want to do, or at least that doesn’t wreck your whole day! You can thank us later 🙂

Cleaning Products for Bathroom Shower Tile

If you’re looking for the answer to “how to clean bathroom shower tile?”, it’s all in the bathroom cleaning products.

There are some questions we all have when cleaning bathroom tiles:

• What’s the best way to clean those tiles?
• How can I clean the grout between shower tiles?
• Should I use an old toothbrush?
• A stiff brush?
• Harsh chemicals?
• Abrasive cleaners? 

Personally, we don’t love harsh or abrasive cleaners. There are other safe solutions that work just as well on stubborn stains. We have found it’s not necessary to use serious chemicals which can damage surfaces, leave unhealthy odors, are not great for us, and not great for our homes. 

• So then, what cleaning products are safe and effective for shower tiles?
• How can you remove soap scum and hard water stains from shower tiles?
• Are there any natural or homemade cleaning solutions for shower tiles?

We have answers to those questions below.

First, let’s talk about homemade cleaning solutions that you can make from items you probably already have in your home! Many of these work great on bathroom tiles without a lot of scrubbing.

How to Clean Bathroom Shower Tile Using Natural Methods

Here are a few of our favorite naturally effective methods:

1. Vinegar and Water Solution: Mix equal parts white vinegar and equal parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the tiles and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub the tiles with a brush or microfiber cloth and a little elbow grease, then rinse thoroughly with warm water.
2. Baking Soda Paste: Make a paste by mixing baking soda with a small amount of water. Apply the paste to the tiles and grout, and scrub gently using a grout brush or sponge. Rinse well with water to remove the mineral buildup.
3. Lemon Juice and Baking Soda: Squeeze fresh lemon juice onto the tiles and grout. Sprinkle baking soda over the lemon juice and let it fizz for a minute. Scrub the tiles with a sponge, then rinse with clean water.
4. Hydrogen Peroxide and Dish Soap: Mix equal parts hydrogen peroxide and liquid dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the affected area, and let it sit for a few minutes. Scrub with a circular motion using a brush or sponge, then rinse thoroughly.
5. Borax and Water Solution: Mix 1/4 cup of borax with one gallon of warm water. Use a sponge or mop to apply the solution to the soap scum buildup. Allow it to sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse well.
6. Tea Tree Oil Solution: Combine 10 drops of tea tree oil with one cup of water in a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the mineral deposits, and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Scrub and rinse. 

Important Safety Tips for these methods as well as cleaning in general:

• Remember to test any homemade cleaning solution, even a natural cleaner, on a small, inconspicuous area of your shower tiles before applying it to the entire surface. Just because something is natural, doesn’t mean it can’t cause some damage.
• It’s also important to ventilate the bathroom while cleaning and avoid mixing certain ingredients together, such as vinegar and chlorine bleach, as they can create harmful fumes.
• Remember to always wear rubber gloves when cleaning using any solutions. 

Our Favorite Cleaner for Bathroom Shower Tile

We get it if you’re not into the whole homemade thing. We have a safe and effective shower tile cleaning product that we love to use in our own homes that comes from a store.

Wet & Forget Shower has cut our cleaning time in half.

Here’s how to use it:

• After showering, spray it on all surfaces.
• 24 hours later, rinse all treated surfaces.
• That’s it!

Everyday use cleans and prevents the buildup of soap scum and shower grime. It will also take care of mold and mildew stains. Isn’t that amazing?

FAQs

How often should I clean my shower tiles?

We recommend regular maintenance to avoid staining. It depends on the condition of your shower, but at least weekly is best. If you choose a regular day, like Saturday, then you know when to clean and can make it a habit! If you don’t have a routine, it becomes easy to forget, and that’s when the buildup happens.

Are there any professional cleaning services available for shower tiles?

Yes, of course you can pay to have your tiles professionally cleaned. Unfortunately, these services are quite expensive. Usually, when people pay to have their bathrooms cleaned, it’s because they feel it’s too much work or they can’t get the tiles clean themselves. That’s why we love all our solutions. They’re easy on the wallet, easy on your back, and they really work. 

But What About Mold?

We didn’t forget about mold and mildew growth. These are two of the most common concerns when it comes to keeping bathroom tiles clean.

Following these preventive measures and maintaining a clean and dry shower environment can significantly reduce the risk of mold growth on your shower tiles, shower doors and shower walls.

How to prevent mold growth and mold stains on your shower tiles:

1. Have proper ventilation: Ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated during and after showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows to reduce humidity and allow moisture to escape. 
2. Wipe down tiles: After each shower, wipe down the tiles and grout with a squeegee or towel to remove excess moisture. Pay close attention to the areas where water tends to accumulate, such as corners and edges. And, of course, this is where our favorite Wet and Forget cleaner comes in!
3. Avoid leaving wet towels or bathmats on the shower or floor tiles. We love our stone water-absorbing bath mat for this reason, among many. 
4. Use mold-resistant grout and caulk: When installing or repairing grout and caulk in the shower, choose products that are specifically labeled as mold-resistant. 
5. Clean regularly: Regularly clean your shower tiles and grout removes any soap scum, residue, or other potential food sources for mold. 
6. Seal grout lines: Consider applying a grout sealer to protect your grout lines from moisture penetration. This can help prevent water from seeping into the grout creating an environment for mold to thrive. 
7. Fix leaks promptly: Repair any leaks or water issues in the shower area right away. Regularly check for leaks in plumbing fixtures, faucets, or the showerhead, and fix them as soon as possible.
8. Do regular maintenance: Inspect your shower tiles and grout periodically for signs of damage or deterioration. Address any cracks, gaps, or damaged areas promptly to prevent water from getting in and causing mold growth.
9. Use mold-inhibiting products: If you find that your bathroom is susceptible to mold, consider using a good mold-inhibiting product such as spray-on mold inhibitors or mildew-resistant shower curtains to further prevent mold growth in your shower area. 

So, there you have it, all our suggestions for how to clean bathroom shower tile without breaking your back or the bank!

Always Remember

Remember, the answers to all these questions may vary depending on the type of tile (ceramic, porcelain, natural stone), the severity of the stains, and your preferences. Always follow manufacturer recommendations for any store-bought product you try. With a little bit of trial and error and maybe some minor investment in tools or products, your tiles and bathroom could be the highlight of your home!

Which ideas did you find most helpful? Have any tried-and-true bathroom tile cleaning methods you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments! 

Stay tuned for more cleaning posts. In the meantime, check out our favourite cleaning hacks to make your life better.

In the meantime, Happy Cleaning!