How to Clean Shower Tile and Banish Soap Scum for Good

Cleaning a tile shower is easy unless soap scum has created a dull film on the surfaces. But, there's a simple solution right in your pantry: vinegar. All you have to do is make a simple, DIY vinegar solution and your shower tiles will be shining.

With just a few cleaning products you probably have on hand and the right tools, you can clean tile showers easily to get rid of soap scum and mildewed grout.

Things You'll Need

You don't need all of these things at the same time, but here are 11 things you can use to clean shower tiles and remove soap scum.

• Distilled white vinegar

• Baking soda

• Table salt

• Chlorine bleach

• Dishwashing liquid

• Spray bottle

• Small plastic bucket

• A soft-bristled scrub brush or a plastic mesh scrubber

• Old toothbrush

• Squeegee

• Microfiber towels

• Hand-held steam cleaner
  

The Easiest Method

A quick spray with a 50:50 distilled white vinegar and water solution and a soft-bristled nylon brush will easily remove soap scum from shower tiles.

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How to Clean Shower Tiles With Vinegar

1. Mix a vinegar and water solution. In a spray bottle, mix a 50:50 solution of water and distilled white vinegar. Add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to help the solution cling to the tile surface longer.

2. Steam the shower. Turn on the hot water and let the shower walls become steamy to loosen the grime.

3. Start at the top. Starting at the top of the tile, generously spray the surfaces with the solution.

4. Scrub away the soap scum. Use a soft-bristled nylon brush or a plastic mesh scrubber to scrub away the soap scum. Work gently in small circles. Since the soap scum is usually heavier on the bottom half of the shower tile, dip your scrubber into dry baking soda for an extra cleaning boost.

5. Rinse the tile. Use cool water to rinse away the cleaning solution and soap scum residue.

How to Clean Shower Tiles With Dish Soap

1. Mix a cleaning solution. In a small plastic bucket or spray bottle, combine one quart of warm water and one tablespoon of dish soap.

2. Steam the shower. Running the hot water for several minutes will create steam that loosens the soap scum and make it easier to remove.

3. Scrub the tiles. Dip a microfiber cloth or soft-bristled nylon brush in the solution and starting at the top of the tile, work in circles, gently scrubbing the tile.

4. Rinse and dry the tile. Use warm water to rinse the tile and dry using a squeegee and towel.

Cleaning Stone Tiles

A dish soap and water solution or a commercial stone cleaner is best for natural stone tiles like slate, granite, and marble. An acid solution can cause pitting in the stone.

How to Clean Shower Tile Using Bleach

A solution of chlorine bleach will not remove soap scum, but it is the most effective way to kill mildew on shower tile grout.

1. Mix a solution. In a small bucket, mix a 50:50 solution of liquid chlorine bleach and cool water.

2. Ventilate the bathroom. Turn on the bathroom vent fan and open doors and windows to help vent the fumes from the bleach.

3. Apply the bleach mixture. Wearing rubber gloves and old clothes, dip a sponge into the solution and apply it to the mildewed grout.

4. Be patient. Allow the bleach to work for 15 minutes before scrubbing the area with a soft-bristle brush.

5. Rinse well and dry. Rinse the solution from the shower tile with hot water and dry it with a towel.

Warning

Do not mix bleach with a vinegar cleaning solution. Rinse the shower area well after each cleaning process before using a different cleaner.

How to Clean Shower Tiles With a Steam Cleaner

1. Fill the steamer and set it on high. Fill a handheld steam cleaner with water and bring it to full steam.

2. Start at the top. Hold the steamer three to four inches from the shower tiles over a small area for one to two minutes.

3. Scrub away soap scum and mildew. The steam will help to loosen any soap scum and will kill mildew on the grout. While the tile is damp, use a soft-bristled scrub brush in a circular motion to scrub away the grime.

4. Rinse and dry. Rinse the freshly cleaned areas with warm water and dry with a squeegee or microfiber towel.
   

5 Additional Tips to Keep Your Shower Clean

• Dry the shower after every use with a squeegee or towel.

• Change from bar soap to liquid soap to reduce the amount of fatty ingredients that cling to the tile.

• Clean the shower weekly to prevent soap scum from becoming so thick it is difficult to remove.

• Use an old toothbrush to scrub areas around plumbing fixtures and shower door edges.

• Use the bathroom vent fan, open a window, or add a dehumidifier to reduce moisture that causes mold and mildew spores to thrive on the soap scum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use dish soap on shower tile?

Yes. A dishwashing liquid and warm water solution is mild enough to use on natural stone tiles and effective enough to clean ceramic tiles in the shower. If the soap scum is quite heavy, add one cup of distilled white vinegar to your cleaning solution to help cut through the build-up.

How can you clean shower tiles without scrubbing?

Allowing soap scum to build-up on shower tiles will require scrubbing. However, spritzing shower tile with a solution of water and distilled white vinegar and then drying the walls after every shower will eliminate the need to scrub.

Read the original article on The Spruce.