5 Ways To Clean Shower Tiles Without Scrubbing

Alex Mcil author
Alex Mcil

Cleaning the shower is one of the few chores that many people find a hassle to do, and hence are always looking for ways to make it simpler. What if I told you that there are ways that you can clean your shower tiles without the need for scrubbing? Yes, that’s correct! If this sounds too good to be true for you, then read more to find out these amazing hacks that can save you so much time the next time you clean your shower!

Before we begin, let’s first discuss, what causes the dirt to appear on our shower tiles in the first place? It may seem ridiculous, that the very location that is being utilized and washed so frequently can get incessantly dirty. It just doesn’t make sense, does it? However, what you have to know is that the water that you use for showering, which is also known as ‘wastewater’ is actually not clean at all. There are many reasons why your shower tiles get dirty even though it is in contact with water so frequently.

First and foremost: Dirt. We usually get into the shower when we are very dirty, and hence, this dirt can result in the shower tiles also getting stained with the dirt from our bodies. At the same time, some people tend to clean their pets in the shower, and this can also result in the building up of grime. Another cause could be hard water. How is hard water formed? There are actually many minerals that you can find in the water, such as magnesium and calcium, which can cling onto the shower tiles and cause them to be cloudy or hazy-looking. Did you know that soap can also be the reason why your shower gets dirty? That’s right, soap scum is an actual thing! It is formed through a layer of film of soap and starts to attract even more soap and grime to buildup. Lastly, grout can be also another cause for the trapping of even more dirt! When tiling your bathroom, your tiler may not have buffed off all the grout, hence leaving this layer of invisible film that will grab even more dirt.

Quick answer

To clean a shower without scrubbing you will need a reliable cleaning agent such as vinegar, Clorox, baking soda, bleach or a commercial chemical. Mix your agent with water (the measure will vary depending on the size and type of chemical) and apply it on the tile and grout. Let it sit for at lest one hour and then wipe and mop the surfaces.

Steam clean the shower area first

If you’ve tried and tested all the homemade solutions, and they just don’t seem to be working out, then maybe you should try steam cleaning! Not only is it chemical-free, but it’s also very easy to use.

Steam cleaners can help relieve the tiring nature of constantly scrubbing tiles. Having a steam cleaner will heat up water quickly, and can target grout directly, rinsing all the dirt and grime away! Steam cleaners can come in the form of canisters, that you can either purchase or rent! Some even can come with nozzle attachments to make the process even easier! You can purchase an domestic steam cleaner for as little as $40 dollars.

You can start by cleaning small areas, applying the steam in a straight line motion. Just ensure that you mop away the dirty water left on the tiles quickly so as to prevent it from it clinging onto the grout once again.

Baking Soda and Bleach

Baking soda is one of the best substances you can use to clean your shower tiles. You can form a paste by mixing 5 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 of water, and then use this paste to rub it all over the tiles and grout. If you want to further clean the tiles, you can also have a vinegar spray solution ready, mix one part of vinegar for every 3 parts of water, and then spray it all over the tiles, followed by the addition of baking soda. After 5 minutes or once you start to notice the bubbling, you know that it’s working! After the bubbling stops, then you can start rubbing off the mixture in a circular rotation. Remember to also use warm water and rinse the remaining residue a few times before you wipe it down dry.

Bleach is another good cleaning option! You can choose between oxygen and chlorine bleach! For oxygen bleach, you can use those powdered ones and add water and mix it well. Chlorine bleach is much stronger, and when using it, remember to ventilate the area well.

Clorox and Hot Water

Clorox can be a very intensive cleaning agent and should be used as a last resort. If your stains are extremely old and require deep cleaning, this will probably be your best option. However, you should not use Clorox by itself. Always remember to mix one part of Clorox with four parts of hot water when you want to clean your tiles.

Alkaline Cleaners

To clean off the first collected on the grout, you can always choose to get an alkaline cleaner, if you’re not into making your own formulas, these are great for mold prevention. Do remember to follow the manual, as these cleaners do contain certain chemicals that may be toxic for you if not used properly, these cleaner usually include trisodium phosphate or sodium hydroxide. Also, keep in mind that you should always be wearing protective equipment! 

Magic Eraser

A gentler option for stains on your shower tiles that may be easier to get rid of is the magic eraser. How do you use a magic eraser? You can do so by simply rubbing the eraser gently on any surface that has been stained, and then leave it for around 10 minutes before rinsing it off with warm water!

Magic erasers are made with melamine and cost around $10 usd, making them affordable and easy to use.

Unclogging the Drain

When you’re unclogging your drain, you should refrain from turning on the faucet and using the water pressure to try to unclog the blockage. Instead, try using boiling hot water or a mixture of baking soda and vinegar.

How NOT to clean shower tiles

Here are some things you should not do when cleaning your shower tiles. Firstly, don’t use abrasives, such as oven cleaner and other agents not created for showers, as it will damage your tile finishing! Also, using powerful acids, such as muriatic acid, can also damage the surfaces of your tiles, causing them to wear out very easily! Over-wetting your tiles is a big no-no as well, as it can result in the formation of hard water stains! Lastly, do not vacuum the dirt off your tiles! Please use a brush instead to get rid of all the debris!

The solution you need is in a spray bottle

In conclusion, we have covered all five ways on how to clean your shower tiles without needing to scrub your tiles. These methods can be used interchangeably, depending on how bad the stains in your tiles are. And don’t forget yo clean everything else like faucets. We hope that this has been useful in your journey when cleaning your bathroom! Happy cleaning!

“The key to effectively cleaning shower tiles without scrubbing is knowing the right cleaning solutions to use, and the optimal time to let them act. What I’ve found in my years as a professional cleaner is that a good quality, pH-neutral detergent, when left for the correct amount of time, can do much of the work for you.”

Darby Langdon, Professional Cleaning Expert

References

https://www.southernliving.com/home/cleaning-and-housekeeping/bathroom-cleaning-mistakes

https://www.thespruce.com/best-shower-cleaners-4177220

7 thoughts on “5 Ways To Clean Shower Tiles Without Scrubbing”

  1. Having spent a good part of my life battling grime, I can affix that traditional scrubbing methods are quite taxing and time-consuming. Once, trying to clean a 19th-century tile mosaic shower in our home seemed akin to a Herculean task, until I found an amazing DIY hack – a simple mix of vinegar and baking soda! The days of tedious scrubbing were luckily closed chapters of my past.

  2. I resonate with your experience, Tobias. Like you, I discovered the vinegar and baking soda trick when I moved into my older flat with vintage tiles that seemed to defy any attempt at conventional cleaning. It was also an inspired move for my kids’ sake; I couldn’t introduce harsh chemicals to our environment.

  3. As a former chemistry teacher, I’ve always been curious about more eco-friendly ways to clean, including shower tiles. Your mention of vinegar and baking soda brought back memories, during one summer break, I spent weeks formulating the perfect homemade glass cleaner using just white vinegar, water, and a dash of dish soap. It did wonders for my bathroom mirrors and fixtures! Maybe it’s time I revisited that experiment with an eye on the tiles this time.

  4. Vivian, your method sounds interesting! I’ve found citrus peels infused into white vinegar work wonders on greasy surfaces, including shower tiles too. Maybe you could try adding that to your experiment round this time?

  5. I’ve been trying a similar method using a homemade mixture of baking soda and dish soap – it works like magic without any scrubbing effort!

  6. Quillan, I’ve also found that addition of vinegar to the baking soda and dish soap mixture enhances its cleaning power significantly!

  7. Absolutely agree with you, Spencer. Moreover, vinegar due to its acetic acid content not only enhances the cleaning power but also serves as an effective deodorizer, eliminating any unpleasant smells from the drains.

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