How to properly maintain your shower at home and how to clean it
Showers in many apartments have replaced the usual bulky bathtubs. The compact sanitary ware fits perfectly into small bathrooms, pleasing to the eye with a modern design. During operation, all parts of the cabin slowly but irretrievably lose their shine, become covered with flowers and stains from steam, hard water, shower products, shampoos. Let's see how you need to take care of your shower cabin at home in order to maintain its bright appearance and functionality for a long time.
Design and maintenance features
The main difficulty in caring for the cabin is that in a confined enclosed space with an aggressive environment, parts of different materials are assembled, requiring special means and approaches to cleaning.
Palette
Pallets are made from several types of materials, the most common being acrylic and steel. Artificial or natural stone is used in expensive models of shower cabins. All these materials do not tolerate abrasive products. All slugs, old drops of dirt are not removed, but dissolved, so as not to scratch the coating.
Fencing
The material for the walls is tempered glass or more budgetary plastic. It is difficult to damage the glass, and the plastic is easy to scratch when using powders with abrasives. Sometimes the role of one or two walls of the cabin is played by the tiled wall covering.
Watering can, taps, brackets
The elements that supply the water are made from different types of metals (chrome steel, stainless steel), often in combination with plastic. For gentle washing, use special gel formulations.
Hydromassage nozzles
End and rotating nozzles are made of plastic or metal. They are one of the most important structural elements that require high quality cleaning for proper water dispersion.
The cabin walls are supported by a frame made of painted aluminum profiles.
What factors affect plumbing pollution
The condition of shower cabins is influenced by a number of negative factors. In order to choose the right maintenance and protection products, it is necessary to know what contaminates the plumbing structure.
Water quality
Tap water in most areas does not meet purification requirements.The high content of salts and minerals causes the formation of plaque on all parts in contact with water, clogging of the nozzles.
Filtration
Specially installed filters improve the quality of the water supplied and extend the life of all types of plumbing. The lack of filtration threatens the rapid wear of the feed elements and the formation of hard-to-remove plaque.
Care products
The products used to clean shower cubicles are often more dangerous than the pollution itself. Excessively aggressive substances, abrasives damage the structure, plastic.
Prophylaxis
Thorough cleaning of the cabins within the recommended time frame is a guarantee of reliable operation. Dirt and moisture contribute not only to aging, but also to the reproduction of dangerous microorganisms and mold. Antifungal agents stop the spread of mold, clean the air of spores.
An important part of prevention is regular ventilation of the cabin and bathroom. The door is left open to allow moisture to escape from the surface and air. It is necessary to maintain working ventilation, check the draft, clean the mine from debris.
Important: in order not to depend on the cleanliness and passability of the general ventilation system, it is better to install forced ventilation. This will eliminate the constant humidity in the bathroom.
Care features for different materials
The selection of cleaning agents is carried out depending on the materials from which the elements of the shower cabin are made. For cleaning, it is useful to buy tools that make washing easier:
- hygroscopic tissue;
- foam sponge;
- a rubber or soft plastic scraper to clean the water.
Glass and acrylic
All housewives know how to handle glass. The glass walls are cleaned with common products for windows and mirrors. This material is difficult to scratch and ruin, the main thing is to get rid of streaks with special means. Plastic booth walls are more difficult to clean. Small cracks are clogged with dirt, the material loses its transparency, becomes cloudy. Use soft fabrics and scrapers, special agents for synthetic glass.
The acrylic coating is light and comfortable, but requires special care. The surface is quickly scratched, sensitive to the action of chemicals. The acrylic tray loses its smoothness due to falling bubbles, friction. When choosing products for cleaning acrylic, they are guided by the manufacturer's advice.
Metal
The metal parts of the toilets are washed without abrasive powders. Limescale deposits from the mixer and other steel elements are dissolved with special compounds.
Enamelled surface
Enamel coatings are among the easiest to maintain. The cabin tray, covered with enamel, can be cleaned by any means - gel, powder, solution. Even old dirt is easy to remove, but you shouldn't delay washing too long. Fresh stains are easier to clean.
Tile
The tile is washed with a conventional ceramic cleaner. The main difficulty lies in the seams, in which moisture and dirt accumulate, the fungus quickly multiplies, forming mold. To wash the tiles, you need to use special products that contain an antifungal component.
To avoid difficult washing during cleaning, splashes of shampoo, toothpaste, shaving products are washed off immediately after use, until they age and become stubborn dirt.
Chrome steel
Faucets, door hinges and nozzles are cleaned with a mild plaque-dissolving agent. It is best to use sprays that are easy to apply evenly over the entire surface. Chrome steel does not tolerate metal mesh, brushes, hard brushes. Scratches caused by hard impact quickly invade dirt, shine fades.
Painted aluminum
The cab frame is coated in paint, which fades with careless handling, exposing the aluminum. Use soft cloths with detergent for cleaning. It is applied for a few minutes, then washed off with water and wiped off. Powders with abrasives are not used for the reinforcement.
How to do general cleaning
Daily and routine cleaning does not remove all the dirt, pollution gradually accumulates, dental plaque develops. General cleaning puts the shower enclosure back in top condition. It is carried out in several directions with the help of effective special tools.
Remove limescale
Dissolve limescale, folk and special remedies. Of ready-made preparations, it is better to use gel-like preparations, they better adhere to the surface. The active substances (fruit acids) do not darken or lighten the parts. Select funds taking into account the material of the treated surface - Comet, WC-Gel, Cillit Bang, vinegar, citric acid.
Cabin window cleaning
When cleaning glasses, the agent is sprayed on the surface and left for 3-6 minutes, then washed off with a dry lint-free cloth. They use ready-made preparations with a vaporizer or traditional preparations - ammonia, vinegar.
How to clean the palette
Acrylic tops are cleaned using special agents that do not destroy the structure of the material (Acryl-Net, Akrylan). Apply the medicine for a few minutes, then rinse. For stone pallets, we recommend a steam cleaner that does not blacken the material. Enameled metal is cleaned with gel preparations such as Comet, which are easy to apply and quickly dissolve stubborn dirt.
How to get rid of mold
To remove mold, chlorine solutions are used. They are applied for 40-60 minutes, then washed off thoroughly. It is important to add the solution to all cracks, joints, to cover smooth surfaces. If the mold cannot be eliminated, fungicides are used. It is important to read the instructions so as not to damage the equipment.
Of the folk remedies, laundry soap and vinegar fight the fungus well. You will have to deal with it more than once.
Important: The shower enclosure must be thoroughly wiped and aired after use, otherwise mold cannot be treated.
Presentation of professional tools
Ready-to-use preparations are convenient to use, as they dissolve even old stains, do not require the application of force and subsequent long-term rinsing and cleaning of surfaces.
Tilex
The preparation cleans surfaces from typical dirt and prevents the appearance of soap and mud stains, plaque. Does not contain substances harmful to the skin.After treatment, it is not necessary to additionally rinse the preparation with water.
coffee
The product in the form of a spray is easily vaporized, the gelatinous preparation is applied with a sponge. After a few minutes, the dirt dissolves and is removed with a soft cloth. Added bleaches and fragrances to eliminate odors.
Akrylan
The domestic composition is not inferior in efficiency to the imported one, it is a budgetary means. Removes all types of dirt, including plaque. Short waiting time (1 minute), economy (one bottle is enough for 25 cleanings) make Bagi Akrilan popular and in demand for washing shower cabins.
Folk cleaning methods
In the absence of chemicals, you can shine the shower cabin with folk remedies containing acid or alcohol. These substances dissolve lime formations and are harmless to surfaces.
lemon acid
Preparation of composition:
- a packet of citric acid (2 packets for old strong dirt) for ½ glass of water;
- juice without pulp of a lemon in ½ glass of water.
The prepared solution is poured into a spray bottle and applied to the surface. Hold 10-15 minutes, rinse thoroughly with cold water.
Tooth powder or paste
Dental cleansers quickly remove dental plaque from the shower. Application rules:
- The toothpaste is only white, with no dyes that can stain plastic parts. The paste is applied to a towel and smeared a thin layer on the surfaces. Withstands up to half an hour, washed off with water.
- The powder is used for enamelled pallets and chrome parts. It is applied with a slightly damp cloth, then washed until completely clean.
It is convenient to clean hard-to-reach joints, faucets, small accessories with a toothbrush with paste applied.
The vinegar
To wash the cabin, vinegar is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1. Smooth surfaces are washed with a sponge or absorbent cloth. Faucets, pipe joints are wrapped for half an hour with a cloth soaked in undiluted vinegar. After dissolving the plaque, rinse the remains of the product with cold water and wipe dry.
Vodka or alcohol
To remove dried stains from soapy substances, a solution of alcohol or vodka is prepared at the rate of 5 milliliters per 5 liters of water. The best solvent for soap stains is ammonia. Washing ratio - 1 milliliter per liter of water. Vinegar is also added to give shine to the surface. In order for the walls to have water-repellent properties, glycerin is introduced into the solution (20 milliliters per 5 liters of water).
Coca Cola
Aggressive Coca-Cola successfully removes dirt from the drain and cesspool, removes plaque from metal parts of plumbing fixtures. It is sprayed or applied with a towel, poured into a pan and left for a few minutes, then washed off with water. It is best not to use for acrylic and plastic surfaces.
Rules of care
The shower cabin needs regular maintenance to keep all the details shiny and fresh, and fungus does not grow in secluded places. Consider how to maintain a presentable appearance of the cabin for many years, that is, what types of cleaning are used.
Fluent
Routine maintenance consists of cleaning after each shower until the suds and water have dried naturally. He understands:
- rinse all parts of the foam after using the cabin - first with hot, then cold water;
- remove drops with a soft scraper;
- dry the walls with a soft towel.
Particular attention is paid to angles, fittings and metal fittings. They are carefully washed and dried.
Important: the walls of the cabin must be wiped clean, as the water contains substances which remain on the surface after natural drying and form a deposit.
Basic
The frequency of basic care is determined by the number of residents and their love for water procedures - on average, once every 1-2 weeks.
This is a thorough washing of all elements of the cabin according to the following scheme:
- pallet cleaning;
- bring to a mirror the shine of the walls;
- cleaning faucets.
Special or folk remedies are used. For weekly care and in the absence of complex problems, you can use folk remedies, dish gels.
Intensive
General cleaning will take longer - all lime formations, traces of rust, traces of mold must be carefully removed. It is worth buying an expensive professional tool - its use will pay off with a long service life of the shower enclosure.
The substances are used according to the instructions, applied for the recommended time, then washed and rubbed into the surfaces until they shine. It is worth rinsing the drain with a hair-dissolving agent, check the quality of attachment of parts. Be sure to test the operation of the ventilation system. The cleaning of the shower cabin is supplemented by airing the room.
Showers require regular washing and drying. The door should be kept ajar to prevent mold growth. It is better to avoid the formation of stubborn dirt than to tear off old stains and plaque for a long time.Simple and competent care will preserve the functionality and beauty of comfortable plumbing for a long time.