Your Sparkling Shower: Maintenance Help

You use it every day. It’s always there for you, ready to give you warm water when you need it. But

are you there for it also? Because of how much we use showers, they need regular maintenance. From cleaning to repairing, let’s go over some basics for shower care.

Cleaning

As a shower is used, soaps, chemicals, dirt, and other remnants are flooded around and through the shower. Overtime this builds up, creating the residue that we see. Cleaning is important for more than just hygiene. If allowed to progress, mildew can grow and bacteria can breed, creating stains and damaging the surface. 

At a minimum, you should scrub and disinfect your shower once a month. Ideally once a week. Consider wiping down the surface after each use, to prevent any soap that didn’t wash away to stick. When cleaning, generally use a nonabrasive liquid that is free from acetate, and hot water. However, depending on your shower, you may consider looking at your manufacturer’s recommendations, especially if your shower is tiled. 

Maintenance

If your shower is tile, the water will inevitably do damage. Showers are sealed to allow protection from the water, but this needs to be kept up as well. You should reseal the grout and tile twice a year to reinforce it. Also, check occasionally for loose, damaged tiles. Keep a close eye on the grout as well. When damage occurs, be quick to mend it. Otherwise, the water can move past the tile into the wall and floor, causing greater damage.

The edges of the shower and fixtures are always caulked or sealed to keep the water inside the shower. While water resistant, this also can deteriorate overtime. Caulk leaks can go unnoticed if not looked for carefully. This is why it’s important to replace your caulk every three to five years. Once a year, you should scrutinize the caulk to find any noticeable leaks.

The last piece of inspection should be the door and all around it. Shower door tracks have leaking systems built in to allow the water to drain out into the shower. If water is being trapped, you may need to fix that as well. A quick fix is to drill holes, at an angle, into the track so that the water can drain back into the shower unit. 

Finally, be sure to watch for leaks. Both around the shower, and beneath it. If your shower is on the second floor, watch the ceiling underneath. If leaking occurs that you cannot get a handle on, it may be time to bring in a professional. However, good maintenance and upkeep should help you keep your shower lasting long, looking new, and sparkling clean! If you have any troubles with your shower that seem excessive, be sure to contact a professional to take a look!