Spring is finally here! The clocks have gone forward; it’s time to rejoice in the longer evenings, Easter eggs, daffodils and new-born lambs jumping around…. The sunshine does have a habit of showing up the dust that’s collected over the winter, so what better time to have a spring clean?
At Gainsborough Showers, we believe that regular shower maintenance is essential for a healthy lifestyle, so if your shower is looking a tad neglected, these handy tips should have it looking as good as new in no time at all.
With any product you use, always make sure it is suitable for the materials & surfaces you are using it on. Some products can actually damage your shower, particularly abrasive cleaners, so please make sure you check before using them. Usually, the more natural the product is and the fewer chemicals it has, the better it is for your shower and for you.
Getting Organised
First of all, clear a morning or afternoon to dedicate to cleaning your bathroom. Open the window or keep the bathroom door opening to ensure the room is nice and ventilated and put your rubber gloves on. It’s time to tackle that dirt!
Cleaning the Shower
Clear the shower area of any bottles, loofahs, soap and other items. Put them in the sink or onto the side. Take the opportunity to throw away any bottles that are empty and anything else that is no longer used.
If you have an adjustable shower head, use it to rinse the surrounding shower area. If your shower head is fixed, then fill a bucket with warm water and rinse all surfaces in the showering area. At the moment, you are just trying to rinse away any hair or dirt particles.
Next, you’ll want to remove any mildew that’s built up. You can either buy a mildew remover spray or research and make a homemade recipe (these usually involve baking soda and white wine vinegar). Spray the surfaces affected, leave for a few minutes and then rinse off (again either using the shower head or bucket). When using a spray, always make sure to follow the instructions carefully.
How To Clean The Shower Head
Shower heads can be breeding grounds for harmful bacteria if they are not kept clean so it’s very important to clean your shower head regularly. Vinegar is effective at cleaning shower heads. You can either use cotton wool pads soaked in vinegar or an old toothbrush to clean the head and nozzles. If your shower head is particularly dirty, remove it and soak it in a bowl of vinegar for a short while. You can then scrub the head with an old toothbrush to take off the dirt before rinsing and re-attaching it.
How to clean the shower curtain
For shower curtains made from plastic or vinyl, usually a solution made from water and vinegar and applied with a sponge should be all it takes to clean, but check first to see if your shower curtain has any specific cleaning instructions. Always remove the shower curtain from the hooks or rings and lay it flat before cleaning as shower curtains have a tendency to rip easily. The hooks and rings can also be cleaned using the vinegar/water solution. Rinse both the hooks and curtain with water before hanging back up to dry.
How to clean the shower door
If you have a glass shower door, soap deposits and limescale can leave it looking dull and dirty. Using a white wine vinegar and water solution should get it looking nice and sparkling. Leave it on the door for a few minutes before wiping clean with a soft cloth. If you’re finding the marks a little more stubborn, a teaspoon of dishwasher detergent in with the vinegar mix can help to shift them.
The type of shower gel and shampoo you use can actually affect the amount of residue that is left on your shower door. One with a neutral pH level can reduce soap deposits. After each shower, try to rinse down the door and wipe off the excess water with a squeegee. This will leave the door looking cleaner for much longer.
How To Clean the Tiles
Scrub your tiles well, ideally with a mixture of water, vinegar and baking soda. Using an old toothbrush between the tiles can get rid of dirt in those hard to reach areas.
Cleaning the Drain
Finally, you’ll need to clean out the drain, which unfortunately is the worst part of the process. If you or anyone in your family has long hair, it may be worth investing in a drain cover to prevent hair getting caught in the drain.
And finally…
If you do decide to use a vinegar solution whilst cleaning your shower, using a few drops of your favourite essential oils can help to minimise the vinegar smell.
To avoid spending another afternoon cleaning your shower, the best option is to clean it regularly. How often you use the shower will determine how frequently you need to clean it. Just giving the showering area a quick rinse and wipe down after each shower, however, can go a long way to keeping the area nice and clean for much longer, leaving you time to enjoy the sunshine outside!
