How and how to wash a shower cabin: a detailed overview of the best detergents

Those who appreciate practicality and convenience are increasingly installing modern compact shower stalls in bathrooms instead of bulky bathtubs of the old type. Agree that any plumbing needs careful care, and a shower with transparent walls requires a particularly careful attitude.

But how to wash a shower cabin and what nuances to consider when choosing tools for processing plumbing? It is these issues that we will consider in the article. We will analyze the intricacies of daily care and the features of general cleaning.

We also provide a list of the best purchased products and home-made solutions that can be made from materials available in the kitchen. For clarity, we will provide the article with visual photos and useful video recommendations for the care of showers.

General recommendations for the care of plumbing

And although showers designed for constant contact with the aquatic environment, but under its influence over time lose their presentable appearance.

The reason for this is that tap water contains many salts and minerals, which, when in contact with plumbing, have a negative effect on its condition.

To extend the life of plumbing equipment, the care of the hydrobox after the completion of each water procedure should become a daily habit of its owners

Factors determining the rate of plumbing pollution:

1. Water quality. The water coming from the central highway does not always meet the necessary parameters. And the reason for this is the increased content of salts and minerals in it, insufficient filtration of the system and the deterioration of water pipes.
2. Filters. An excellent solution when, in order to reduce the content of calcium salts in water and neutralize the action of its other components, two main filters are connected at the inlet: coarse and fine filters.
3. Applicable Care. Categorically it is not allowed to use abrasive cleaners and hard brushes, the structure of which can damage any material in the shower.
4. Prevention - the most effective way to prevent education and fungal colonies. Once a fungus has appeared, it can settle for a long time and gain a foothold in the microcracks of the facing material. The owner's task is to eliminate the favorable conditions for the development of the fungus by reducing the humidity in the room by installing a forced ventilation system and regular processing of hard-to-reach cabins using "chemistry".

Most foreign-made showers are not designed for hard water coming from our plumbing systems.

Plumbing, taking into account Russian realities, just a few years after the date of commissioning, it may simply fail. Information about popular breakdowns and shower repair considered in our other article.

Many breakdowns can be prevented by changing the quality of the incoming water.

The list of recommendations on how to properly care for a shower cabin is determined by what materials are involved in the manufacture of sanitary equipment

When choosing a detergent, it is important to take into account the features of care for this material, since not only the efficiency and speed of cleaning, but also the life of the plumbing depends on the correctness of the solution.

Care is complicated by the fact that several types of materials are involved in the production of plumbing:

• pallets are different by design and type of material - in budget models made of acrylic or steel, in expensive ones made of natural or artificial stone, but there is shower models without tray;
• the roof, doors and walls of the cab are made of transparent plastic or thick tempered glass;
• taps, faucets and shower heads can be either completely metal, made of chrome and stainless steel, or with the inclusion of plastic elements;
• frame structure - painted aluminum profile.

Modern showers are equipped with sophisticated plumbing equipment, for example, steam generating device. The owner's task is to follow the rules of care and for him.

Is there an acrylic tray in your shower? Then you may be interested in our care article.behind the acrylic bathtub. Effective cleaning productsRemoving stains from the acrylic surface of the pan, as well as repairing scratches is similar to caring for an acrylic bathtub.

The best option for solving the problem is to form an arsenal of tools that are specifically designed for each type of material.

Although this approach will initially cost more, it is, in the long run, more profitable. After all, directed action tools are more effective, and therefore will be spent more economically.

To avoid damage to the surface of the functional elements of the shower, carefully choose what you plan to apply

To remove old dirt and wipe the surface, it is best to use:

• a piece of soft fabric (flannel or cotton);
• silicone or rubber scraper (for collecting and driving water);
• foam sponge.

It is convenient to remove old pollution with a rubberized napkin, which can be purchased at any auto store. Many motorists love to use it for polishing cars.

It is most convenient to clean the even walls and flat sections of the cab with a scraper equipped with a narrow sponge for applying the solution and a rubber profile for driving the liquid

Do not attempt to clean chrome with steel wool or a piece of sandpaper. Each new, even the smallest scratch, will only increase oxygen access, accelerating the rusting process.

An overview of effective detergents

Assortment of ready-made cleaning products designed for washing plumbing (both hydroboxing and bathtubs) are quite wide. Gels and creams, powders and sprays, concentrates and ready-to-use formulations ...

The choice is limited only by the preferences of consumers.

Means for cleaning acrylic, metal and glass surfaces are available in the form of a spray, to remove strong impurities - in the form of creamy compositions

Among the commercial products intended for the care of showers, the most well-proven:

• Tilex - An effective cleaning and antibacterial agent manufactured in the USA. Perfectly removes dried foam and fat deposits. Does not require rinsing after application.
• Cif - a creamy cleaning composition of dense consistency, produced under the trademark of the Dutch-British company "Unilever". On sale it is found with bleaching and flavoring additives.
• Acrylan - The effective composition of the domestic manufacturer copes well with dirt, rust and white coating. The presence of a spray gun that sprays the foam makes it possible to spend the product as economically as possible.

An important point: choosing the best way to wash the shower, consider that compounds based on alcohol, acetone and ammonia can deform the coating structure of plumbing.

Detergents from improvised materials

Mistresses who do not accept the use of "chemistry" often resort to time-tested folk methods. Their principle of action is based on the reaction between acid and calcium and magnesium salts.

As a result of the interaction of the media, the dissolution of limescale occurs.

Remedy # 1 - citric acid solution

Powder with a crystalline structure, having a sour taste, which many housewives use as a food additive, perfectly dissolves plaque on glass and plastic surfaces.

With the help of lemon juice or citric acid concentrate it will not be difficult to bring to shine not only plumbing, but even tiles in the bathroom

To prepare the solution, one sachet of acid is diluted in 150 ml of cold water.

If possible, the acid can be safely replaced with freshly squeezed lemon juice. The ratio of ingredients in the manufacture of the cleaning composition is as follows: the juice of one lemon in half a glass of water.

The diluted product is poured into a bottle equipped with a spray, and evenly distributed over the entire surface. For lack of a spray, the product can be applied with a foam sponge soaked in the solution.

Chrome parts can simply be wiped with a lemon slice without subsequent rinsing.

Using lemon juice when cleaning surfaces, you will “kill two birds with one stone”: get rid of deposits of mineral substances and fill the room with a pleasant aroma

To achieve the maximum effect of acid exposure, the treated surface is left for 10-12 minutes. After that wash off with cold water and wipe dry.

If after cleaning, there is still a residue of plaque, it is recommended to increase the acid concentration during reprocessing by using two packets of powder for the same volume of liquid.

Means # 2 - Tooth Powder or Toothpaste

Tooth powder is a soft and safe cleaner for enameled surfaces. It is also effective in removing white plaque from chrome taps and fittings.

When working with powder, it is evenly distributed over the surface, and then wiped with a moistened cloth.

To protect the chrome parts from scratches, it is better to use a toothpaste: it has a soft, homogeneous structure and therefore will not leave marks on a glossy surface

For cleaning, it is recommended to use a white paste. The pigments present in multi-colored paste can irreversibly stain acrylic. After such a “staining” acrylic will not be able to return to its original whiteness.

The paste is applied to the contaminated area with a soft sponge and gently rubbed in a circular motion. If it is necessary to eliminate more complex pollution, the treated area is left for 20-30 minutes and only then washed.

The seams in the shower and between the tiles are well cleaned with an old toothbrush, with a layer of paste applied to the bristles.

Means # 3 - vinegar for disinfection

Vinegar is able to easily dissolve plaque of stone mineral salts present in water, without leaving a thin film on the surface, which is often observed when using store "chemistry".

In addition, it is able to destroy 80-90% of all viruses and bacteria.

Disinfection of surfaces using vinegar is recommended every 7-10 days during the general cleaning of the bathroom

For processing use an acetic solution diluted in water in a ratio of 1: 1. Particularly contaminated areas may be cleaned with undiluted vinegar.

When applying acetic solution, it is most convenient to use a nylon washcloth that is well absorbent in moisture. To eliminate scale from nickel-plated taps and piping connection points, it is convenient to use cotton napkins soaked in vinegar.

To achieve the desired effect, it is enough to wrap the treated area with a piece of tissue soaked in concentrate and leave for 30-60 minutes. After that, it remains only to rinse the elements with clean water and collect the remaining moisture with a dry cloth.

Remedy # 4 - vodka or alcohol

Soap foam often settles on the glass doors of the cab. As it dries, it gradually turns into whitish spots that have an unpresentable appearance.

Ethanol cleans the glass best of all from soapy sprays. And the real thunderstorm of soap scatters is ammonia.

Liquid ammonia quickly dissolves acids, and therefore perfectly copes with any kind of pollution on plastic and glass surfaces.

To prepare a detergent, 5 ml of alcohol is diluted in a container with 5 liters of water. To simplify cleaning, alcohol is recommended to be used in combination with vinegar.

To create an effect in the form of a glossy shiny surface covered with a thin film that promotes the repulsion of soap and minerals, it is worth adding 20-40 ml of glycerin to the composition.

Daily shower care

The assertion that it is much easier to wash fresh pollution than to wipe away a stubborn stubborn coating has become an axiom for many housewives. Everyday care is intended only to maintain the cleanliness achieved during general cleaning.

Daily care involves cleaning the walls and bottom of the shower tray from soap scouts every time after completing water procedures

To maintain a neat appearance of plumbing, cleaning is performed in the following sequence:

1. After the adoption of water procedures with warm water, rinse all the surfaces of the hydrobox with jets of first hot and then cold water.
2. With a rubber roller or scraper, remove all water from the walls of the box.
3. Wipe the entire booth dry with a microfiber cloth in order to remove the remnants of water droplets that, when evaporated, leave behind a mineral deposit.

When washing the walls, special attention should be paid to the corners where soapy foam always accumulates. To maintain the presentability of the chrome plumbing elements, with daily maintenance they must be thoroughly rinsed and each time thoroughly wiped with a dry rag.

If you want to give shine to chrome-plated elements, then use glass cleaning fluid - “Help”, “Clin” or “Mr. Muscle” when processing

Do not think that it will take a lot of time. The procedure takes no more than one minute. And the result is able to delight for several hours before the next intake of water procedures.

General cleaning of plumbing

Scheduled cleaning is performed every 7-10 days. The frequency of the conduct depends on the intensity of operation of the device by households.

In principle, if you adhere to daily care, then soap stains, white spots of chlorine and other contaminants on the walls will be present in minimal quantities

Normal washing without the use of detergents is not able to provide the desired result. Therefore, when conducting a general washing, detergents for showers are mandatory.

The main points that should be taken into account during the general cleaning:

1. Limescale removal. Best of all, cream and paste products based on fruit acids cope with this task. They easily dissolve contamination, but at the same time prevent fading or, conversely, darkening of the surface.
2. Cabin glass cleaning. Caring for transparent glasses is not much different from the technology for processing any glass surfaces. The selected product is applied by spraying on the walls of the cab and left for 5-7 minutes, after which they are cleaned cleanly with a dry piece of cloth without lint.
3. Cabin pan cleaning. When processing acrylic pallets so as not to scratch smooth walls, use cleaning products that have a whitening effect. They do not contain abrasive particles. Stone pallets are recommended to be treated with a steam cleaner, with a minimum of “chemistry”, which can cause darkening of the stone. For enameled pallets, cream and gel products such as Comet and Pemolux are best suited.
4. Mold free. Achieve results when mold removal possible only by applying chlorine-based formulations. To do this, black spots are treated with "chemistry" and left for 30-40 minutes so that the product penetrates into the pores and cracks.

In cabins where the walls are tiled, it is better to use concentrated formulations designed to care for the tiles to remove impurities.

When processing the facing material with special care, it is necessary to process inter-tile seams, since they often act as a hotbed of mold.

The instructions for using the product are indicated on the package; it is usually applied to the surface of the shower stall and kept for some time so that the solidified mud is thoroughly softened

When you use "chemistry" when processing the surface, make sure that there are no small children and pets nearby, and the room itself is well ventilated.

Chemical detergents are recommended to be worn with tight household gloves.

It is constantly necessary to monitor the condition of taps, nozzles, shower heads and other metal parts. They can be coated with calcium plaque. Successfully cope with this task helps processing concentrated formulations designed to eliminate any kind of plaque.

From poor-quality water, even nozzle holes and watering cans may become clogged.

The easiest way to clean clogged holes in a shower head is mechanical, involving the use of a needle or sharpened toothpick

After mechanical cleaning, the watering can should additionally be kept in acetic solution. For this, the divider is lowered for 30-60 minutes into a container filled with acetic solution diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1.

Filters installed at the inlet also need care. In order for the filtering systems to perform the functions assigned to them in a quality manner, it is necessary to clean their elements from time to time, and if necessary, completely replace them with new ones.

In the future, the use of hydrophobic compounds will help facilitate everyday care. They are applied to the plumbing at the final stage of cleaning, evenly distributing on a dry surface.

After hardening, they form an invisible water-repellent film, due to which housewives are increasingly less likely to return to the problem of the need to clean plumbing from soap and limescale.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

You may find it helpful to provide some helpful suggestions from experts.

Tips for choosing drugs:

Guidelines for the preparation of improvised ingredients:

There is nothing complicated in choosing the right means for washing the shower cabin, simplifying your daily chores.

If you regularly clean the walls and the drain of the hydrobox, turning plumbing maintenance into a daily habit, then you will have to carry out general cleaning only a couple of times a month.

You have chosen the perfect tool for shower care and want to tell other owners of similar plumbing about it? Or do you use an effective solution prepared from improvised means? Share your master secrets - leave comments on this article.