How to Clean Shower Tiles Without Scrubbing?

Want to know how to clean shower tiles without scrubbing? Who doesn’t want to?

The bathroom can be the most challenging place in your home to clean and sanitize.

The toilet bowl and the bathroom sink need to be cleaned and disinfected very frequently. The shower area is another place where dirt accumulates and you will have to sanitize it carefully.

A clean shower enables you to refresh yourself every day. If you don’t maintain your shower clean, you will get out dirtier than you entered.

Shower tiles are notoriously difficult to clean, especially when you haven’t scrubbed them in a long while.

But who says you should scrub? Keep on reading to find out how to clean shower tiles without scrubbing.

What causes dirt on shower tiles?

Why would a place that gets washed frequently become so dirty? It sounds like a paradox.

Yet the water that you use for showering and the resulting wastewater are not so clean. Here are the main causes of dirty shower tiles:

• Dirt

Taking a shower when you are very dirty can definitely leave the shower tiles in a bad condition. Some people wash their pets in the shower, which can also contribute to grime buildup.

• Hard water

The minerals in water can attach to the surface of shower tiles and make them look hazy. Hard water is also a problem for the showerhead and other fixtures and it can even compromise their functionality.

• Soap

Yes, that’s right! Any kind of detergent, including soap, needs to be rinsed thoroughly from ceramic or porcelain surfaces. If not, a film of soap, called soap scum, forms, attracting more soap and grime buildup.

• Grout

If the tiler did not buff off grout, the invisible film it forms will grab dirt and trap it to the surface of the tile. Even if you wash the dirt away, the grout remains and continues to attract dirt. [1]

How to clean shower tiles without scrubbing?

Now, there are multiple methods to clean grout in shower tiles. What every homeowner wants to know is how to clean shower tiles without scrubbing. You definitely want to know what to use to clean shower tiles without much effort.

Here are some methods for obtaining spotless shiny tiles without a drop of sweat:

Using powerful chemicals

• Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner

A product like this Aqua Mix Heavy Duty Tile and Grout Cleaner is the fastest way to solve your problem. Manufacturers recommend it for heavily soiled and neglected areas. It will clean ground-in dirt, soap scum, grease, algae, and mildew stains. You can use it on limestone, granite, slate, marble, ceramic, porcelain, travertine, and many other surfaces.

Try a higher dilution first. If there are still areas needing extra cleaning, apply it undiluted. Best is to test it first on a corner that won’t show as this alkaline solution is very powerful. Make sure to use protection gloves and goggles to avoid burns.

• Phosphoric Acid Cleaner

If grout still persists after using the previous product, use Phosphoric Acid Cleaner. Follow directions closely as this is a specialized chemical cleaner and should not come in contact with your skin.

Clean shower tiles naturally

• Run your shower first

If you want to clean your shower tiles without using aggressive methods, you need to prep the tiles first. We recommend running your shower at maximum temperature for 5 to 10 minutes. This opens up the pores and loosens up grime particles.

• How to clean shower tiles with vinegar

Vinegar is the pantry’s cleaning Rockstar as it has dozens of uses. It can also help you clean shower tiles naturally.

Mix one part vinegar with one part water. Fill a spray bottle with this solution and spray it over the wall and floor tiles. Spray more on the dirtier areas and on grout lines.

Let the solution sit for about 10 minutes. If the dirt is very stubborn, leave it for 30 minutes or more.

Wipe the tiles with an old towel or sponge.

Rinse the surface of the tiles with generous amounts of water. Make sure you splash away all scum and vinegar remnants.

• Homemade cleaning agent

If vinegar is not effective enough to remove grout and dirt from tiles, you can try a more powerful solution. Prepare a homemade mix of half a cup baking soda, a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide, and a teaspoon of dish soap.

Apply the mixture on the tiles and let it sit for 10 minutes.

Baking soda is slightly abrasive and loosens up dirt without damaging the surface of tiles. Hydrogen peroxide is powerful and kills germs without being toxic.

• Steam clean shower tiles

Homemade solutions don’t work and you want to avoid harsh chemicals? Steam cleaning is the answer to ‘How to clean shower tiles without scrubbing?’

Steam cleaning appliances have been invented to avoid arm-killing jobs such as scrubbing tiles. A steam cleaner heats water to a high temperatures and blasts steam directly onto the grout. All that’s left is a slurry of grim that you just rinse away.

Purchase or rent a general-purpose canister-style steam cleaner that can be used for shower tiles. Some cleaners come with nozzle attachments for different surfaces.

Work on small sections until they are completely clean and then move to the next section.

Rinse or mop the dirty water for tiles fast so it does not have a chance to settle back into the grout.

How NOT to clean shower tiles

When cleaning shower tiles you can make mistakes causing the deterioration of the shower area or ineffective cleaning. Here’s how not to clean shower tiles:

• Using abrasives

Scrubbing tiles with abrasives damages the finish of tiles, living them more susceptible to staining.

• Not cleaning spills

Some tiles are made from porous materials. If you don’t clean spills and grime immediately, they will stain the shower tiles and make them more difficult to clean.

• Using ammonia or bleach

Ammonia and bleach can discolor grout. They also affect the quality of the air in your bathroom and represent a health hazard.

• Using powerful acids

Some people thing that acids are the best solution for keeping shower tiles clean. In fact, acid can attack the surface of the tiles and the grout, causing a worn-off aspect. Even vinegar needs to be applied diluted!

• Over-wetting tiles

Tap water contains various minerals; standing water on tiles can cause stains or discoloration.

• Vacuuming tiles

You may be tempted to vacuum your tiles to remove dirt from your bathroom. The problem is that the metal beater bar can scratch tiles and cause a dull appearance in time. Only use a vacuum cleaner if the beater bar can be switched off. Or, better yet, use a brush to remove debris from bathroom floor.

Preventing grime and dirt buildup

Prevention is better than cure. Ideally you should keep your shower area clean so you never end up scrubbing the tiles. A few tips for preventing dirt buildup on shower tiles include:

• Spraying a vinegar solution after each shower

Even two or three applications a week make the difference. The vinegar solution prevents dirt from accumulating.

• Use Wet & Forget Weekly Shower Cleaner Spray

Don’t like the smell of vinegar? Consider the Wet & Forget Weekly Shower Cleaner Spray, specially formulated for preventing the build up of soap scum and shower grim. Scrubbing or wiping are not required. The product does not contain ammonia, bleach, or other irritating substances.

This spray has a soft vanilla scent that will make the daily shower a more pleasant experience.

The biggest advantage though is the weekly application. Nobody wants to apply a cleaning product every single day before leaving for work.

• Keep the shower area dry

Let the bathroom air dry after each shower. If the tiles are constantly wet, mildew can form. You can use a squeegee to speed up the process.

• Run the water after each shower

If you notice dirt on the wall and floor tiles after taking a shower, run the water until it disappears. When dirt dries, it sets in and becomes more difficult to remove afterwards.

Final Word

Everybody wants to know how to clean shower tiles without scrubbing. Why kill your back and arms when you can preserve your energy for something better?

The main solutions to the problem are powerful cleaning agents, homemade solutions, steam cleaning, and prevention. Which one do you prefer to cleaning your shower tiles?