How to Clean Natural Stone Shower Walls

Having natural stone for shower walls is a popular choice among many of the home designers. However, natural stone requires regular maintenance and cleaning in order to keep it free from mildew and molds. You can clean the stone shower walls with the following steps.

Step 1 – Regular Cleaning

Wear rubber gloves before you do any type of cleaning with chemical solutions. With the help of the natural stone cleaner you can clean the natural stone shower wall on a regular basis. However, buy only quality products from trusted dealers or shop online for them. Do not use harsh chemicals, as they may destroy the sheen from the stones.

You can start using a product after doing a spot test in a small area of the wall. In order to clean you should mix one part of the cleaner with one part of the water and use a sponge to apply the solution to the wall. Let the solution act for some time and wipe away the dirt and other deposits on the natural stone with a rag cloth before the solution dries off. You can also use a scrub brush to remove the deposits or films on the natural stone shower walls. After this scrubbing, rinse the wall cleanly with plain water.

Step 2 – Removing Soap Scum

Soap scum cannot be simply wiped off with a sponge. You should spray the cleaner solution in the soap scum and slide a plastic squeegee over it so that it comes off. If you feel the soap scum is too old and is not responding to the cleaner and squeegee, you should use ammonia.

Step 3 – Removing Stubborn Soap Scum

Mix 1/2 cup of ammonia to 1 gallon of warm water. Use this solution on stubborn soap scum and then wipe it off with a rag.

Step 4 – Removing Molds and Mildew

Buy a quality mildew remover suitable for natural stone. Spray this remover over the shower wall. Leave the solution to act on the mildew for at least an hour. Then rinse the wall by showering water on it. Molds and mildews can also be removed by using a degreaser. Dilute it with hot water (10 parts water to 1 part degreaser). Apply this solution to the walls with a plastic bristles scrubber. However, conduct a spot test before applying to the entire area.

Step 5 – Daily Cleaning

In order to avoid the formation of soap scum or other films, you can wipe the walls with a microfiber rag every day after having a shower. You can also make a solution out of baking soda to act as a cleaning agent. Since baking soda does not damage the natural stone, it can be used as per manufacturer’s instructions to clean the walls on a daily or weekly basis.