Lydia Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 We've recently had our bathroom completley re-fitted (well it's not finished yet but it's usable) and have finally got rid of the nasty '80s peach suite that was installed by the people before the people before us. Gone also are the revolting tiles that no amount of cleaning were going to make look any better. We now have a brand new sparkling shower cubicle to play with. It's a corner unit with clear sliding doors that backs straight on to new tiles with fresh white grouting. What's the best way of keeping it clean and fresh? I've noticed the water marks on the clear doors already and would like to keep the grouting between the new tiles looking nice for as long as I can. So far I've got an e-cloth which is OK if I keep doing it but is there anything else I should be doing? Also what about the bits at the bottom where the door slides round - I have visions of them getting slimey and mouldy. All suggestions greatly appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miffy Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 I ensure the shower is dried when its been used and clean it with Method tub & tile cleaner a couple of times a week. Otherwise keep it well aired opening windows when the shower has been used until its dried out. Otherwise just usual cleaning. My tiler told us to use weak bleach solution once a month to keep the grouting clean but I dont!! hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 solution of white vinegar in a spray bottle & used every time shower is used, if you're lucky you will not be the only one who remembers to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 If you live in a hard water area, you will need to take an aggressive approach with limescale from the outset. I didn't and have an ongoing limescale fight ..but a friend of mine did, and her shower is still looking very glam.. This is her advice...before the shower is used too much, go over the doors with HG Shower Shield, which puts a protective layer on the glass and keep a squeegie (sp) thingy in the shower and encourage everyone to go over the glass doors when they've showered to stop the water marks. Tiggy's idea of vinegar is also very good, but personally I can't stand the smell..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 We use squeegies and e-cloths every time the shower is used then once a week I use an old toothbrush with a little Ecover cream cleaner to clean around where the doors meet the base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 A good steam clean every couple of weeks on top of a daily spray and wipe routine will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickric Posted November 5, 2010 Share Posted November 5, 2010 Hire a cleaner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatieB Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Did you know that you can buy a tile and grout protector/sealer that is just painted or sponged on. Its very very easy to apply and should keep them both look new. There are many makes around but if you have a Topps tiles near you they do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 ventilation - get a de-humidifier or an extract fan or have a window open in there. damp encourages mould. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhapsody Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Ban your OH and children from using it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Definitely ban anyone else from using it. I religiously use shower spray on ours but the OH doesn't and I noticed the tiniest bit of mould on the sealant. We already have an extractor so short of opening a window can't do anything else to ventilate. I will have to start using a weak bleach solution too which I'm not happy about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Get a water softener That said,we have one as we are in a hard water area (as are you Lydia,just down the road),& I have to Cillit Bang mine at least once a week to keep it looking good. The Flash with Bleach spray is the best stuff for any mouldy looking bits - it is brilliant. But other than that the dirge of totally drying it after each use is your best bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 My Dad is very keen on the HG products from Lakeland, he says they are excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 The HG products are in Homebase too and I use the bath shine one and the mould spray one for under the kitchen sink condensation causes mould and it does mould round the bath = we have a load of water filters and softeners and uv on our system and it used to make the bath green and Lakeland have a wonderful product in a yellow container called scrub free and it was the only thing other than flash with bleach which worked - cillit bang took the coating off the plug hole here!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 We have really hard water but never need more than an e-cloth and the odd dab of cream cleaner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 We have very hard water here too and I agree with others that your best defence is pretty much drying the shower out after each use. Squeegee-ing the shower doors after each use is a must and also I do the shower tray with it too. Then a quick whizz round the nooks and crannies with a microfibre cloth. We get a weird pink mould in the water here which collects at the bottom of the shower doors. A toothbrush is the only way to get into such a tight space but if you do it really regularly it will keep on top of it and make your life easier. Hubbie is a fan of bleach I am not As I do the cleaning I don't use it except when we've had some really problematic mould. In the last year and a bit since we have moved into our house, I have only resorted to a weak bleach solution once. If you keep on top of things, you are unlikely to have a problem. Happy cleaning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 Our water is not hard its so soft but the water is acidic and eats away at the copper pipes and makes the sink and bath green without a special filter - its from the top of a hill and not treated so we need all the things on it to make it safe to drink and for the pipes - we ate through a hot water tank in 13 years already - although we switch off the uv filter as we have not had any problems with our stomachs and I am sure the bugs that are there we are immune to - we switch it on when people come here though. It is difficult when its limescale from hard water and the ecover limescale remover my daughter uses in ireland is ace for clearing it along with vinegar also. I just use method tub and tile spray and occasionally hg bath shine on my plastic bath these days as no green and no limescale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 I use Ecover limescale remover too and find it fab. I have to be careful what I use on my enamelled bath though. Phil live at his folks farm up in the Chilterns, their water is so chalky that you can't see through a glass of water when you draw it from the tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackrocksrock Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 I use Ecover limescale remover too and find it fab. I have to be careful what I use on my enamelled bath though. Phil live at his folks farm up in the Chilterns, their water is so chalky that you can't see through a glass of water when you draw it from the tap. Oh dear - can you drink the water? We have beautifully clear cold lovely water up here thankfully and nothing added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 You can, but it's a bit like licking a blackboard! They use a filter jug, but have to replace the filter cartridge quite quickly as it gets full of sediment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 But it makes the best tea! Which is what I need, as only 2 out of 6/7 people here ever thought of drying the doors after showering. Now it's 1 out of 3. Same ratio, but a bit less work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 We keep a spare hand towel just for dring the shower/bath/tiles after use,. There is only the 2 of us so we do have the benefit of just having to do it once in the morning after we have both showered. Extraction fan while showering, dry off with the towel and window open for an hour afterwards to air. Never had to use any products Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
