How to Clean a Stone Shower Floor

Natural stones come with diverse patterns and colors. And, the designs crafted out of them makes any bathroom look astounding.

Granite, travertine, and soapstone are best for use as floors in shower rooms. It is because they are less porous as compared to marble and some other stones. Keeping all these aside, everything requires proper cleaning and maintenance for a longer shelf-life.

How to Clean a Stone Shower Floor

Keeping stone shower floors clean is a lot different than cleaning a fiberglass floor or plastic shower pan.

Take proper care of the stone floor in your shower, and they will reflect a perfect appearance for a long time. You can use a variety of different cleaning solutions or methods to remove dirt off your stone shower tiles. But, you need to restrict the use of harsh chemicals over the stone surfaces to preserve their shine.

The challenging part of cleaning a stone shower floor is keeping the soap scum build-up under control because we use soap every day, leaving residues behind.

To that effort, this guide will assist you in learning how to clean stone shower floor. 

Method 1: Clean With a Mild Detergent

Routine cleaning is the best measure that you can adapt to control the build-up of soap scum. A mild detergent will be handier for the purpose because it is readily available in every household. The steps below will be convenient for you:

Step 1: Wipe Off the Loose Build-ups or Grime

1. Use a microfiber cloth or any of the soft fabrics.
2. Dip it in a bowl of warm water.
3. Give firm wipes over the stone shower floor.
4. Wipe around the corners and crevices. 
5. Do not use rough cloth for this step, as it might result in pits over your stone floor.

Step 2: Prepare the Mild Detergent Solution

1. Take a bucket of warm water.
2. Add a few drops of mild detergent such as dish soap into it.
3. Mix the solution well to distribute soap in water.

Step 3: Apply the Solution On Stone Shower Floor

1. Use a toothbrush for this purpose.
2. Dip it in the solution and scrub the stained areas thoroughly. 
3. Put some gentle pressure on the tough spots.
4. Rinse the areas where you applied the solution.
5. Now, take a microfiber or soft cloth, and dip it in the mild soap and water solution. 
6. Wring out the excess liquid of the cloth.
7. Use the cloth to rub all-around the floor. 
8. Prefer working in sections to ensure effective and faster cleaning.
9. Wipe the cloth in a circular motion. 

Warning!

Make sure that you do not add too much soap to water. Excessive soapy solution will result in white films or streaks over the stone floor after cleaning.

Step 4: Rinse the Floor With Clean Water

1. Use a bucket of clean water for this purpose.
2. Use hand shower. (If available)
3. Pour the water directly on the floors to drain out all the loose dirt or grime.
4. Check for the cleanliness of the stone shower floor.

Method 2: Clean Using Ammonia

If you are observing some robust stains over your stone shower floor, and routine cleaning is not much effective on it, then this is the process you must adapt. Ammonia disinfects surfaces, kills mildew, and eradicates soap scums.  So, it acts as a suitable cleaning agent.

Step 1: Inspect the Stain

In the first step, you should look for the area over the stone floor that is stained. Following that, you should identify the cause of that stain.

Some types of colors require different cleaning methods or procedures. To know about different kinds of stains, you can check out this article.

1. Brown-pink stains are termed to be organic stains. These stains are caused by urine, tobacco, food, paper, and body fluids.
2. White film stains are due to soap scums.
3. Stains caused by tar, cosmetics, or grease are oil stains. 

Step 2: Cleaning Oil Stains With Ammonia

1. Take ammonia solution in a container.
2. Use a soft & clean cloth for the scrubbing purpose.
3. Dip the cloth in ammonia solution.
4. Rub it over the oil-stained area. 
5. Put some pressure if the stain is too tough.
6. Rinse it afterward.
7. Dry the area with the use of a clean towel.

Step 3: Clean Mildew & Soap Scums With Ammonia & Water

1. Take up around 200ml of ammonia.
2. Mix it up with 3.8L or one gallon of water in a bucket.
3. Dilute up the solution well by stirring.
4. Use a soft cloth and dip it in the solution.
5. Clean the stone shower floor surface in a circular motion.
6. Rinse the area well with clean water.
7. Use a clean towel for drying the floor afterward.

Step 4: Remove Organic Stains With Ammonia & Hydrogen Peroxide

1. Add few drops of ammonia to 12% of Hydrogen Peroxide.
2. Use a clean cloth for cleaning the organic stains.
3. Dip it in the solution and scrub the stained area, 
4. Rinse it with water afterward to observe its cleanliness. 
5. Repeat the process if the stain still exists. 

Get a perfect visual demonstration of cleaning stone shower floor surfaces through this video. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Eraser Sponges for Cleaning Stone Shower Floors?

Eraser sponges are efficient in melting down the soap scums off the stone shower floors, as well as with plastic shower floors. As there are no chemicals within these sponges, they are best preferable for the purpose. To know more about magic eraser sponges, visit this link.

Can I Use Vinegar for Cleaning My Stone Shower Floors?

No, white vinegar and bleach are not recommended to be used on stone shower floors, similar to pebble stone shower floors. It is because they will eventually break down the sealant leading to the discoloration of the stone tiles over time. So, avoid using them. 

Conclusion

Stone shower floors are expensive inclusions at home. However, that doesn’t mean that you need to hire professional cleaners every time to clean and maintain them.

Instead, residents should take up the role of cleaning them once every week. Start regular cleaning and preserve the shine of stone floors.