Your home’s natural stone surfaces should be properly cared for to ensure long-term functionality and appearance. However, caring for stone surfaces can be a bit tricky, especially if these surfaces are constantly exposed to moisture.
Your shower’s natural stone is likely exposed to water daily. Because of this, you should take certain measures to prevent damage to the stone while keeping it looking its best.
7 Tips for Caring for Natural Stone Showers
Let’s take a look at a few important tips for caring for stone shower tiles.
1 .Know Your Stone
First, it’s important to know what type of stone your shower is and what type of stone finish it has. Some stones may require specified cleaning techniques. For example, marble is more porous than other stones like granite, meaning it will need an appropriate cleaner for the job.
You’ll also want to consider the stone finish. Some stones may have a polished finish, while others may be honed. Consider this fact as you clean your stone shower.
2. Keep the Tiles Clean
Stone shower tiles—whether marble, granite, or quartz—require frequent cleaning.
Weekly cleaning with a stone-safe cleaner is the perfect solution for dirty, grimy shower tiles. When doing so, it’s important to avoid products with acid or ammonia, as they can easily damage the natural stone. Instead, use a product like Rock Doctor’s Marble Shower Cleaner or Granite and Quartz Cleaner to safely clean all-natural stone tiles.
Additionally, to keep soap scum from building up, you can rinse the shower down after each time it is used to make sure no shampoo or soap is lingering on the tiles for an extended period of time.
3. Dry the Tiles After Showering
Leaving natural stone wet all the time can lead to mildew and mold growth. Daily, or after each shower, it’s important to squeegee or use a microfiber cloth to dry the tiles thoroughly.
A squeegee removes moisture, allowing the tiles to dry faster. However, if you really want to ensure the tiles are completely dry, wiping with a cloth is a better option.
Overall, removing excess moisture while cleaning a natural stone shower is a strong defender against mold growth, and can even decrease the humidity levels in your bathroom.
4. Avoid Harsh Chemicals
When caring for a natural stone shower, it’s best to avoid using harsh or acidic chemicals. These types of cleaners can wear down the stone’s sealant, leading to discoloration, scratches, and even staining.
Instead, use pH-neutral products, specifically those that are made for cleaning natural stone.
5. Pay Attention to Your Grout
Grout may seem unimportant next to your beautiful stone tiles. However, if neglected, the grout can become dirty, regardless of how great your tiles look, and can diminish the natural beauty of the shower.
To clean your grout, use a toothbrush or soft nylon brush to gently lift grime. It’s best to also use a stone-safe grout cleaner like Rock Doctor’s Tile and Grout Cleaner.
6. Eliminate Mold and Mildew
Not only is mold gross, but it can also be a health hazard for your family. Breathing in mold spores can increase allergies and irritate those with respiratory conditions. For this reason, it’s best to clean away mold and mildew as soon as possible.
To eliminate mold and mildew, use Rock Doctor’s shower cleaner in addition to a non-scratch sponge or pad. This ensures that you will gently remove the mold from the surface of the stone without scratching or damaging it.
You can prevent mold by keeping the stone tiles as dry as possible between showering sessions, as mentioned above.
7. Seal Stone Tiles Regularly
Regardless of where natural stone is in your home, it needs to be sealed to prevent damage from elements like moisture and dirt. Your tiles are even more at risk for water damage in the shower, so it is important that you seal these tiles often.
While sealing stone can normally be done every six to 12 months, when it comes to sealing shower tiles, you might want to start checking around every four to six months to see how the sealer has held up. In some cases, you might need to seal the stone more often to keep it protected. If you don’t use appropriate cleaners on the tile, you are likely to strip the sealer off early.
Rock Doctor’s Granite and Stone Sealer is the perfect sealer for in-shower stone tiles. It is safe on all types of natural stone and will keep the tiles in your shower safe from frequent exposure to excessive moisture.
What NOT to Do When Caring for Natural Stone Showers
When caring for stone shower tiles, you’ll also need to consider what not to do to avoid damage. This includes the following:
- Do not use just any cleaner. Non-stone-specific cleaners, whether in cream, liquid, or powder form, can damage the stone.
- Do not use ammonia products. These can dull the surface of the stone.
- Do not use soap scum removers.
- Do not use generic mildew stain removers on polished stone tile.
- Do not use harsh disinfectants or self-cleaning products.
Rock Doctor’s collection of natural stone products ensures clean and properly cared-for surfaces. Shop online today or visit a retail location near you.
