Caring for stone surfaces can be a bit tricky, but the challenge becomes even bigger when you are talking about stone shower tiles that are constantly exposed to moisture. There are certain measures you can take to prevent damage to the stone while keeping it looking beautiful. Here are a few tips for properly caring for stone shower tiles.
1. Keep the Tiles Clean
Your stone tiles—whether they be marble, granite, quartz, etc.—will require frequent cleaning to look their best. Weekly cleaning with a stone-safe cleaner is the perfect solution to dirty, grimy shower tiles. It is important to avoid products with acid or ammonia, both of which can damage the natural stone. With Rock Doctor’s Granite and Quartz Cleaner, you can safely clean all of your natural stone surfaces—even the pesky shower tiles.
To keep soap scum from building up, you can rinse the shower down after each shower to make sure no shampoo or soap is lingering on the tiles for an extended period of time.
2. Dry the Tiles After Showering
Leaving natural stone wet all of the time can lead to mildew and mold growth. Daily, or after each shower, you can use a squeegee or microfiber cloth to dry the tiles thoroughly. A squeegee removes a lot of the moisture, which allows the tiles to dry faster on their own. If you really want to get your tiles dry, the microfiber cloth will remove a lot of moisture. Removing excess moisture can also help decrease humidity levels in your bathroom.
3. Pay Attention to Your Grout
Grout may seem unimportant next to your beautiful stone tiles, but if you neglect the grout, you are going to be left with a nasty looking shower regardless of how great your tiles look. To clean your grout, you can use a toothbrush or soft nylon brush to gently lift grime while using a stone-safe grout cleaner like Rock Doctor’s Tile and Grout Cleaner.
4. Get Rid of Mold and Mildew Quickly
Not only are mold and mildew gross, but they can cause health problems for your family. A mixture that is one-part bleach and one-part water can be used to safely get rid of the mold and mildew growing on the tiles in your shower. Use a non-scratch sponge or pad to gently remove the mold or mildew 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 with the methods we listed under section two.
5. Seal Stone Tiles Regularly
Regardless of where you have natural stone in your home, it needs to be sealed to prevent damage to the stone from elements like moisture and dirt. In the shower, your tiles are even more at-risk for water damage. For this reason, 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 Granite and Stone Sealer is the perfect sealer for in-shower stone tiles. It is safe on all types of natural stone, and it will keep the tiles in your shower safe from the frequent exposure to excessive amounts of moisture.
What NOT to Do
There are a lot of no-noes when it comes to caring for stone tile. Here are a few:
- Do NOT use just any cleaner. Non-stone specific cleaners in either cream, liquid, or powdered form can damage the stone.
- Do NOT overuse ammonia products. They 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-cleaners.
To learn more about Rock Doctor stones care products, visit our website rockdoctor.com or call us at 913-894-0288.
