Tools and Materials
Materials
Product costs, availability and item numbers may vary online or by market.
Cleaning Products for Specific Materials
Here's a quick rundown of suitable cleaning products.
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A dish soap solution is one-part dish soap with four-parts water.
- Baking soda paste is made by mixing equal parts baking soda and water.
- A vinegar solution is equal parts water and white vinegar. If you need to clean an acrylic shower pan, vinegar is a great ingredient that cuts through grime.
- Abrasive cleaners refer to powdered cleaners and scouring pads.
- Harsh chemicals are ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and bleach. These can be used to clean a fiberglass shower pan occasionally, but avoid on a regular basis.
Always review the manual of your shower pan before applying any products to it.
How to Clean a Shower Pan
Step 1: Prepare Your Shower
Remove toiletries from the shower and gather all your cleaning supplies. Wear gloves to protect your hands. Some chemicals can stain fabric, so wear the appropriate clothing.
Step 2: Clean the Walls and Drain
Always start with clearing the drain. Remove any hair and dirt from the surface of the drain. If needed, use a drain snake or cleaner to clear clogs. Check to ensure the water flows freely.
If you're cleaning the whole shower, start from the top and work your way down. Refer to the chart to determine the cleaner that works best on your shower walls. Scrub and rinse the shower walls.
Step 3: Clean the Shower Pan
Spray the cleaning solution on the shower floor. Let it soak for 5-10 minutes or the recommended time that's on your product. This will help to break down the dirt and grime.
It's important to have proper ventilation when you're using cleaners. Always keep the bathroom windows and doors open. Turn on the bathroom exhaust fan.
Step 4: Scrub
Use a soft sponge or cleaning brush to scrub the shower pan floor in a circular motion. Pay attention to corners where grime tends to accumulate.
Step 5: Rinse and Dry
Thoroughly rinse the entire shower pan floor. Dry it with a squeegee or cleaning cloth.
Step 6: Clean the Shower Door
After you clean the shower walls and floors, use a glass cleaner and microfiber cloth to wipe down your shower door. If you have a shower curtain, toss it into the washer to remove grime and mildew.
How to Clean Shower Pan Stains
Rust, mold and limescale stains need to be treated differently. Here's how to address these issues.
- Yellow-brown film: This is the buildup of body oil, dirt and soap. Use a store bought cleaner or make a solution of baking soda, vinegar and dish soap.
- Rust: For rust stains, use a commercial rust remover. Never use bleach on rust stains.
- Mold in grout: For mold, a bleach solution (if your shower pan can take bleach) or mold remover will be effective. Use a toothbrush to scrub away mold from grout.
- Limescale: A vinegar solution or a commercial limescale remover will dissolve hard water deposits. Don't use vinegar on natural stone tile surfaces, as it can etch the stone.
Don't mix commercial cleaners with bleach, peroxide or ammonia. This chemical combination can produce lethal fumes.
Conclusion
In a few simple steps, you can have a clean shower pan in no time. We recommend cleaning it weekly to prevent mold, dirt and grime build-up.
Step 1: Remove toiletries from the shower. Wear gloves and ensure the room has proper ventilation.
Step 2: Clean the drain. Then start from the top and use a cleaning solution and scrub brush to clean the shower walls. Rinse them off.
Step 3: Spray the recommended shower pan solution on the floor and let it soak.
Step 4: Use a sponge or brush to scrub the shower pan.
Step 5: Rinse the surface and dry it with a squeegee or microfiber cloth.
Step 6: Clean the shower door or shower curtain.
If you're ready to get started, purchase your cleaning supplies online or visit your local Lowe's.
Would you prefer to purchase a new shower pan? We have hundreds to choose from online or in-store.
Shower Pan Cleaning Tips and FAQ
Learn more about keeping your shower pan clean in our frequently asked questions.
How often should I clean my shower pan?
We recommend cleaning the shower pan every 7-10 days.
How do I whiten my shower pan?
If you’re looking for a home remedy, use baking soda and lemon to brighten your shower pan. If you need something stronger, use a commercial cleaner that's suitable for your shower pan surface.
Why do I need to clean my shower pan?
A combination of hard water, soap, body oil and dirt will build up on the surface, creating a film. This film harbors bacteria and can make the shower floor slippery.
How can I keep the shower pan clean?
After showering, squeegee the shower walls and floor to remove excess water. This helps prevent hard water stains from forming. You can also install an exhaust fan to dehumidify the bathroom. By maintaining a dry shower, you won't have to deep clean as often.
How to protect the shower pan?
Rinse your shower after each use to wash off soap and mineral deposits. If you use a non-slip shower mat, make sure to clean it once a week. Lastly, avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive scrubbers that can damage the surface.