Tips For Keeping Your Shower Clean and Mildew Free

If mold and mildew have taken root in your shower, there are a few steps you can take to stop its proliferation.

First step to creating an optimal bathroom environment is ensuring it has an efficient air circulation system. Opening shower door, curtain or windows allows air to circulate throughout your space.

1. Keep the Lights On

Mold and mildew thrive in bathrooms, creating many issues ranging from unsightliness to health risks and respiratory difficulties.

There are a few steps you can take to keep your shower hygienic and mold-free, one being keeping the lights on.

To effectively circulate air and prevent mold and mildew growth in your bathroom, keeping the doors of the shower open once you’ve finished showering can also help.

Use a shower squeegee to clear away water from your walls and ceiling, helping prevent it from collecting there and creating mold growth in your bathroom. Squeegeeing after every shower will also eliminate water stains on the walls as well as reduce mold growth in your space.

If you are shopping for a shower squeegee, opt for one with an ergonomic bamboo handle to make use simple and enjoyable – this will save both time and effort in cleaning your shower routine!

While you could use a shower squeegee to tackle mildew problems in your shower, an alternative method that may work better may be applying a mixture of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide to areas prone to mildew growth. This will kill off mold spores as well as help stop further outbreaks from returning in future showers.

One effective method for preventing mold and mildew in your shower is to regularly maintain it with disinfectants such as bleach. However, should any sign of growth appear, be sure to contact a plumber as soon as possible for assistance.

2. Squeegee the Walls After Every Shower

After showering, it’s essential to squeegee the walls and door to remove excess water and soap scum build-up and prevent bacteria and mildew growth which could potentially lead to athlete’s foot, skin infections, or other health concerns. This will also prevent mold growth which can contribute to athlete’s foot infection as well as skin issues like athlete’s foot.

Squeegeeing the walls after every shower will help prevent them from fogging over, making it harder to see in your mirror. If you don’t own one, try rinsing your walls and shower with diluted white vinegar in order to clean off any leftover soap residue or any smudges left by using soap products.

Spray a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water onto the shower walls and door to eliminate hard water stains, loosen any mineral build-up that causes mold or mildew formation and prevent hard water stains from reappearing. This method may also prevent further hard water stains forming.

Lemon oil should also be applied regularly to glass doors in your bathroom to help them ward off soap scum and other contaminants, keeping it looking as fresh as possible while saving you both time and effort. This simple step can keep your bathroom looking its best while saving both effort and money!

For a deeper cleaning, use a bleach-based cleaner – but make sure to wear protective gloves and goggles, turn on vent fans, or open windows so air can circulate properly while using it.

If you don’t own a squeegee, another effective option would be using a microfiber cloth or towel after every shower to wipe down walls and shower afterward. Unlike traditional sponge squeegeeing methods, microfiber won’t absorb as much water into its material than regular cloth would.

Squeegeeing after every shower will help protect against bacteria and mold build-up that could otherwise lead to athlete’s foot, skin disorders and other health conditions. Furthermore, it will keep mirrors looking their best while saving time smearing shampoo/body wash residue around your bathroom.

3. Seal the Grout

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to ensure a fresh shower experience is sealing its grout. Sealing protects from mold and mildew growth as well as soap residue or any other substances that come in contact with tiles and grout, keeping your space looking brand new for less money than you might expect!

Sealing grout requires various products. Penetrating sealers and membrane-forming sealers can prevent water from seeping into its pores, protecting it against seeping into your grout’s pores.

Penetrating sealers work by allowing small particles of latex or silicone to seep into your grout, filling up any cracks and gaps and providing waterproof protection to keep moisture inside, which is especially crucial in bathrooms.

Before applying grout sealer, ensure it has dried completely – this may take up to an hour – and do not use your shower until its fully cured (typically 24 to 48 hours later).

After applying sealant, allow it to set for several minutes before wiping it off with a cloth rag. This will give the sealant enough time to dry completely and create a protective barrier behind.

Once your grout has a protective coating, use mild cleaning solutions as necessary to keep it cleaner and mildew-free for longer. This will also keep your shower space more hygienic.

Sealing your grout will also protect it from becoming stained or discolored due to various causes, such as water, dirt, soap scum or any other substances that come in contact with it.

4. Clean Under the Shampoo Bottles

Maintaining a mildew-free shower environment is vital for overall health and comfort, especially given that this room receives such heavy use in your home and collects an abundance of moisture and other contaminants.

Mold, mildew and bacteria can grow rapidly in an unclean shower if left alone for too long, posing many health threats including respiratory irritation and eye strain, allergies as well as permanent staining of surfaces.

Spores thrive in mineral deposits found in soap scum and shampoo residue, and also hide within grout lines, caulk crevices, and around shampoo bottles.

Once the surface is clean, spray with Clorox antimold cleaner to kill spores and remove visible mold spores before spraying some distilled vinegar on it to prevent future outbreaks.

Use a soft cloth to carefully wipe away any remaining stains with care, starting small before moving on to larger spaces.

If the stains are stubborn, try Liquid Bar Keepers Friend(r). Test this product first on an inconspicuous spot to be certain it suits your shower space.

Wiping down the shelves where you keep shampoo, lotions and other bathroom products is also beneficial in controlling any leakages and germs that might lurk on them. Doing this regularly will keep drippings under control while helping disinfect what could otherwise become an unwitting source of germs.

Once every evening after you use your shower, it is advisable to wipe down tub mats and other surfaces used within. Not only will this keep your space mildew-free but it will also protect you and your family from potentially dangerous bacteria or mold!

5. Replace Your Loofah

Loofahs may seem like the ideal way to soften and exfoliate skin in the shower, but these popular beauty accessories can become breeding grounds for bacteria. While washcloths can be rinsed regularly to eliminate build-up of bacteria, loofahs require weekly or bi-monthly bleach solutions soaks to prevent further build-up of germs.

As it turns out, loofah sponges’ unique porous surfaces create the ideal environment for bacteria and fungal growth that may result in skin infections like eczema or acne.

“Loofahs are porous sponges with many nooks and crannies that trap dead skin cells during use, creating an ideal breeding ground for bacteria,” according to Cleveland Clinic. As you use your loofah to scrub your body, those same cells become trapped within its crevices – becoming perfect home for bacteria growth!

Replacing your loofah every four to six weeks depending on its frequency will keep your bathroom hygienic, as well as being more eco-friendly.

Choose a natural loofah made of organic materials for better skin and environmental care, plus longer lifespan and lower maintenance needs. These kinds of sponges tend to last longer and need less frequent replacement.

Loofahs are 100% compostable and can easily be placed into your compost bin or garden bed after use, helping save the planet by eliminating all those plastic bath poufs and sponges that end up in landfills and oceans.

If your loofah still serves its purpose, but is showing signs of wear, it may be time for an upgrade. Otherwise, make sure it gets regularly cleaned and replace it as soon as it starts looking musty or has mildewy smells.