Cleaning the shower area to remove water stains, mold, and dust accumulation in the grouts is essential for a hygienic and well-maintained bathroom. People often remain confused about what to use in the shower to clean the floor and walls.
Can You Use Toilet Bowl Cleaner in The Shower? You should not use the toilet bowl cleaner in the shower because it can cause cracks in the tiles and damage to plumbing fixtures, mirrors, shower doors, and polished surfaces. In addition, it is dangerous for the septic system and the drain pipes because of the presence of toxic chemicals, such as ammonia, bleach, and hydrochloric acid.
Toilet bowl cleaners are designed to use specific surfaces and often use hard and abrasive chemicals to clean the limescale and mineral deposits inside the toilet bowl. However, using harsh chemical cleaners in this area is not endorsed to avoid any contact with your body.
Why you should not use toilet bowl cleaner in the shower?
It is better not to use a toilet bowl cleaner in the bathtub or the shower area for the following reasons.
Damage to the plumbing fixtures
The excessive use of toilet bowl cleaner on the shower plumbing fixtures, such as faucets, valves, shower heads, and shower pipes, can cause corrosion.
The faucets, shower heads, and pipes are made using chrome, metal, or other materials, which can rust when exposed to abrasive chemicals.
Once, I applied the toilet bowl cleaner to clean the shower head, and it caused the fixture to deteriorate and corrode the outer metal rim.
Therefore, avoiding such cleaning agents in this place is better to prevent corrosion and rust on the shower head.
Cracks on the tiles
These cleaners are designed to apply for a short time, such as 5-10 minutes, and usually for porcelain surfaces to remove hard stains and mineral buildup.
Using toilet bowl cleaner on marble and tile can cause cracks on the surface if you use the product too often and apply it for an extended time.
It causes discoloration and cracks and corrodes the tiles, which look unattractive, and you may have to reinstall the new tiles in this area.
In addition, the chemicals present in these cleaning agents are meant to use on small surface areas, such as toilet bowls, not on the shower floor or wall.
Contain toxic chemicals
They contain toxic chemicals, such as bleach, hydrochloric acid, ammonia, and other acidic compounds that are not safe to use in this area.
These chemicals can release toxic fumes, and they can cause different health problems if you inhale these fumes in a poorly ventilated area.
It is not safe for the shower, as you can come in contact with anything in this place or get these chemicals from the floor during application. Therefore, it is better not to use it in the shower or on large surfaces.
Dangerous for the septic system
The drains in the shower area are connected to the septic system, and the use of these harsh cleaning products can cause damage to the drainage and the septic system.
It can cause damage to the septic tank, expensive repair, and contaminate the clean water in the ground used for drinking if your house water is connected to the septic system.
The active chemicals, such as chlorine and ammonia, can cause cracks in the PVC drain pipes, which leads to smell and a poor drainage system in this place.
Damage the mirrors or shower doors
Applying the toilet bowl cleaner to the mirrors can cause black spots and dark edges, and it removes the silver polishing on the mirror’s backside, which makes it difficult to see your image.
The ammonia present in these cleaners can cause the layer on the glass to be damaged, and you spot black marks around the edges and the surface.
The shower doors use glass or wood, and exposure to these chemical cleaners to clean the surface makes them deteriorate over time. In addition, the stains due to the ammonia cause you to replace the door, which can be expensive.
Destroy the polished surfaces
They cause the finishers on the polished surfaces to peel off, and rust accumulates around the surface. However, they are safe for porcelain surfaces, as they can stand these chemical cleaning products.
The polished chrome shower heads are commonly used in the bathroom to prevent moisture and rust accumulation, but these cleaners can cause the upper polish layer to destroy.
The polished tiles are also prone to stains and damage if you apply the toilet bowl cleaner to these surfaces, and they look unappealing in this area.
Why do some people use toilet bowl cleaners on shower tiles?
Since toilet bowl cleaners are not recommended in the shower, some people use them on the tiles to clean the mold and dust grime in the grouting.
This area is more attracted to mold growth because of the excessive moisture exposure, and water can stand between the grouts.
This water can cause bacteria and mold to thrive there, and you have to use a high-quality cleaning agent to remove the grime and fungus.
The mild acidic toilet bowl cleaner can remove the stains from the surface without damaging it if you do not use the products frequently.
You can use these products but do not use them on stainless steel or aluminum shower surfaces. It is better to carefully read the instructions on the packing before applying it in the shower and other fixtures.
How can you use toilet bowl cleaner without damaging the shower tiles?
You can safely use these toilet cleaning products on the shower tiles after taking necessary safety precautions, such as wearing rubber gloves, a mask, and safety gear before applying them on the surface.
Open all the windows in this area ad turn on the exhaust fan for proper ventilation to remove the smell and toxic fumes.
It is better to pre-treat the surface with a mild detergent before applying this cleaner, as it will minimize the chances of damage due to harsh chemicals on the surface.
I mixed an adequate amount of cleaner with water, as most manufacturers recommend mixing one part of the cleaner and one part of the water in a container.
Apply it to the desired area and let it stay for 5-6 minutes, or the time mentioned on the packing. Long-term exposure can cause discoloration and damage to the surface material.
I gently scrubbed the shower area with a brush or large sponge to remove the dust, mold, and grime from the grouting and tiles.
Rinse the surface thoroughly with water and ensure no more cleaning solution is in the seams. Let the floor dry before you use this area for a bath.
What can you use in the shower area instead of toilet bowl cleaner?
You can use different cleaning products to clean this place, such as tile scrubber, baking soda, shower cleaner, vinegar, and all-purpose bathroom cleaners.
They are safe to use in this place and do not damage the shower head, septic systems, and tiles. An all-purpose bathroom cleaner is an option when cleaning the shower area and the faucets.
I used vinegar and baking soda, as they are homemade cleaning products that can remove mold and dust particles from fixtures and tiles.
In addition, it is a natural disinfectant and deodorizer that can remove unwanted odors from this place.
You can use a tile scrubber, which works well to clean the soap scum and stains from the floor and the walls. Some people use Borax powder and lemon solution to clean the floor, tiles, and fixtures in this place.
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