Pebble stone shower floors are greatly versatile and popular flooring options. Having so many benefits, they have only one drawback when it comes to cleaning.
Why choose pebble shower floors?
Pebble stone flooring, or river rock flooring, is a great variant for your shower design. A pebble shower floor is one of your best bets to install in your bathroom space.
When in use, this stone floor resembles a flowing river as it resembles real pebbles covered with flowing water.
However, pebble shower floors have many other benefits as well!
Here is a list of reasons why opt for pebble shower floors:
- Good-looking
- Durable
- A great massaging effect
- Natural vibes in the shower design
What are the types of pebble shower floors?
When talking about stone floors, there can be absolutely various things to mean! There are several types of stone floors, and each of them requires different cleaning methods.
Pebble shower floors are classified up to the next points:
- The type of pebbles and grout
- Sealing
Flat or round forms of pebbles are mostly used for installing shower floors.
The flat pebble tile consists of artificial pebble stones. In most cases, there are flat and smooth porcelain tiles that imitate pebble stones on your floor.
It is significantly easier to clean a pebble shower floor that is made of flat pebble tiles. However, you can’t paint pebble tiles.
The round pebble flooring is made of natural stones. This is what is called real river rock flooring. Because of its natural texture, it gives a great massaging effect when you touch it. Besides, the pebble stone floor looks unique because the pebble stones come in various sizes, colors, and shapes.
However, natural stone floors have the only drawback as they are hard to clean.
According to the type of grout, either concrete or epoxy can be used there. And finally, one more essential point is the sealing that covers your pebble shower floor. All these points matter when it comes to cleaning.
Why pebble stone shower floor is difficult to clean?
Despite all its benefits, a natural pebble shower floor is not easy to clean. In comparison to other tiles, pebble floors require more effort to get clean.
There are several reasons why pebble shower floors are so difficult to clean:
- Natural stone floors consist of multiple parts that can differ a lot. All the stones, grout, and multiple gaps between the stone parts are unequal, so it can be difficult to get some parts with a scrubber when cleaning them.
- The grouting part of the pebble shower floor is a breeding ground for any mess. All the dirt, water deposits, body oils, soap scum, or mold and mildew build-up can accumulate on the grout between the pebbles. As a result, you may end up with germs breeding in this mess.
- Any pebble shower floor requires a lot of time and effort to clean properly. You should be patient and diligent until you remove all the messy buildup.
How can you clean the pebble shower floor?
If you surely know your type of pebble shower floor, the next step is to define what cleaning method you need.
- Mild washing means using different mild detergents to prevent surface corrosion. This cleaning method works best for small pebble stones as they are more prone to damage.
- The steam method of cleaning means using hot water in the steam form. This method suits any type of pebble floor.
- Special stone cleaners are made specifically for cleaning stone surfaces. Just follow the instructions correctly to do everything well. Use general stone cleaners rather than specific ones if you aren’t sure about your type of floor.
5 simple ways to clean a pebble shower floor
A great rule of thumb is to clean your pebble shower floors regularly if you want to prolong their life and maintain it properly.
There are the top 5 cleaning methods that work best for pebble floors:
#1. DIY cleaner
Are you looking for a cheap and easy method to clean pebble shower floor? Then, make a DIY cleaner!
Mix water with white vinegar (1:16) and place this cleaner in the spray bottle.
Sprinkle the cleaning solution all over your pebble stone flooring.
Let it work for several minutes to remove all the soap mess, hard water deposits, mold, and many other accumulated build-ups.
Take a nylon bristle brush and scrub the floor surface. Gently clean the floor in a circular motion. Pay some more attention to the hard-to-get corners and the most stubborn stains to make these areas fully clean.
Now, turn on your shower and rinse the whole floor off with a lot of warm water. You can just let the floor dry out, or wipe it off using a clean microfiber cloth.
If there are still some persistent mold and mildew areas, or stubborn hard water stains, you can make another cleaning remedy.
Combine water with hydrochloric acid (1:10) in the spray bottle, and repeat the same procedure on the most affected area as given above. Now, thoroughly rinse off all the cleaner and the mess with a lot of warm water.
This method requires some extra safety tips:
- Always use safety gear to protect yourself from the acid.
- Make sure that your shower is ventilated properly. Leave the windows and the shower door open, and turn on the fans to circulate the air inside.
#2. Steam cleaner
The safest, easiest, and most friendly way to clean your pebble shower floor is to steam clean it. This method can easily break up the soap scum accumulations and make them fall off the floor surface.
Before you are going to clean your pebble shower floor, dampen it all over the shower floor using a mild-alkaline or a PH-neutral solution.
Take a hand-held steam cleaner. Position it at an angle of 3 to 6 inches higher than your pebble shower floor, and turn it on. It will help you to loosen the old grease, grime, or soap and shampoo residue accumulated in the gaps.
Now, turn on the warm water to rinse all the mess from your floor, and let it dry for a few minutes. Make sure that this method really works and makes your pebble stones shine like new!
#3. Stone or grout cleaners
This method is the most professional. Get commercial stone cleaners that are specifically designed for cleaning such surfaces. Each of them has instructions and tips to use, so always read the label carefully.
You can find both all-purpose stone cleaners and specific ones for definite stone types. If you are unsure of the type of pebble floor material, then avoid cleaning with a specific stone cleaner. It’s better to use general stone cleaners as they can’t damage the surface of your flooring.
Remember to avoid harsh chemicals that can be poisonous to you and destroying for your pebble stones.
Get a stone cleaner. They usually come in cans or spray bottles. Apply it on the floor and wait for a few minutes until the cleaner removes soap scum, mold, and mildew build-ups.
Rinse the pebble shower floor using warm water two or three times until the messy residue and cleaner’s odor are out. Wipe the floor with a clean soft cloth.
#4. Mild detergents
You can use mild detergents for cleaning multiple small stones. Since they are mostly vegetable or alkaline-based, they are not dangerous to clean pebble shower floors with.
Prepare a cleaning solution. Combine a quarter cup of mild detergent with water, and mix them in a bucket with a mop. You can also mix a few tablespoons of mild detergent and water and pour it into a spray bottle.
Apply this cleaner all over your floor and start cleaning. Take a soft bristle brush or a mop to gently clean all the grout and pebbles.
Now, rinse the floor with plenty of clean water and dry it out.
#5. Bleach and hydrogen peroxide vs mold and mildew
Last but not least way to clean pebble flooring from the growing mold is to use chlorine bleach. However, apply it only on the affected area so as not to damage the rest of the floor.
Mix some water and bleach and pour the mixture into the spray bottle.
Sprinkle it on the moldy stains. Let them soak for 10-15 minutes, and then rinse off well with warm water.
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to defeat moldy buildups on pebble floors as well. Pour it on the affected surface, and then let it sit for a while. Rinse with plenty of warm water.
Cleaning tips
- Excess water is a breeding ground for mold and mildew. Don’t forget to dry your floor, the shower curtain, and the shower door completely after you use a shower.
- For natural stone floors, it is essential to gently scrub the floor surface so as not to scratch and damage it. Natural stone materials can easily get etched if you use hard abrasives or bristle brushes. Keep in mind to use a soft bristle brush for cleaning the pebble shower floor, and wipe the extra water using a clean soft towel.
- Clean and dry the floor carefully to prevent scum spots and hard water deposits from growing on the floor.
- Never use harsh chemicals and hard abrasive cleaners for the pebble floor. No matter what type of pebble floor you have, there is always a high risk to destroy it.
- Harsh chemicals and abrasives can scratch and damage and destroy your pebbles. They can also damage both grout and sealant. In addition, you can discolor your floor with strong chemicals and harsh cleaners.
- Don’t opt for professional services! This is not the best idea for the pebble floor. These services are not only expensive, but they also may use harsh chemicals that are dangerous for your floor. Try to clean the floor by yourself if possible.
- Never forget to clean your pebble flooring regularly! Do it every 1 or 2 weeks to prevent any mess from accumulating on the surface.
FAQ
What is the best thing to clean a stone shower with?
To avoid any scratches and damage on the stone surfaces, a good rule of thumb is to use soft cleaning materials. Opt for a soft bristle brush, microfiber towel, or nylon pad.
What can I use to clean my rock shower floor?
For natural stone floors, the best cleaning options are steam cleaner and mild detergents. Both these cleaning methods are the most friendly and can’t damage the rock and grout surfaces. You can use an all-purpose stone cleaner as well, especially for the most stubborn stains.
How do you clean a stone bathroom floor?
A good idea is to use a DIY cleaner made of water and baking soda. Mix about 45 grams of baking soda and a liter of water in a medium-sized bowl. Apply this mixture on the floor with a clean cloth.
Let the paste sit and dry for about 5 hours, Then, rinse the floor and remove the residue with a microfiber cloth. Wipe the floor dry after cleaning.
Can you use vinegar on the stone shower?
Distilled white vinegar is a versatile natural cleaner for many kinds of surfaces. So, it is a great cleaning solution for your bathroom floor as well.
To clean your bathroom floor with a help of white vinegar, dilute it in clean water. Sprinkle this solution over the floor surface and let it sit for about ten minutes. After that, you can simply scrub the floor and rinse it with warm water.
Final thoughts
As you can see, pebble floors require some special maintenance and proper methods of cleaning.
Never forget to clean the pebble shower floor regularly and dry it completely to prolong its lifespan!
