A shower gets used every day, and in a family several times a day. The hot water and steam we enjoy so much create perfect conditions for mould and bacteria, while hard water quickly leaves limescale on chrome and glass.
Regular cleaning does not take long and stops dirt from building up. Below is the order of work from ventilating the room to clearing the drain, plus how to protect metal fittings from moisture.
What you will need
- WD-40 Multi-Use or the compact WD-40 200 ml
- dry microfibre cloths
- all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner
- white vinegar or descaler, citric acid
- salt, soap
- bucket, warm water, sponge
- scrubbing brush or old toothbrush, glass squeegee
- rubber gloves
Important: Never mix chlorine bleach with vinegar, acids or other cleaners: it produces dangerous fumes. Do not apply WD-40 to the shower tray, floor or mats, as it will make them slippery.
Step 1
Ventilate and deal with the mat
Open the door, switch on the extractor fan and open a window if there is one. Cleaning product fumes should not be inhaled, and airing the room after every shower in itself reduces the risk of mould.
A fabric mat stays damp and collects hair, so wash it once or twice a week at 60 degrees. Soak a rubber or plastic mat in laundry detergent, then scrub it with a sponge and a mix of salt, soap and citric acid.
Step 2
Remove limescale from the head and taps
Unscrew a detachable shower head and leave it overnight in a bowl of vinegar. For a fixed head, fill a plastic bag with vinegar and tie it around the head. In the morning rinse it, remove any remaining scale with a sponge and dry it.
Treat the mixer and other metal parts with descaler, leave it to work, scrub with a sponge and wipe off. Stubborn limescale marks on chrome come off well with WD-40 Multi-Use: spray onto a cloth, wipe and buff with dry microfibre. The thin film protects the metal from moisture, so new scale forms more slowly.
Step 3
Clean the glass panels
The simplest way to prevent limescale on glass is to run a squeegee over the panels after every shower. For a deep clean, spray glass cleaner, go over it with a sponge and dry with microfibre.
Check the door seals as well: mould often hides in the folds of the rubber.
Step 4
Clean the tile grout
Grout gone dark? Scrub it with a brush or old toothbrush and a solution of bleach in water, wearing gloves and with the window open.
Then rinse the solution off with water and dry the tiles. Do not use bleach at the same time as any other cleaner.
Step 5
Wash the tray and clear the drain
Wash the tray and tiles with all-purpose cleaner, scrub with a sponge and dry with microfibre. Lift the drain grate and pull out hair with a bent wire hook or a cotton bud, twisting it as you go.
If the water still drains slowly, use a drain cleaner that is compatible with your pipes, strictly following the instructions. Treat a metal drain grate with WD-40 Multi-Use and wipe it thoroughly: it will shine and resist rust. The grate should feel dry to the touch with no oily layer.
Tip: Keep a squeegee and a microfibre cloth by the shower: 30 seconds after every shower saves an hour of deep cleaning. Once a month, wipe chrome handles, hooks and holders with a cloth lightly sprayed with
WD-40 Multi-Use.
What next
Deep clean every week or two and descale the shower head monthly. If your water is very hard, consider a water softener. The compact WD-40 200 ml fits neatly in a bathroom cabinet.
These uses come from the experience of WD-40 users in many countries. Always follow the instructions and warnings on the product label.
More guides in «How to use».