The bathroom is easily one of the most frequently visited rooms in the house, so it has a tendency to get dirty pretty quickly. Weekly sweeping and mopping are a must, but once in a while you’re going to need to do a deep clean. Using a steam cleaner for shower deep cleaning is an effective way to stay ahead of grime and mold.
Over time, showers tend to accumulate mold and mildew due to constant exposure to moisture. Porous tile like natural stone may be more prone to mildew than smooth surfaces like polished ceramic tile, but every shower needs a good cleaning from time to time. That’s where a steam cleaner comes in.
A steam cleaner makes quick work of even the toughest cleaning jobs and it’s the perfect tool for deep cleaning the bathroom and shower. In this guide, we’ll dig deep into the function of this handy tool and discuss whether you really need a steam cleaner for the shower.
What Does a Steam Cleaner Do?
When it comes to thoroughly cleaning your home, it’s important to have the right tools for the job. If you’re tired of lugging out the mop and bucket, an assortment of scrub brushes and half a dozen cleaning products every time you clean, it might be time to simplify.
A steam cleaner is a chemical-free way to achieve a deep clean both quickly and efficiently. Steam cleaners come in various forms including stick mops, handheld devices and canisters but they all work in the same basic way — they use a surge of water vapor to kill germs and loosen grime. The device simply heats water past the boiling point then forces it out in a pressurized steam through a nozzle, brush or some other attachment.
There are many benefits to using a steam cleaner over other cleaning methods. First and foremost, they’re effective. Steam cleaners can tackle everything from mold and mildew to dust mites and harmful bacteria. They don’t require any suction but, better yet, they also don’t require the use of chemical-laden cleaning products.
Steam cleaners work best on hard, impervious surfaces such as flooring, countertops, and bathroom fixtures. They’re easy to use and come in a wide range of sizes.
Best Steam Cleaner for Showers
Finding the best steam cleaner for your bathroom cleaning work depends on how much space you clean, the surface materials found in your bathroom, and the amount of mold and mildew that needs to be removed. Additional purchase factors include size and portability of the cleaner itself, the water volume tank (bigger for larger areas, smaller for better mobility).
We have a full grout and tile steam cleaner review article where we dive deeper into the best reviewed models and explain what makes each one unique.
Do You Need a Steam Cleaner for the Shower Tile?
There’s no denying that a steam cleaner could be a valuable addition to your arsenal of cleaning tools, but do you really need one for the shower? While every steam cleaner is different, we’re of the opinion that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in most cases.
Here are some of the potential benefits of a steam cleaner for shower tile:
- Steam loosens stubborn grime like mold and mildew so you can easily wipe it away.
- High heat from steam can kill germs and infection-causing bacteria.
- Soap scum melts away with the high heat from the steam.
- Steam cleaners don’t require the use of harsh chemical cleaning products.
- Attachments make it easy to focus on grout lines and tight spaces.
- Steam air dries because it is hot, so you won’t have to dry anything by hand.
A steam cleaner is a versatile tool, so don’t think you can only use it on tile! In addition to the tile inside your shower and on your bathroom floor, a steam cleaner can be used for glass shower doors and your bathroom counter. With the right attachments, you can even get into tight spaces like behind the toilet.
Even if you don’t want to use it to clean the whole bathroom, you can use a steam cleaner for shower mold. Mold dies at temperatures between 150 and 364 degrees Fahrenheit and many steam cleaners get as hot as 325 degrees, which is more than enough to kill mold spores on the surface. Just remember that steam may be less effective on porous surfaces, so depending what type of tile you have you might still need to do some hand scrubbing.
Tips for Cleaning the Dirty Showers
The shower is where you go to get clean, so it may seem counterintuitive that you have to spend much time cleaning it. Keep in mind, however, that the bathroom tends to be a warm and humid environment – the perfect environment for cultivating mold and bacteria. With frequent use, the shower can develop mildew and mold which isn’t just unsightly, but could become a more serious problem if left unattended.
To keep your shower looking bright and hygienic, it’s important to clean it regularly. Here are some simple tips for steam cleaning your shower:
- Clean glass shower doors and walls with the carpet or furniture cleaning attachment. Use the highest steam possible and gently scrub the surface then finish up with a microfiber towel.
- To clean a badly stained tub, use the nylon scrub brush accessory. You may need to scrub at some of the tougher stains.
- Remove mold and mildew from shower walls, steam the walls from the top down without using any attachments. Next, scrub the grout lines with the nylon bristle brush, rinsing the area as needed.
- After scrubbing the tile, give the whole shower a final once-over to make sure the tiles really shine. Use the highest heat setting to make sure they dry quickly.
While you’re at it, you might as well give the rest of the bathroom a deep clean. You can use the steam cleaner to loosen dust and caked-on grime from the exhaust fan vent and window blinds. Use quick bursts of steam on mirrors and light fixtures and try the angle nozzle to blast the inside of the toilet bowl. The cloth mop attachment is perfect for bathroom flooring.
As you’re cleaning, keep some microfiber cloths handy to remove dust and excess moisture. You may need a scrub brush to tackle porous surfaces, just be careful to avoid wire bristles because they can scratch or chip tile and grout.
Steam Cleaning Shower Mold Bottom Line
While a steam cleaner may not be the best option for all types of tile, they can be an incredibly valuable tool for deep cleaning the bathroom in general. The best steam cleaner for showers and bathrooms is one that is appropriately sized for the task at hand, easy to manage, and affordably priced.
