How to clean your shower tray: 5 effective tips

The shower tray is one of the most important components of a shower enclosure to sanitize.

Dirt, foam, and detergents settle on this shower component and require commitment and elbow grease to be removed completely.

But what are the most effective cleaning methods and solutions to make it shine and keep it clean for longer? In this article, we will provide you with 5 grandmother's methods that will help you have a shining shower tray.

How to clean the shower tray with vinegar and baking soda

One of the most effective and cheap remedies that exist to clean the shower tray (and eliminate limescale in general) is a mixture based on vinegar and baking soda.

Vinegar and baking soda, when mixed, generate a foamy chemical reaction that, if left to sit, completely removes limescale.

To use this mixture to clean the shower tray and have an infallible result, you just need to:

1. Mix a portion of white vinegar with baking soda in a cup (the quantity must vary according to the dimensions of your shower tray);
2. Spread the mixture over the entire surface you need to wash, leaving it to act for at least 15 minutes;
3. Rub the mixture on the shower tray using a laundry brush with soft bristles or an old toothbrush you no longer use;
4. Rinse the surface completely with hot water;
5. Dry the shower tray with a soft cloth.

Attention: This mixture is a powerful limescale remover, so it could be ideal for cleaning shower trays in environments where the water is very calcareous, but it is a very aggressive mixture, which could damage the texture and enamel of some shower trays, such as those made of mineral marble and other porous and delicate materials, such as acrylic.

Test the mixture on a very small area of the shower tray before performing this job on the whole surface, to ward off the possibility of damaging it.

What to do, then, if you have to clean a shower tray made of one of these materials? Opt for less aggressive mixtures, such as a solution based on water and vinegar, or, for more stubborn dirt, a mixture based on water and baking soda, following the same instructions provided for the vinegar and baking soda mixture.

Eliminate limescale from the shower tray with a specific product

If you have to clean a particularly dirty shower tray, or one with a truly terrifying layering of limescale, a completely natural method might require too much effort.

In these cases, opt for professional anti-limescale products.

These products are decidedly more aggressive than a vinegar and baking soda mixture, so you will be able to use them more rarely if you want to preserve the enamel of your shower tray for a long time.

In this case, the best way to proceed is to follow precisely the instructions present on the label of the detergent you are going to use.

Generally, with products of this type, rubbing the shower tray with a simple sponge will be sufficient to eliminate limescale from the shower tray definitively.

Clean the shower tray in an eco-sustainable way: make a homemade detergent

If you are looking for a useful solution to clean the shower tray that has the lowest possible impact on the environment, another solution you can consider involves creating your personal shower tray detergent directly at home:

1. Prepare a mixture based on hot water and vinegar and pour it into a spray bottle.
2. Spray the mixture generously on the shower tray, making sure to cover the entire surface to be washed.
3. Leave the mixture to act for at least 15 minutes.
4. Rub the shower tray with a laundry brush with soft bristles or an old disused toothbrush.
5. Rinse with plenty of hot water.

This method is absolutely ecological and very cheap.

The absence of baking soda does not force you to use it at the exact moment you prepare it, but it also makes this mixture a bit lighter. To ensure its effectiveness, you will therefore have to clean the shower tray a bit more frequently.

To clean a particularly encrusted shower tray: ammonia

A decidedly more invasive method, but also very effective for cleaning even the dirtiest shower trays consists in using a mixture based on diluted ammonia.

To proceed:

1. pour ammonia into a small container and dilute it with water;
2. apply the solution and leave it to act for about 10 minutes;
3. rub the surface to be cleaned with a laundry brush with soft bristles or an unused toothbrush;

Remember to carry out the entire operation in a sufficiently ventilated room, to prevent the vapors emitted by the mixture from harming your health.

Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for complete shower tray cleaning

The combination of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is another particularly effective mixture to eliminate limescale from the shower tray and guarantee its complete cleaning.

To carry out this activity with this method, you will need:

• Baking soda;
• Hydrogen peroxide (preferably with a 3% concentration);
• 1 bowl to mix the compound;
• A laundry brush with soft bristles or an unused toothbrush;
• Cleaning gloves.

The procedure for cleaning the shower tray with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda is as follows:

1. Prepare the mixture until obtaining a paste;
2. Apply the solution on the shower tray;
3. Leave the mixture to act for at least 30 minutes;
4. With a soft-bristled brush, gently rub the shower tray to completely remove the dirt;
5. Once clean and after rubbing the entire surface, rinse completely with hot water;
6. Dry the surface with a soft cloth.

This method is ecological and effective for cleaning the shower tray, but make sure it is made of a material that is not too porous or delicate: the friction of the baking soda could scratch your shower tray: therefore, test it on a tiny section of the tray before proceeding with the complete method.

The cleaning methods explained in this article present different levels of effectiveness and invasiveness.

Some may prove useful for cleaning other components of the shower enclosure, such as the mixer, the shower head, and the shower tray glass panels.

If you want to clean the shower head, you will first need to disassemble it.

Study the operating mechanisms of each component to wash it according to its characteristics, with the ideal products and washing frequency.

Finally, remember to pay close attention to the manufacturing material of your shower tray, to choose the cleaning method best suited to its intrinsic characteristics, guaranteeing its longevity without giving up an impeccable result.

Cleaning the shower tray not only improves the aesthetic appearance of your bathroom, but also contributes to your well-being and the cleanliness of your home in general.