You may have had a pebble shower floor for a long time or moved to a new place where the flooring is done but not cleaned. Either way, you may be wondering how to clean the pebble shower floor. Although this type of floor is incredibly aesthetically pleasing, it can be hard to muster the enthusiasm to clean it.

After all, cleaning a pebble floor is tiresome, mainly due to how it’s made. When assembling a pebble shower floor, manufacturers use actual pebbles or smooth, round stones. Some manufacturers may also use faux pebbles to increase durability. The installation process creates a lot of gaps and spacing where the dirt, grout, and various residues can build up over time.

Nevertheless, the rocks used for the floor are incredibly durable and can withstand long periods of use.

How to Clean the Pebble Shower Floors?

Before beginning the cleaning process, several measures must be taken if you want to avoid a mess at best and health hazards at worst. Here are a few methods you can choose based on the cleaning you want for the pebble shower floor.

Clean Pebble Shower Floor with DIY Cleaners

This is among the least costly cleaning methods because you don’t need to purchase a large number of expensive products. You just need to get a neutral PH solution. Before using the solution, you must ensure the pebbles are correctly installed. Also, see to it that the flooring is finished with quality sealants. 

You can use various liquids for cleaning purposes. The most preferred include vinegar, baking soda, salt, and water mixed together. It creates a solution that can clean almost anything in the house. 

Vinegar is primarily mild and easily edible when added to food. However, it may be toxic and difficult to breathe in when used individually and not combined with anything.

If you use the DIY method, wear rubber gloves and glasses to protect yourself from the fumes. After the cleaning process, air out the bathroom properly so the fumes don’t stay there for long.

Use Commercial Cleaners

Specific commercial cleaners are made for cleaning natural stones or tiles made with them. They have specific instructions mentioned explicitly on the labels. To ensure that the commercial products work, you need to read each label and do precisely what they say. While cleaning, be mindful that if these commercial cleaners are too harsh, they might ruin the pebble shower floor. Granite Gold is a commercial cleaner that works well and is cost-effective.

Use Mild Detergents for Cleaning

If your pebble shower flooring is made from several smaller stones, you must get an alkaline-based mild detergent. It is highly suggested that you use a mild detergent since it will not damage the floor. Harsh detergents can otherwise damage the floor.

All these options are to clean the pebble shower floor generally. When it comes to cleaning the grout in the pebble shower floor, there are a few different things that you can try.

Cleaning Grout in a Pebble Shower Floor

These are a few practical solutions to get grout out of your pebble shower floor.

1. Use a stiff blistered brush and warm water to scrub the floor and remove the grout. Do not scrub so intensely that it starts damaging the floor.
2. Use equal parts of vinegar and water to make the grout dissolve. Let the mixture sit for a while, and give the grout time to loosen and dissolve. Then, rinse the surface with clean water.
3. You can also use a homemade paste to remove the grout effectively. The paste is made with baking powder combined with vinegar. 
4. Another effective way to remove grout is to apply chlorine bleach to the floor and leave it for some time before washing it off.
5. You can pour hydrogen peroxide off the pebble floor, allow it to sit for some time, and wash it off later. 

How to clean mold from the pebble shower floor?

Another issue with the pebble shower floor is mold. Here are a few helpful tips to help you with it.

Scrubbing the Mold with a Toothbrush

You can use a bristled toothbrush and a grout cleaner to clean your pebble shower floor. You can scrub the mold with it. Apply the grout cleaner on the surface with the mold, let it sit for a while, scrub it off, and then wash it with warm water.

Treat the Mold with Bleach

Bleaching is the most effective way to get rid of mold. Simply shower the pebble floor with a mixture of water and bleach and scrub it with a toothbrush with soft bristles. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then use warm water to rinse off the mixture.

Schedule Your Mold Cleaning Routine

You must set a schedule to ensure your pebble shower floor stays clean. You should clean it every three to four days or every week. But this has to be a routine. Routine cleaning will ensure that you have a clean floor at all times.

Protecting Your Pebble Shower Floor while Cleaning

You can damage your pebble shower floor if you are not careful. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while cleaning your pebble floor.

• Use a soft sponge or cloth to clean the pebble shower floor. This will avoid damaging the sealant.
• After cleaning the pebble floor, you need to dry it off. This will ensure you leave no spots and the watermarks don’t stain the flooring.
• Do not let the cleaners, natural or chemical based, dry on the floor. This will cause severe damage to the flooring without being evident instantly.
• It would be best to wipe the sealant with a soft cloth or a microfiber towel to ensure the floor is clean after every use. This also reduces excessive buildup of any water residue over time.
• Avoid using harsh chemicals when cleaning the pebble shower floor. These will surely clean the floor, but you need to remember that they will also harm the flooring.
• Do not use too much force when cleaning the floor. Too much force will damage the floor to a great extent.

Conclusion

Pebble shower floor cleaning can be a tedious task, but it doesn’t have to be. It all depends on how you tackle the mess, the grout, and the molding. When cleaning the pebble shower floor, use proper methods and keep an eye out on how your floor is reacting so as not to damage it. After all, these floors are expensive to construct or replace. Read the instructions on cleaning products carefully and avoid direct contact with harsh chemicals.

Natural stones act differently when applying chemicals. Taking care of the pebble shower floor will keep your bathroom looking pristine for years to come.

Need other bathroom tips? Check out how to fix a squealing shower and how to seal off bathtub overflow.