Are pebble shower floors hard to clean?
The word ” hard to clean” is relative and so you must tell me with which type of floors are you comparing the pebble counterpart?
To be honest, a pebble shower floor will require more effort to clean when compared to a tile floor since the stone surfaces can hold on to dirt and grime relatively easier than other materials.
On top of it, dirt and debris can get lodged in between the pebbles making areas difficult to reach and clean.
The good news is if you’re maintaining and cleaning your shower on a consistent basis, a pebble shower floor can be easy to clean for sure.
And, the best part is, most pebble floors don’t require any special cleaning supplies, all you need is some warm water and a sponge/soft cloth.
Additionally, if some nasty dirt gets stuck to areas hard to clean then you’ll require a soft brush and mild soap solution to get rid of specks of dirt.
For deeper cleaning that isn’t required on a frequent basis, you may need to use a special cleaner that is safe for the stones.
In today’s world, cleaning any floor has become a cakewalk if you’re well-informed about the process.
Long story short, pebble shower floors are quite easy to clean and will not consume much of your time for sure irrespective of whether you’re expediting the cleaning process for the first time or you’re a seasoned professional.
Trust me, cleaning a pebble shower floor is a cakewalk but at the same time, you need to invest proper time to do it.
In order to get rid of specks of dirt, debris, soap & shampoo residual, body oil, and most importantly, plain old dirt, you need to scrub your pebble shower floor at least once a week if not more.
In simple words, if you’re not cleaning your pebble shower floor regularly and thoroughly then it may aggravate the issue further.
If you’re cleaning your pebble shower floor for the first time without having proper information about the cleaning process then you may face some problems because of the way any pebble shower flooring is installed.
In fact, the probability is quite high that there’s a high percentage of grout that needs to be cleaned.
Also, you need to clean those multiple gaps and spacing where specks of dirt, grime, or even residue have built up over a period of time.
Failing to do so will increase the chance of the growth of mold and mildew on your pebble shower floor.
However, the good news is, with the right cleaning types of equipment and guidelines your pebble stone flooring will be sparkling even before you know it, interesting, isn’t it?
Moving further, I’ll be explaining the various aspects of cleaning a pebble shower floor in order to help you in the best possible way I could.
So, without any further ado, let’s begin…
Whatever may be the circumstances but there is always a ray of hope.
The same proverb holds true in the case of a pebble shower floor.
The best and easiest way to clean a pebble shower floor is by using a DIY cleaner.
At izzysmarthomeguide.com, we’ve been recommending this specific method for quite some time, and trust me, the response and feedback that we’ve received so far are positive and promising.
All you need is a safe and neutral pH solution.
Some prerequisites for using the method include well-installed pebble tiles, and pebbles & grouts should be well-finished with quality sealants.
Let’s have a quick look at the steps that we recommend to our clients.
- First and foremost, you need to prepare a vinegar and water solution by mixing them in a ratio of 1:16
- Then, you need to fill a spray bottle with this solution and spray thoroughly in the nooks and corners of your pebble floor and allow it to settle down for several minutes for optimum output
- You’ll find that during an epigrammatic span of time, the solution will effectively remove soap scum, hard water deposits, as well as any residue lingering on the surface of your pebble shower floor
- Using a nylon-bristle brush for scrubbing the pebbles and grout in a circular motion
- Make sure to wash the stones thoroughly around the corners so that you can reap maximum benefits from this cleaning process
- Now, it’s time to turn on your shower or even you can use warm water to rinse the floor until it rinses properly
- Last but not least, allow your pebble shower floor to dry properly so that it doesn’t provide a favorable environment for the growth of mold and mildew
How do I remove the white haze from my pebble shower floor?
First and foremost, you must know the reasons responsible for a white haze on your pebble shower floor so that you can avoid such a problem in the future.
In general, there are mainly two causes of white haze on your pebble shower floor – either it is efflorescence precipitation or you have trapped moisture in the tile assembly by applying a non-breathable sealer over the floor.
Efflorescence mainly happens when minerals that are something similar to salts present in the concrete or even stone-setting beds get dissolved in the moisture and then that mixture of salt and moisture comes to the pebble floor surface and gets evaporated, and finally, the white minerals get precipitated.Similarly, if you’ve used a non-breathable sealer or resin over your pebble floor then it can also lead to cloudy white color only if the water gets under the sealer.
In order to get rid of such problems, you can use strippers that are available for removing the sealer only if a surface sealer has been applied on your pebble shower floor.
Once you’ve removed the surface sealer then you can let the floor dry out and then reseal it with a breathable sealer.
Nonetheless, if you still have any doubts or queries related to this topic then feel free to reach out to us via the contact form of izzysmarthomeguide.com.
The efflorescence staining present on your pebble shower floor can also be removed using a vinegar solution because of its acidic nature.
In case of a coating on your pebble shower floor, you can remove it with the help of a CLR cleaner.
How to clean a pebble shower floor?
Let’s discuss the various types of cleaning methods and what needs to be done before you expedite the pebble shower floor cleaning process.
What to consider before cleaning?
First and foremost, you should be well aware of the installation method for your pebble shower floor.
In general, there are mainly two types of installation methods.
- Epoxy
- Grout/sealant
If the installation method for your pebble shower floor is Epoxy then cleaning it becomes an easy and hassle-free task even for a beginner.
For the epoxy installation method, you don’t have to be harsh on your pebble shower floor.
In fact, a pressure shower and a mild detergent will do the trick for you.
Another quick and easy way of getting rid of specks of dirt is by using hot/warm water mixed with soap cleaning.
On the other hand, things aren’t simpler if the installation method for your pebble shower floor is Grout/sealant.
In the case of seal coat alias sealant, the majority of grout is exposed to specks of dirt, grime, oil, etc and as a result, cleaning needs to be more extensive and intense.
The cleaning process involves a paste made from baking soda and vinegar in order to remove stains from your pebble flooring.
Before we dive into the discussion, let’s have a quick look at different methods used to get rid of stains from pebble shower floors.
Cleaning Method Types
Needless to say, each method comes with its own sets of pros and cons so you need to be very careful while making a choice in order to optimize the outcome.
Mild Washing
The name of this cleaning method is self-explanatory.
All you need to do is simply wash your pebble shower flooring using mild detergents.
The method works fine with small pebble stones as it helps in avoiding harsh chemicals from corroding the surface of the stone.
It goes without saying that mild detergents have a more alkaline base as compared to acidic resulting in easy, quick, and hassle-free cleaning.
You must avoid cleaners that contain harsh chemicals including bleach as they may damage the top surface of your shower floor slowly and gradually.
In fact, each time when you’ll use this chemical on your floor it will erode or deteriorate the look and feel.
Also, make sure that you’re not using detergents with harsh chemicals on locally manufactured pebble stones such as travertine, limestone, marble, or even granite can also be affected so for the optimum result, you need to choose the detergent wisely as it will definitely have long term impact.Mild washing is highly effective for pebble stones with multiple small stones.
In fact, mild detergents with an alkaline base will clean your pebble tile quickly and easily in an epigrammatic span of time.
At the same time, you must be aware of the fact that chemicals such as Ammonia are harsh on the pebble shower floor and may damage it permanently so choose the detergent carefully to avoid any debacle.
- Mix ¼ cup of vegetable-based detergent with some warm water in equal proportion
- Apply the solution to the surface and scrub with a bristle brush to clean the surface
Steam Cleaning
This is a beginner’s friendly cleaning method that you can easily apply on your pebble shower floor, and the best part is that it is cost-effective as well.
In this method, you require a handheld steamer in order to both clean as well as loosen dirt using changes in temperature.
You can think of this method as using hot water except in the form of steam.
In order to reap maximum benefits from this cleaning method, you need to be very careful when holding the steamer.
In short, the steamer needs to hold approximately three to six inches above the pebble stone flooring surface where you’re planning to over specks of dirt, oil, debris, etc till the time specks of dirt loosen.
Finally, you need to remove the residual using high-pressure water.
Steam cleaning is effective only in the case of soap scum build-ups.
The method is not only safe and easy to expedite but also newbie friendly.
- As mentioned earlier, you must use a mild alkaline or a pH-neutral solution in order to wet and wash your pebble shower floor
- Use a handheld cleaner for loosening old specks of dirt and grime. Make sure, you use it at an angle 3 to 6 inches above the pebble floor
- Use water to rinse the floor and dry it for a few minutes
Commercial Cleaners
If you’ve got a scarcity of time and need things to be done in an epigrammatic span of time, then definitely, using a commercial cleaner for cleaning your pebble shower floor can be a viable option.
You can choose from commercial cleaners that are meant for natural stone or tiles as they can also be used for cleaning your pebble shower floor.
At the same time, you should also be aware of the fact that they come with different instructions and methods so you should read each label carefully before using them.
Avoid commercial cleaners that consist of harsh chemicals such as ammonia as it will do more bad than good to your pebble shower floor.
Stone Cleaners
As compared to the aforementioned methods, I prefer stone cleaners as it sounds to me more professional and methodical.
This method uses industrial hydrochloric acid along with pH-neutral or even basic proprietary cleaners for cleaning purposes.
First and foremost, you need to prepare the paste and apply it on the surface.
Allow the cleaning mixture to sit on the impacted area so that dirt, grime, and oil residuals can easily loosen up from the hiatus into the flooring.
Once done, the next thing that you need to do is to follow up on the below-mentioned steps in order to optimize your gain.
At the same time, feel free to reach out to the core team of izzysmarthomeguide.com in case of any doubts or queries.
Does it make sense?
Step 1
First of all, you need to collect clean water free from any dirt or oil and add a disinfectant.
Take a container and fetch at least a gallon of water and then add a mild detergent like this one ( check the current price on Amazon).
You can also use vinegar or mild household cleaning liquid.
Gently mix the two in order to get a solution that lathers.
If deep cleaning is required on your pebble shower floor then in that case, you need to start by simply applying a paste of the mixture and allowing it to sit on the impacted area till the time, the specks of dirt loosen up.
Step 2
Once you’re sure the dirt has loosened up, the next thing that needs to be done is to wash them off.
To begin with, you need to pour the water and soap mixture all over the floor including nooks and corners for optimizing the gains.
Make sure the detergent solution gets into every crevice of your bathroom shower floor.
Needless to say, pebblestone flooring is very well known to have dark spots and gaps where dirt, grime, and most importantly, soap residual accumulate over a period of time.
As said earlier also, for the best results allow the solution to sit for some time on the impacted area and the next move to the next step.
Unfortunately, some of our clients faced the issue of hard water deposition near the drain.
If you’re also struggling with a similar issue, then you need to pour vinegar and allow it to sit for some time.
Finally, scrub the deposits.
Step 3
In this step, all you need to do is gently expedite the scrubbing process.
For scrubbing, we recommend using a soft nylon-bristle scrub brush.
In fact, you can easily get rid of the specks of dirt by gently scouring the pebbles and the grout.
Make sure you get around the stones and corners by either moving back and forth or circular motion.
Most types of dirt including body oils, soap scum, molds, and mildew can be easily removed using a brush in an epigrammatic span of time.
Once you’re done with brushing the next thing that you need to do is to pour over warm water and repeat brushing over any spots that aren’t clear yet.
Step 4
Once you’re done with the scrubbing, the next thing that you need to do is to pour water all over the bathroom in order to get rid of soap and all the dirt that you’ve just cleaned out.
Alternatively, you need to open the shower and let the water flow away along with the dirt and soap.
You can either use warm or cold water, both will do the trick for you.
Step 5
This is the final step, and in this step, you need to expedite the drying process so that your pebble bathroom floor is ready for use again.
By drying your pebble shower floor, you can put a stop to the favorable condition that a wet environment has to offer for the growth of mold and mildew.
Nevertheless, if you’re not satisfied with the end result, then my advice would be to call an expert cleaner for removing the persistent stains.
For troublesome stains, an expert may have to use strong acids such as HCL to thoroughly remove the dirt.
But, such scenarios are rare.
How to clean grout on a pebble shower floor?
Trust me, cleaning grout on a pebble shower floor is a hassle-free task and will not consume much of your time for sure.
All you need to do is to follow the step-by-step methods that we’re going to discuss in a while.
- The easiest thing that you can do is to scrub grout stains on your pebble shower floor and for this, you would be needing warm water and a stiff-blistered brush, and most importantly, make sure you’re not too intense so that you can avoid damaging the pebble tiles
- Another easy way to clean your pebble shower floor is by using a vinegar solution which is made by mixing water and vinegar in equal proportions and then allowing the solution to settle for a while. During this time, the specks of dirt and grime will be loosed. Finally, you need to rinse off the surface with clean plain water
- I prefer using a paste of home baking powder and vinegar for removing the grout
- Some of our clients prefer using chlorine bleach application for quickly removing the grout
- If you’re dealing with nasty specks of dirt and grime, then I would recommend you use hydrogen peroxide for removing grout on your pebble shower floor. All you need to do is to pour hydrogen peroxide on the floor surface and allow it to sit on the surface for some time, later wash it off
Note: Avoid ammonia and other harsh chemicals and acids as they may permanently damage your pebble shower floor
How to clean mold from pebble shower floors?
Irrespective of whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned professional, you can clean mold from pebble shower floors in an epigrammatic span of time.
Let’s have a quick look at some methods that will help you in getting rid of mold from your pebble shower floors.
Scrubbing mold with a toothbrush
This is a newbie-friendly method that requires basic skills and time. You can quickly get rid of mold just by using a bristle brush and a grout cleaner.
All you need to do is to apply the grout cleaner and then scrub the surface.
After scrubbing your pebble shower floor, you need to rinse off the residue using hot water.
Finally, you need to dry off your pebble shower floor.
Failing to do so may provide a favorable environment for the growth of mold and mildew so you need to make sure your pebble floor is free from moisture and is fully dried.
Treat mold with bleach
As per my past experience and the knowledge that I’ve gathered over two decades, I can affirm that treating mold with bleach is among the most-effective ways of getting rid of any nasty mold and mildew.
The affected area needs to be treated with a mixture and bleach and water.
Afterward, scrubbing needs to be done with the help of a soft-bristle brush.
Before scrubbing the impacted area, make sure you allow the solution to settle for at least 15 minutes.
Lastly, the residual needs to be rinsed off with warm water.
Clean your pebble floor weekly
At izzysmarthomeguide.com, we recommend our clients for cleaning their pebble shower floor weekly.
By doing so, you would be able to keep your floor clean and mold-free.
If you’re cleaning your pebble shower floor on a weekly basis then it will help you in reducing scum, grime, and water deposits which cause the building up of mold and mildew.
How to protect a pebble shower floor during cleaning?
If you’re expediting the pebble shower floor cleaning process for the first time, then you should be aware of the steps that you need to take for protecting your pebble shower floor during cleaning in order to deal effectively with any last-hour debacle.
- When cleaning your pebble shower floor make sure you’re using either a soft cloth or a sponge in order to avoid damage to the sealant
- Once you’re done with cleaning your pebble floor, the next thing that needs to be done is to ensure that no spot is left, and for this purpose, I would recommend you use soft cloths or even a blow drier
- Most importantly, you need to make sure that you avoid drugging cleaner on your pebble floor as it may cause invisible damage
- In order to avoid excessive build-up, you must wipe the sealant with a soft cloth or towel
- Lastly, make sure you’re NOT using an abrasive cleaner or putting too much force while cleaning your pebble shower floor
How to keep pebble shower floors clean?
Let’s have a quick look at some simple steps that will help you in keeping your pebble shower floor clean.
And, the best part is, you don’t need expert guidance for expediting the below-mentioned steps.
Does it make sense?
- First and foremost, make it a habit of cleaning your pebble shower floor on a weekly basis. Already, I’ve discussed the advantages of doing so. By doing so, you’ll be able to reduce water deposits as well as mold build-up that may make your pebble floor hard to clean
- Most importantly, avoid using harsh chemicals such as ammonia as it may damage your pebble shower floor permanently. Harsh chemicals and cleaners may harm the floor by not only damaging the stones but also deteriorating the sealant and grout
- Proper installation of a pebble shower floor is equally important as it is easy to clean resulting in increased sparkling ability and lifespan
- Lastly, avoid professional services as the cleaning process is easy and will not consume much of your precious time. However, if you have a scarcity of time then you can contact a professional cleaning service
It’s A Wrap
First and foremost, I would like to thank you for being with us till the end.
Secondly, I would like to bring to your notice that I along with my core team have put loads and loads of effort into coming up with this idiosyncratic superlative piece of information on the topic of the pebble shower floor.
And, in case, you liked our effort and want to appreciate us then please do share this post with like-minded people and the ones who are in search of similar information.
After all, sharing is caring, isn’t it?
Trust me, I’ve tried to the best of my capabilities to provide you with the much-needed information on the pebble shower floor in order to help you in making an informed decision.
All the piece of information that we’ve provided in this post has been shared with our offline clients as well, and the feedbacks that we’ve received so far are positive and promising.
Feel free to reach out to us, in case of any doubts or queries.
That’s all, as of now:):)
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