SOAP SCUM REMOVAL

Having trouble removing soap scum from your stone shower tiles?

Built up soap scum on stone shower tiles can be difficult to remove with every day supermarket cleaners.  Here are some tips for removing soap scum from your stone shower yourself:

Tip 1: Use only PH balanced products on natural or engineered stone shower tiles
Acidic or abrasive cleaners such as Ajax, Jif, Exit Mould, Domestos, Shower Power etc, will dull the surface of natural or engineered stone tiles, if used regularly, especially marble, limestone, travertine and onyx.

The cleaner must be effective enough to cut through the soap scum build up but gentle enough not to damage the surface of the stone.

We recommend Stone Deep Clean

Tip 2: DO NOT use a green scourer or steel wool pad to remove the soap scum
Harsh scourers and steel wool pads WILL scratch stone shower tiles and cause dull patches on all stones, including granite and engineered stones. The common green kitchen scourer is extremely abrasive and MUST NOT be used.

We recommend Scrub A Dub white scourer

If you are in doubt about how to remove soap scum on your stone shower tiles contact The Marble Man. We can advise you on the best products to use or we can remove it for you, using safe products that will not damage your stone.

MOULD REMOVAL

Is the silicone around your stone shower tiles black and mouldy?

Black, mouldy silicone, tiles and grout in a stone shower, look unsightly and can harbour bacteria.  Here are some tips for keeping mould away:

Tip 1: Don’t let mould build up
Mould is bacteria and will spread quickly If not treated immediately with the correct products. The most important thing you can do to prevent mould from staining your shower silicone, stone tiles and grout is it to wash it off as soon as it appears. The longer it is left, the more likely it will spread and stain.

Tip 2: Use only a specialised stone cleaner
Supermarket cleaners designed to remove mould can be harsh and can dull marble and natural stone over time. These include Exit Mould, Domestos and undiluted bleach.

We recommend Stone Deep Clean and a Scrub A Dub white scourer

Tip 3: Call for advice
Removing mould yourself can be tricky and potentially harmful. We can advise you on the most suitable products to use to attempt removal yourself.

Warning: NEVER mix ammonia products with bleach as this can cause a toxic reaction.

If in doubt about how to remove the mould in your stone shower, call The Marble Man.  We will assess the level of damage caused by the mould, and either safely clean it off or polish the tiles and replace the silicone and grout.

ANTI-BACTERIAL TREATMENT

Do your stone shower tiles need an anti-bacterial treatment?

Stone shower tiles, grout and silicone, are particularly prone to the build up of mould and bacteria because they are constantly wet. Here are some tips for keeping your stone shower bacteria free:

Tip 1: Dry the shower area
If shower tiles are not dried immediately after use, a combination of water and bacteria will cause mould to grow. It is usually not practical to do this so as an alternative, keep the shower area well ventilated.  Open a window and the shower door to dry the area naturally. A well designed shower with good fall towards the drain is a major help in keeping the area dry.

Tip 2: Clean your shower with a recommended anti-bacterial product
Use only a PH balanced stone care product with anti-bacterial qualities. General cleaning products that contain bleach and abrasives may damage marble and stone and will not generally kill mould.

We recommend Stone Deep Clean and a Scrub A Dub white scourer

The Marble Man routinely applies an anti-bacterial treatment after most restoration processes. This is to ensure that any bacteria in grout joints or natural holes in the stone is eliminated.

If you have any questions about The Marble Man anti-bacterial treatments, or which products you should use, please contact us for further information.

STONE SHOWER CARE

Do you know which cleaning products to use on your stone shower tiles?

Marble and stone showers need specialised PH balanced stone products that will clean the grout, silicone and tiles, and will not dull the stone over time. Here are some tips for choosing a stone shower cleaner:

Tip 1: Choose a product that does not contain abrasive agents
These include Jif, Ajax, creme cleansers.

Tip 2: Choose a product that is PH balanced and non-acidic
Acidic substances often found in ‘natural’ cleaners include, orange, lemon, lime etc. These substances are not ideal for long term use on natural stones such as marble, limestone and travertine.

We recommend the following marble and stone shower cleaning products::

• Stone Deep Clean for regular cleaning, in ground dirt, deep cleaning and anti-bacterial treatment
• Scrub A Dub white scourer – the only scourer we recommend as it does not scratch natural or engineered stone

You can find all of these products and instructions for use, on the Stone Cleaning Products page. You can also order the products by completing the Stone Cleaning Product Order Form.

If you are not sure which product is right for cleaning and maintaining your stone shower tiles, please contact us for further information.