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DU Home » Latest Threads » Forums & Groups » Topics » Home & Family » DIY & Home Improvement (Group) » Shower Tile Cleaner?

Sat Jan 28, 2012, 10:18 PM

Star Member SHRED (10,196 posts)

Shower Tile Cleaner?


I have scale build up on my shower tile. The tile is earth tone(s) and kinda of a"rough" surface...not smooth

What is the best tile cleaner you have found?

28 replies, 2863 views

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Replies to this discussion thread
Arrow 28 replies Author Time Post
Reply Shower Tile Cleaner? (Original post)
 SHRED Jan 2012 OP
LineReply Magic eraser
 Melissa G Jan 2012 #1
LineLineReply That Magic eraser really IS magic!
 Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2012 #5
LineLineLineReply I don't think I am using this right.
 Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #7
LineLineLineLineReply Hmmm. I don't know.
 Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2012 #8
LineLineLineLineReply Probably needs more elbow grease...
 Melissa G Feb 2012 #13
LineLineReply Magic erasers are fantastic!
 Lugnut Feb 2012 #12
LineReply CLR (stands for calcium, lime, rust) will make you shower shine.
 Scuba Jan 2012 #2
LineReply I'll add Bar Keeper's Friend to the list
 Stinky The Clown Jan 2012 #3
LineLineReply I second this, but didn't know you could use it on tile.
 Ruby the Liberal Jan 2012 #6
LineLineReply Bar Keepers Friend is an EXCELLENT product
flying_wahini Feb 2012 #14
LineLineNew Reply Yes, this is everybody's friend!
 mbperrin Mar 2012 #26
LineReply once you get it clean by any of the above methods, use Pledge
NMDemDist2 Jan 2012 #4
LineLineReply Someone recommended Rainex for our glass tiles.
 Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2012 #15
LineLineLineReply i tried rainex on the glass in my new steam shower
 NMDemDist2 Feb 2012 #16
LineLineLineLineReply Are you using wood oil Pledge or aerosol?
 Ruby the Liberal Feb 2012 #17
LineLineLineLineLineReply regular Pledge, just spray it on a wipe
 NMDemDist2 Feb 2012 #18
LineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Have you tried this on ceramic tile?
 Ruby the Liberal Feb 2012 #19
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply yes
 NMDemDist2 Feb 2012 #20
LineLineLineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply I love this idea.
 Ruby the Liberal Feb 2012 #21
LineLineLineLineLineLineNew Reply Hee, and now our shower will smell lemony!
 gkhouston Feb 2012 #24
LineReply I am using Dawn dish soap to clean soap scum off the walls of my shower. It is working very good
jwirr Jan 2012 #9
LineReply Scrape gently with a razor blade
 LiberalEsto Feb 2012 #10
LineLineReply This message was self-deleted by its author
 Tesha Feb 2012 #11
LineLineNew Reply fine steel wool works well also n/t
 NMDemDist2 Feb 2012 #22
LineNew Reply This message was hidden by jury decision.
 lennyduhmann Feb 2012 #23
LineNew Reply White vinegar made into a paste using flour. Apply to tiles, leave overnight.
 snagglepuss Mar 2012 #25
LineLineNew Reply Huh! Snagglepuss, do you think this would work on a fiberglass shower enclosure? And is the flour
 Nay Mar 2012 #27
LineLineLineNew Reply It can't hurt to try. I can't see why it wouldn't work on fiberglass and
 snagglepuss Mar 2012 #28

Response to SHRED (Original post)

Sat Jan 28, 2012, 10:59 PM

Star Member Melissa G (9,548 posts)

1. Magic eraser

if I am having hell with the hard water build up. Regular Bon Ami works okay, if I have a power scrub electric type tool like a dirt devil and more patience than I usually manage.

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Response to Melissa G (Reply #1)

Sun Jan 29, 2012, 02:49 PM

Star Member Hassin Bin Sober (8,704 posts)

5. That Magic eraser really IS magic!

We installed some glass tile in our shower. Frosted glass was the mistake we made. There was some residual left from the grout in the frosted glass. I was about at the point where I was going to "live with it" ..... until we used the Magic eraser. Done!

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Response to Hassin Bin Sober (Reply #5)

Mon Jan 30, 2012, 11:02 AM

Ruby the Liberal (23,520 posts)

7. I don't think I am using this right.

Everyone I know seems to LOVE this widget, but I never got good results from it.

I am getting it wet, then wringing to 'damp' and trying to rub where the hard water (etc) has caused a haze and I get nothin'. Not using any cleaner nor prewetting/presoaking.

Am I doing something wrong?

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Response to Ruby the Liberal (Reply #7)

Mon Jan 30, 2012, 01:46 PM

Star Member Hassin Bin Sober (8,704 posts)

8. Hmmm. I don't know.

Hard water is a mystery to me living in Chicago. I've only used the eraser for grout and a very fine tint of a graying on my white tub. I thought I would never get that non-slip textured part clean again but it worked.

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Response to Ruby the Liberal (Reply #7)

Mon Feb 6, 2012, 09:36 AM

Star Member Melissa G (9,548 posts)

13. Probably needs more elbow grease...

It's magic, but you need to scrub like hell anyway, if the water is really hard.

Pick a half dollar coin size space and the go after it until you feel the ceramic surface become smooth beneath your fingers. That will tell you if it's working. If you got the small area smooth, then yeah, the problem was just elbow grease (effort). If real scrubbing effort in a small space does not get you somewhere, we may need a different product.

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Response to Melissa G (Reply #1)

Mon Feb 6, 2012, 02:02 AM

Star Member Lugnut (8,761 posts)

12. Magic erasers are fantastic!

I use them in the kitchen and bathrooms with Barkeepers and the results are very good. I've never found anything better.

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Response to SHRED (Original post)

Sun Jan 29, 2012, 05:47 AM

Star Member Scuba (27,175 posts)

2. CLR (stands for calcium, lime, rust) will make you shower shine.

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Response to SHRED (Original post)

Sun Jan 29, 2012, 12:14 PM

Star Member Stinky The Clown (51,440 posts)

3. I'll add Bar Keeper's Friend to the list

The products above will all work. Bar Keeper's is a scouring powder with a mild acid in it. The acid enhances the lime scale removal.

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Response to Stinky The Clown (Reply #3)

Mon Jan 30, 2012, 10:59 AM

Ruby the Liberal (23,520 posts)

6. I second this, but didn't know you could use it on tile.

Lived by this product for stainless and pots/pans for over 20 years now - there is no substitute, IMO.

Will try it on some stubborn hard water/soap scum shower spots I have. Thanks for the heads up.

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Response to Stinky The Clown (Reply #3)

Wed Feb 8, 2012, 04:20 PM

Star Member flying_wahini (1,010 posts)

14. Bar Keepers Friend is an EXCELLENT product



I use it a Lot on many things. It's great stuff.

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Response to Stinky The Clown (Reply #3)

Thu Mar 8, 2012, 12:59 AM

mbperrin (6,887 posts)

26. Yes, this is everybody's friend!

We did repairs and remodeling for 20 years, and this was in my shower kit for first use.

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Response to SHRED (Original post)

Sun Jan 29, 2012, 12:17 PM

Star Member NMDemDist2 (48,881 posts)

4. once you get it clean by any of the above methods, use Pledge

it will take of the last of the scum and protect any more build up from happening

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Response to NMDemDist2 (Reply #4)

Thu Feb 9, 2012, 12:36 AM

Star Member Hassin Bin Sober (8,704 posts)

15. Someone recommended Rainex for our glass tiles.

Haven't tried it yet but seems like a great idea. We installed frosted glass subway tiles all the way to the ceiling. We love it but it's hard to keep clean. The warm moist air hits the cold tile and condenses. The frost has a texture that's hard to keep clean. Definitely wish we went with smooth glass.

Pledge sounds interesting too.

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Response to Hassin Bin Sober (Reply #15)

Thu Feb 9, 2012, 09:11 AM

Star Member NMDemDist2 (48,881 posts)

16. i tried rainex on the glass in my new steam shower

didn't work near as well as the pledge

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Response to NMDemDist2 (Reply #16)

Thu Feb 9, 2012, 11:43 PM

Ruby the Liberal (23,520 posts)

17. Are you using wood oil Pledge or aerosol?

Just spray it on like you are going to polish a table and let it dry?

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Response to Ruby the Liberal (Reply #17)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 10:14 AM

Star Member NMDemDist2 (48,881 posts)

18. regular Pledge, just spray it on a wipe

to a shine like on a table. not the wood oil, just the regular polish. it has wax that coats the glass

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Response to NMDemDist2 (Reply #18)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 11:38 AM

Ruby the Liberal (23,520 posts)

19. Have you tried this on ceramic tile?

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Response to Ruby the Liberal (Reply #19)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 12:17 PM

Star Member NMDemDist2 (48,881 posts)

20. yes

and glass, but not on porous surfaces. just make sure you don't use it on the floor, it will be slick



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Response to NMDemDist2 (Reply #20)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 12:18 PM

Ruby the Liberal (23,520 posts)

21. I love this idea.

Thanks!!

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Response to NMDemDist2 (Reply #18)

Thu Feb 16, 2012, 06:32 PM

Star Member gkhouston (21,642 posts)

24. Hee, and now our shower will smell lemony!

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

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Response to SHRED (Original post)

Tue Jan 31, 2012, 08:08 PM

Star Member jwirr (20,963 posts)

9. I am using Dawn dish soap to clean soap scum off the walls of my shower. It is working very good

but it does take some scrubbing.

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Response to SHRED (Original post)

Thu Feb 2, 2012, 08:51 PM

Star Member LiberalEsto (16,910 posts)

10. Scrape gently with a razor blade

I don't like using chemical cleaners. I just did this in my daughter's apartment when they were rushing to move out, painting and cleaning. The razor did a beautiful job.
I wouldn't use it on a shower door though; it might scratch the glass.

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Response to LiberalEsto (Reply #10)

Tesha This message was self-deleted by its author.

Response to LiberalEsto (Reply #10)

Fri Feb 10, 2012, 12:18 PM

Star Member NMDemDist2 (48,881 posts)

22. fine steel wool works well also n/t

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Response to SHRED (Original post)

lennyduhmann This message was hidden by Jury decision.

Response to SHRED (Original post)

Tue Mar 6, 2012, 05:37 PM

snagglepuss (9,290 posts)

25. White vinegar made into a paste using flour. Apply to tiles, leave overnight.

The next morning simply rinse off tiles. This also works magic on dish drainboards.

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Response to snagglepuss (Reply #25)

Sun Mar 18, 2012, 02:38 PM

Nay (5,822 posts)

27. Huh! Snagglepuss, do you think this would work on a fiberglass shower enclosure? And is the flour


just a way to keep the acidic vinegar up against the tiles/sides?

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Response to Nay (Reply #27)

Sun Mar 18, 2012, 05:17 PM

snagglepuss (9,290 posts)

28. It can't hurt to try. I can't see why it wouldn't work on fiberglass and

yes the flour is added so it sticks to a surface.

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