Remedies for a Stained Shower Tray

Alkaline in the water, soap, hair dye, mildew and mould can all stain your shower tray. These stains can be potentially unhygienic and almost always make a shower tray look old and dirty. Fortunately, though, with some time and effort and by using simple home remedies, you can get rid of most common stains.

Tackle the problem of stains in shower trays before they happen by keeping your bathroom well ventilated. A build-up of moisture gives mildew and mould an ideal environment to flourish, and leaving windows and doors open to allow air to circulate will help prevent this build-up. In addition, consider wiping your shower tray with a dry towel after use and leaving the shower door or curtain open. Switching to natural soap or shower gel may also prevent soap scum building up on the tray.

Household detergent is the first line of defence against stained shower trays and will remove most common stains. A citrus-based detergent is especially useful in removing soap scum.

Mix the detergent and warm water in a bucket, according to the manufacturer's directions. Then, wet the bristles of a scrubbing brush with the liquid and scrub the shower tray vigorously, re-wetting the brush frequently. Turn on the shower to rinse the tray when no more stain is being removed.

The acidic properties of vinegar make it ideal for tackling tough stains in a shower tray. Mix one part vinegar with one part warm water in a bucket. Block the shower drain with a towel and pour this liquid into the shower tray. Leave for one hour and then remove the towel and allow the solution to drain. Wet the bristles of a scrubbing brush with more vinegar solution and scrub the shower tray vigorously, re-wetting the brush frequently. Turn on the shower to rinse the tray when no more stain is being removed.

Chlorine bleach is very effective against most stains but must be handled with care. Change into old clothes that you can afford to have damaged and put on rubber gloves. In addition, ventilate the bathroom well by opening all doors and windows. Mix chlorine bleach and warm water according to the manufacturer's directions. Block the shower drain with a towel and pour the solution into the shower tray, being very careful not to splash it on your body or into your face. Leave the room and allow the solution to sit for one hour before removing the towel and allowing the bleach solution to drain. Wet the bristles of a scrubbing brush with more bleach solution and vigorously scrub any stains that remain before rinsing the shower tray well.