Are the seals on your shower discolored? Read here which tricks you can use to reliably remove mold and dirt.
Have you ever stood under water while showering? Shower seals are designed to prevent exactly that. They keep the water in the shower cubicle and ensure that you don't have to wade through puddles.
No matter how good the seals are, they should be cleaned regularly so that they look well-groomed and, above all, so that bacteria do not collect on them. Most of you are probably familiar with these unsightly stains.
We'll tell you here which (home) remedies will help you make dirty seals in your shower a thing of the past.
Why should you clean the shower seal?
The shower seals are often forgotten when cleaning the shower. There are several important reasons why you should clean them regularly:
- To avoid limescale. Limescale deposits not only look unsightly, they are also annoying to remove.
- By cleaning you can prevent mold from forming in the bathroom. Mold is harmful to health and can spread through the spores on the joints or the shower wall.
- Soap residue and dirt collect on the seals. Pretty unhygienic! The residue also causes stains on the glass and seal.
- In the long term, you will avoid discoloration of your shower seals. Transparent rubber or silicone is nicer than yellowish rubber.
- Regular cleaning can prevent unpleasant odors.
Prevent contaminated seals
Of course, it's better than thorough cleaning if you don't have to do the cleaning so often. By doing preventive work, you will be spared the unpleasant task for longer.
- Keeps the material dry. After showering, remove the tiles and glass of the cabin with a shower squeegee (here fromGütewerk*) and dries joints and seals.
- Ventilate carefully! This allows the moisture to escape. It's best to leave the bathroom window tilted during the day.
- Opens the shower door. This allows the moist air to escape more easily, the surfaces dry and mold is prevented.
- Pay attention to the temperature in the bathroom. A moderate room temperature between 22 and 23 °C is optimal.
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Cleaning the shower seal: home remedies
The material of your shower seals is sensitive to strong cleaning agents. To prevent it from being damaged too badly and becoming brittle, you should start cleaning with gentle home remedies.
Remember to wear protective gloves even when using these “harmless” products! This is how you protect your skin from irritation.
baking powder
Always a classic among home remedies and suitable for almost any cleaning task - even in the shower.
- Mix the powder with a little water to form a thick paste.
- Spread the mixture on your shower seal and let it work for a while.
- You can use a (tooth) brush to help incorporate the agent. Then rinse thoroughly. Then rub the seal dry.
Tipp: Known baking soda works in the same way. And the closely related washing soda also cleans reliably.
Vinegar
Vinegar is considered a real miracle cleaner, but should never be used undiluted on rubber. The liquid severely corrodes the material, which may require replacement.
- Mix vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:3 (i.e. more water than vinegar).
- Dip a sponge into the solution and scrub the seals until the stains disappear.
- Then rinse and dry with a clean cloth.
lemon juice
This product is guaranteed to be environmentally friendly and also has a pleasant smell. The same applies here as with vinegar: Do not use undiluted on surfaces! The shower stall will also be clean with a diluted solution.
By the way: Citric acid is also good for cleaning the glass in your shower cubicle. And the mirror in the bathroom will shine again in no time.
toothpaste
You definitely have this home remedy in your house. The paste reliably removes stains and prevents unpleasant odors in the shower cubicle.
- Take a toothbrush and apply toothpaste to the seals.
- Now scrub diligently and then rinse with clean water.
- Remember to dry the shower enclosure afterwards.
More reading material: Cleaning the shower – quick and effective cleaning tips against limescale etc.
Lemon stone
Not a home remedy per se, but very effective! Lemon stone, or lemon balm, is a popular all-purpose cleaner. He is in many drugstores or tooonline* available.
- Apply the lemon stone with a sponge.
- Now carefully distribute the cleaning agent over the dirty shower seals.
- Finally, rinse thoroughly and rub the shower seal dry.
Chemical cleaning products
Are you just not getting anywhere with your home remedies in the bathroom? Then it might be time for sharper artillery. Use strong cleaners but not too often. In the worst case, they attack your shower seal so badly that it has to be replaced.
Important: Always wear protective gloves and eye and respiratory protection. It's best to open your windows too.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide (approximatelyapomix*) is the mildest agent among our tips for chemical cleaners. Apply it to a cloth, treat the contaminated areas and rinse thoroughly.
Chlorreiniger
Chlorine cleaners can irritate the respiratory tract and should therefore only be used with appropriate protective equipment and in small doses. Also, do not combine the product with other cleaners and rinse thoroughly after use!
Ammoniak/Salmiakgeist
Don't inhale! The fumes are very toxic. So please proceed with extreme caution. Protects respiratory tract and your skin.
- Ammonia is used in the household as ammonia spirit (e.g. fromWilckens*) used. This is an aqueous solution of ammonia, also called ammonia water.
- Apply some to the affected areas with a cloth.
- Rinse thoroughly and dry the seal.
Damaged shower seals – what to do?
Are your rubber or silicone seals damaged? There's not much that can be done. You have to replace them if you want your shower to remain sealed.
You can find replacements at specialist retailers or hardware stores. Here you can also get advice on which material and type is best suited. Most shower seals are made of PVC.
You can also ask how best to proceed. Replacing the shower seal yourself is not that difficult.
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