Can You Use Toilet Cleaner in the Shower?- Answered

It is no secret that toilet cleaner is a powerful substance. But have you ever wondered if this could clean your shower as well? This is a common question for every homeowner. 

So, can you use toilet cleaner in the shower? 

No, you cannot. Toilet cleaners are made to clean small porcelain bowls. But if you use it in showers, it’ll damage your shower tiles. Because toilet cleaners are made with bleach and hydrochloric acid. Both of these are toxic chemicals. So, cleaning your shower with toilet cleaners will ruin your shower. 

Are you still not convinced? Don’t worry we have a full article to answer your question and a great example of a nice cleaning shower brush can be found HERE.

Let’s jump right in-

Table of Contents

• Why Should You Not Use Toilet Cleaners in The Shower?
  • Reason 1: Difference in Materials 
  • Reason 2: Discolored Shower Tiles
  • Reason 3: Health Effects 
• What Can I Use to Clean My Tile Shower? 
  • Method 1: Vinegar & Dishwashing Detergent
  • Method 2: Bathroom Multi-Purpose Cleaning Spray
  • Method 3: Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide 
• How to Clean Marble Shower?
  • Step 1: Create The Mixture
  • Step 2: Apply the Mixture 
  • Step 3: Rinse Off
  • FAQS
  • Final Word

Why Should You Not Use Toilet Cleaners in The Shower?

You might think that a toilet cleaner is more effective when it comes to cleaning. But it’s not. Because they are made to clean small porcelain bowls. Your shower is neither small nor is it made of porcelain. 

So, if you use toilet cleaners in the shower, it’ll just create a big mess. We’ve specified the reasons why you shouldn’t use the toilet cleaner to clean your shower-

Reason 1: Difference in Materials

Toilet cleaners are made with bleach and hydrochloric acid. These are both toxic materials. Although they might be alright for toilet bowls, they are not appropriate for showers. 

Reason 2: Discolored Shower Tiles

If you use toilet cleaners in the shower, it’ll weaken the material of your shower surface. Not only this, but toilet cleaners can also damage your grout. This will make your shower tiles eventually come off.

If you used the toilet cleaner in your shower only once, it’s still not too bad. If you left it on for about 10-15 minutes, you might see slight discoloration on your shower tiles.

Leaving it on for less than 5 minutes won’t cause much harm. However, you would still need to make sure that you rinse it off properly.

Reason 3: Health Effects

Using toilet cleaners in showers can also cause you physical harm. Because toilet cleaners are toxic. As a result, they can cause a chemical burn to your body. So, if you actually do use a toilet cleaner and don’t rinse it off, the next user can be in danger. 

Let us be more specific about the harmful effects-

As we told you before, bleach is a toxic component. Direct interaction or even inhaling bleach can be really harmful. The more you use the toilet cleaner in your shower, the more toxic it becomes. 

If you use this on a huge surface, the toxic fumes can damage your lungs. You can also have rashes, itchiness, breathing problems, and so on.

What Can I Use to Clean My Tile Shower?

Now you know you can’t use toilet cleaner to clean your shower. Don’t worry, toilet cleaner is not the only effective cleaning material. There are some alternatives.  Let’s look for those alternatives. 

Method 1: Vinegar & Dishwashing Detergent

This is one of the quickest and most straightforward ways to clean shower tiles. All debris, stains, and soap scum will be removed due to the acidity of the vinegar.

Step 1: Prep Your Shower Tiles

It’s critical to pre-treat your shower tiles before doing any cleaning. To do so, turn on the shower to its highest setting and wait 4-5 minutes. The extremely hot water and steam will release any stuck dust and filth.

Once you’re done, turn off your shower. Wipe your shower tiles with a rough textured clean cloth. 

Step 2: Mix Vinegar & Dishwashing Detergent

Take equal amounts of vinegar and dishwashing detergent. Mix them perfectly in a spray bottle. 

To help you we have recommended some good quality dishwashing detergent. – 

Feel free to use them if you like. Once the mixture is ready, heat up the bottle just so it becomes warm. But don’t overheat the mixture, this will ruin the acetic components of the vinegar.

Step 3: Spray and Rinse Off The Mixture

Spray the solution in the dirtiest places with your spray bottle. Ensure that all stained tiles are completely covered.

Wait 1 hour for the solution to rest on your tiles after you’ve finished. After that, thoroughly rinse the mixture. Ensure that all leftover solutions are rinsed away. The solution will ruin your tiles if you don’t. 

That’s it!

Method 2: Bathroom Multi-Purpose Cleaning Spray

This is one of the simplest methods. But for this, you will have to purchase some kind of multipurpose cleaning spray. If you don’t want to buy it, make your own multi-purpose cleaner. 

Also, this method is more effective if you can steam your shower beforehand. But it’s an optional step and it’s okay if you skip it. 

Step 1: Spray Over Your Shower Tiles

First, clear any kind of hair from your shower. Now, take your multipurpose cleaning spray and your walls, floors, and bathtub. 

Step 2: Rinse Off The Cleaning Solution

Wait for about 5-10 minutes then rinse them off perfectly. Remember that store-bought cleaning sprays are harmful if they’re left on. So, make sure you rinse it off perfectly. Once you’re done, ventilate your steam properly.

Method 3: Baking Soda & Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are really strong cleaning agents together. They are also cheaper than any store-bought cleaner. 

Step 1: Create The Mixture

The shower tiles may need to be cleaned of mildew and mold. In that situation, a simple solution of hydrogen peroxide and water will suffice. In a 1:2 ratio, combine hydrogen peroxide and water.

Add baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to remove stains and soap scum. Combine equal parts of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a mixing bowl.

Step 2: Spray and Rinse Off

Put your mixture in any spray bottle. Spray the solution in places where you see mold growth. Leave the tiles for 30 minutes. After that, rinse off the solution using a scouring pad. 

This paste will be quite thick. This will clear out all the stains, leaving your tiles shiny and polished. 

How to Clean Marble Shower?

The other 3 techniques were based on tile showers. But we know you can also have marble showers. Don’t worry we didn’t forget you. 

If you have marble showers then this technique will be perfect for you. And if you have deep stains, then this might be the only option. So let’s see what we have- 

Step 1: Create The Mixture

Take a bowl to create your mixture. In that bowl pour water and baking soda in a 3:1 ratio. The mixture will look something like a paste.  So if it doesn’t turn out like a paste,  add water or baking soda. Depending on what it needs. 

Step 2: Apply the Mixture

Apply the paste to the stains on your marble while wearing gloves. You can do this by spreading a good-sized portion to cover each stain with simply the gloves. You should look for discoloration or light mold that regular cleaning misses.

Then, cover the mixture with cling film and tape it in place. This way it won’t move or come away once you’ve spread it out. Only tape the corners of the stone to allow the stone to breathe.

Step 3: Rinse Off

Allow the mixture to rest for 24 hours on the stain. The next day, rinse it off and wipe the walls clean. You’re finished when it’s entirely dry. 

We hope you realized by now that it’s not okay to use toilet cleaner in your shower. Instead, clean your shower with the alternative we mentioned. Also, you should regularly clean your shower. Regular cleaning can even help you avoid skid marks in your toilet.

FAQS

Question: Does toilet bowl cleaner damage plastic?

Answer:  Yes, toilet bowl cleaners damage the plastic. The chlorine cleaning tablet slowly dissolves in the tank of your toilet. Later, this interacts with the plastic and rubber parts. These components are prone to corrosion and wear.

Question: How to fix discolored shower tiles? 

Answer: Mix vinegar, baking soda, and liquid soap together in a container. Then put on a pair of rubber gloves and start spraying. Spray on the discolored areas. Wait for 5-10 minutes then scrub it off. Lastly, rinse with fresh water. 

Question: How to get brown stains off shower floor? 

Answer: Mix 1 gallon of water, 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1/4 cup baking soda, and 1 cup ammonia in a large mixing bowl. Over the stain, pour part of the mixture. Then, using a soft-bristle brush or sponge, brush it in. Finally, rinse with fresh water.

Final Word

Can you use toilet cleaner in the shower? Now you know the answer to this question. We have shown you what’ll happen if you do decide to use it. 

There are a lot of alternatives for cleaning your shower. We suggest you use those rather than using toilet cleaners. Those alternatives are both easier and less harmful. 

However, if you still have any confusion, you can ask a professional. We wish you all the luck.