Mandy PhillipsKeeping the shower clean is key to a pleasant shower experience, and many homeowners often use toilet bowl cleaners as an easy way to clean the shower. After all, you use them to clean the toilet, so it would make sense to use them to clean other parts of the bathroom, like the shower.
Unfortunately, you have to look closer at what your toilet bowl cleaner is made of before you can attempt to use it to clean the shower.
Here’s everything you need to know before using your toilet bowl cleaner in the shower.
Are Toilet Bowl Cleaners Safe to Use in the Shower?
Most toilet bowl cleaners are toxic because they contain chemicals that, while effectively removing stains and discoloration from the toilet, can be too harsh when used in the shower.
This means that you should not use a toilet bowl cleaner in the shower unless you absolutely have to. Even then, you might want to consider other cleaner alternatives to avoid damaging the shower surfaces.
Toilet bowl cleaners effectively clean porcelain toilets by removing both germs and dirt to keep toilets looking pristine, but they can do more harm than good on shower surfaces. So, you shouldn’t use them as a regular cleaning solution for your shower.
There are ingredients in typical toilet bowl cleaners, like bleach and hydrochloric acid, that can damage your shower tiles. These harsh chemicals can also hurt the chrome plating of your shower fixtures. Not to mention, you’re most likely going to get your hands and feet in direct contact with the cleaner when taking a shower, which can cause skin irritation and even burns.
Active Ingredients in Toilet Bowl Cleaners That Can Damage the Shower
The primary reason you shouldn’t use toilet bowl cleaners in the shower is that many cleaners have too many harsh ingredients: mainly bleach and hydrochloric acid. If your toilet bowl cleaner contains one of these active chemicals, you should keep it out of the shower.
1. Bleach
Bleach is a well-known cleaning agent, mostly used for its whitening properties. It can make your cruddy-looking porcelain toilet bowl pristine and sparkling new even after one cleaning session. Bleach also has a germ-killing property that makes it a top choice to use in cleaning toilets.
But here’s the downside: bleach is an incredibly harsh chemical. It should not be ingested or inhaled. It doesn’t only attack dirt and stains, but other surfaces as well. You even have to dilute the bleach cleaner first before using it on the toilet because it’s too harsh to use in full strength. Further, bleach can destroy the protective coating of your shower tiles and chrome finishes of the showerhead, causing them to lose their elegant luster.
Consistent use of bleach-containing toilet bowl cleaners in the shower can attack the tile grout and cause an irreversible stain on the surface.
2. Ammonia
Ammonia has disinfectant qualities that make it a popular active ingredient in many toilet bowl cleaners. It’s effective at removing stains, mold, and mildew. But while it’s a weaker base than bleach, using ammonia-based cleaners can still damage the shower surfaces.
Like bleach, ammonia can leave a residue behind which attracts even more dirt and causes discoloration to the tile grout in your shower over time. Consistent use of ammonia products in the shower will also weaken and erode the grout.
3. Hydrochloric Acid
Hydrochloric acid is another cleaning agent that can remove stubborn stains on most surfaces. It’s also one of the quickest and the most effective ways to remove mineral buildup in your toilet bowl or unclog the drains and pipes.
But acid is also a very strong ingredient and is extremely corrosive. Like bleach and ammonia, it can damage the glossy surface of the shower tiles and eat away the tile grout over time. It also produces toxic fumes that can cause breathing problems, especially when used in tight places like the shower. Not to mention, hydrochloric acid can cause burns if it gets in contact with the skin.
Precautions When Using Toilet Bowl Cleaner In the Shower
It’s simple, really: avoid using toilet bowl cleaners as a substitute to clean your shower.
Toilet bowl cleaners shouldn’t be your go-to cleaning solution for the shower, but they can be your last resort for removing stubborn stains or as a spot treatment as rarely as possible. This way you will limit (or at least minimize) the damage the cleaners will cause to shower surfaces.
Other tips when using toilet bowl cleaners in the shower as a last resort:
- Always handle these chemical cleaners with care. Use adequate protective equipment like gloves, masks, and even goggles when using these products.
- Keep your shower well-ventilated when using toilet bowl cleaners for cleaning. Open your bathroom window or use the bathroom fan to help eliminate any toxic fumes.
- Always dilute the toilet bowl cleaner, so it’s less harsh on the shower surfaces.
- NEVER mix bleach and ammonia-based toilet bowl cleaners for cleaning the shower. Doing so will create an incredibly poisonous gas that can cause wheezing, nausea, and even pneumonia when inhaled, even in small amounts.
- When using toilet bowl cleaners in the shower as a last resort to remove stubborn stains, avoid letting the cleaner stay on any shower surface for too long. Rinse it immediately and thoroughly to avoid further damage.
How to Clean the Shower: Best Alternatives to Toilet Bowl Cleaners
Now you know you shouldn’t use toilet bowl cleaners in the shower unless you absolutely have to. But what other alternatives are there?
1. Water and Vinegar
Yes, vinegar is still a type of acid, but it’s far less harsh compared to those mentioned above. A simple mixture of equal parts of water and table vinegar is an easy and effective at-home alternative to toilet bowl cleaners that won’t damage the shower surface.
Water and vinegar solution can remove any soap scum, dirt buildup, and most stains on shower tiles and grout. Vinegar is also a natural deodorizer, which can help your shower get rid of any unwanted smells.
2. Vinegar and Baking Soda
Combining vinegar and baking soda will also create a paste that can effectively and safely clean the shower, especially a dirty grout. Clean grout plays a huge role in making sure your shower tile looks immaculate, and this solution can keep the tile grout sparkling clean.
Unlike harsh toilet bowl cleaners, using a consistent mixture of these two simple ingredients will remove stains without discoloring the shower tiles or stripping them off their glossy finish.
Toilet Bowl Cleaning Should Not Be Your Go-to solution For Shower
Ultimately, whether you use toilet bowl cleaners in the shower or not will be your choice. But we’ve outlined all the reasons why it shouldn’t be your go-to cleaning solution for the shower.
Generic toilet bowl cleaners may be effective in cleaning stubborn stains, but they can damage the beauty and integrity of your shower surface, especially the tiles. It’s best to keep your shower clean with natural, non-chemical-based cleaning solutions that are less harsh than toilet bowl cleaners.
But if you have to use toilet bowl cleaners in the shower, remember to always protect yourself, provide adequate ventilation, and avoid leaving the solutions sitting on your shower surfaces for longer than necessary. It is okay to spot clean with toilet bowl cleaners while brushing stubborn stains in the shower, just remember to rinse the solution off thoroughly and immediately to avoid any damage.
