How to Clean a Pebble Shower Floor

Pebble shower floors come with the benefit of looking similar to a flowing river when in use. But unlike a river or stream, your pebble shower floor will not clean itself.

A pebble shower floor has more grout and pebble tiles to clean than your average ceramic tile floor. This makes the job of cleaning a river rock shower floor somewhat more laborious than most other showers.

With that in mind, taking the time to clean your river rock flooring efficiently is well worth the effort.

This article will cover everything you need to know to keep your pebble shower floor clean and looking great, as well as give it the most extended lifespan possible.

Things to Consider

Know Your Floor
It is vital to know what your pebble floor is made of and how it was installed.

For example, do you have natural stone, or are your pebble tiles made of a material like porcelain? Is your grout epoxy or concrete? Was your floor sealed?

Knowing the answers to these questions will dictate which type of cleaning solutions you can use and how often your floor needs to be cleaned.

Stay Away From Harsh Chemicals
It is highly recommended not to use any harsh chemicals, cleaners, or detergents when it comes to river rock flooring.

Strong chemicals will harm your floor and can damage or discolor your stones and destroy or deteriorate your sealant and grout.

If you are unsure if a chemical is too potent, any chemical with a toxic, deadly, skull and crossbones type of warning on the label is likely too harsh for your river rock flooring.

Avoid a Professional Cleaning Service
In most cases, cleaning your shower’s floor is a relatively easy task that you can do on your own.

Unless you have absolutely no time or are exceptionally wealthy, then hiring a professional cleaning service is unnecessary for this task.

Additionally, professional services can be expensive or even make the mistake of using a harsh chemical and damaging your floor.

Pebble Shower Floor Cleaning Methods

Using a DIY Cleaner

Using a DIY cleaner is the least expensive yet still effective method available. You can find many of the components of a DIY cleaner in your kitchen.

1. Add 1 part vinegar to 16 parts of water in a spray bottle.
2. Mix the solution, then spray it thoroughly on your pebble shower floor.
3. Wait a few minutes for the DIY cleaner to set in.
4. Use a nylon bristle brush to gently scrub the pebbles clean.
5. Use your shower’s warm water to rinse the solution and the mess away.

Mild Detergents

Unlike their harsh chemical siblings, mild detergents are perfectly safe to use on a pebble shower floor. The best mild detergents for this purpose are vegetable or alkaline-based.

Using a quarter cup of mild detergent mixed with water in a bucket with a mop or a few tablespoons mixed with water in a spray bottle, you will have the desired solution.

After applying the solution to your floor, mop or use a soft bristle brush until your floor is clean. Then simply use your shower water to rinse your floor.

Stone Cleaners

There are many types of stone cleaners available on the market. Some of these stone cleaners are manufactured to clean specific stones such as limestone, marble, or granite.

If you are unaware of the types of stone that make up your river rock flooring, then avoiding any specific stone cleaner is advised. Instead, seek out a general stone cleaner.

Many of these products are inexpensive and come in a spray bottle or can. The method for cleaning with stone cleaners is the same as mild detergents and DIY cleaners.

Steam Cleaning

Steam cleaning is an excellent chemical-free method for cleaning your river rock floor. If you possess a steam cleaner, then it is likely your best cleaning option. But if you do not own a steam cleaner, you’re best off saving your money and choosing another cleaning method.

To steam clean your pebble shower floor, a handheld unit is best. Apply the steaming unit around 3 to 6 inches from the floor for a few minutes. Repeat this process for each section of your floor, then use your shower’s warm water to rinse away the mess.

How Often Should You Clean Your Pebble Shower Floor

There are a few approaches to take when deciding how often to clean your pebble shower floor.

The most thorough and time-consuming method is to dry your river rock floor every time you take a shower. Keeping the floor dry will reduce much of the mess left behind by your shower’s water.

But for most, drying your shower after each daily use is not practical. I would suggest cleaning your shower every one to two weeks. This will allow you to clean your shower before mold or mildew develop without consuming as much of your time.

If you decide to take this route, simply drying your shower will not suffice. Some type of cleaning method will be necessary to remove a week or two worth of water build-up.

How to Clean Grout In a Pebble Shower Floor

Cleaning grout on your pebble shower floor can be tricky, as many of the popular ways to clean grout include harsh chemicals such as bleach and hydrogen peroxide.

If you were to use these harsh chemicals, you run the risk of damaging or discoloring your stones.

Baking soda in its dry form can damage stone, but you have a much safer solution to use on your grout when it’s mixed with water.

1. Using a solution of two parts baking soda and one part water, apply the solution to your grout with a dry clean rag.
2. Let the solution sit on your grout for 4 to 8 hours.
3. Scrub your grout with a soft bristle brush. Be careful not to brush your stones.
4. Use your shower’s hot water to rinse off the solution thoroughly.

For more stubborn grout stains, use a solution of vinegar and baking soda.

How to Remove Mold From a Pebble Shower Floor

If you do have mold on your river rock flooring, it is best to get rid of it as soon as possible before it spreads, causing health issues or structural damage.

There are three proven ways to get rid of mold: bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar.

All three of these solutions, without being diluted with water, can damage your stone. But it is worth the risk since you can replace stones, and if the mold is not dealt with, it will destroy your entire floor.

Of your three options, vinegar is the least harsh and is an excellent mold killer.

1. Pour full-strength distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle.
2. Spray only the affected area as not to risk damaging the rest of your stones.
3. Let the vinegar sit for an hour or two, and then wipe away the mold. You may need to repeat this process to remove all the mold.
4. Thoroughly rinse your pebble flooring.

Vinegar kills the majority of mold, but if by chance it did not kill yours, you will be forced to use a harsher chemical.

How to Maintain Pebble Shower Floors

• Reseal your floor as needed.

• Leave your shower door or curtain open after you shower to remove excess water.

• Clean your shower floor every one to two weeks.

• Be mindful of humidity.

• Keep your shower as dry as possible when not in use.

• Use soft bristle brushes and soft sponges when cleaning your floor.

• Avoid using any harsh chemicals unless absolutely necessary.