Pebble stone is a very beautiful and exceptional flooring structure, and it is also a great support system for tiles. If you crave for an exceptional beautiful floor then you must know how to clean pebble stone shower floor.
Pebblestone floor has different amazing characteristics ranging from being durable, beautiful, and also a flexible surface that is covered with smooth pebbles that massage your feet as you walk over them and prevent slipping.
The simple tricks to cleaning pebble stone shower floor involve the use of detergent, vinegar or hydrochloric acid. Steam cleaning also works wonders.
Placing a pebble stone flooring in your bathroom for interior home improvement and remodeling is extremely easy; let’s dive into the guide on how to clean pebble stone shower floor.
How to Clean Pebble Stone Shower Floor
Table of Contents
Before cleaning your pebble stone shower floor, you have to ensure that they were installed correctly and that the grout and pebbles are finished using a quality sealant.
This makes the cleaning process a lot easier, and you can determine if your floor’s sealant is still intact by checking to see if the floor looks dry or stains easily. If it doesn’t, you need to reapply a layer of sealant over your floor surface and allow it to dry before attempting to wash the floor.
This is because washing an unsealed pebble tile floor can allow water to sink into the floor and cause it to deteriorate. To clean pebble stone floor, you do not need expensive cleaning products; there are a lot of pH-neutral cleaners that you can make use of
Using Detergent
If your pebble stone flooring comprises of multiple small-sized stones, you can clean it using mild detergents with an alkaline base.
However, if the pebbles are derived from limestone, marble, travertine, or granite, you should avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach or ammonia as they can cause the surface of some of the pebbles in the flooring to etch and deteriorate.
Read: How to clean travertine floor
To safely clean your floors, mix about a 1/4 cup of vegetable-based detergent with a gallon of warm water. Then use a gentle but firm bristled brush to scrub on the floor surface using circular motions.
Work in sections and go all over the surface, depending on its size, at least two times. Make sure to really get around the stones as well as in any corners with the brush if you want a truly clean pebble shower floor.
Then use your handheld shower to rinse the floor clean.
Using Vinegar
You can make a homemade vinegar pebble stone floor cleaner using the following steps;
Get a clean empty bottle and fill it with 1 part vinegar and 16 parts water. The bottle you make use of should have a spray nozzle for better application and thoroughly apply the mixture all over the pebble stone floor and allow it to sit for a couple of minutes.
This helps to lift any soap scum, hard water deposits, and residue that have become embedded into the floor. Then use a nylon-bristled brush to scrub gently scour the pebbles and grout using a circular motion.
After giving the floor a thorough scrub making sure to get around each pebble and stone, give the floor a rinse down by turning on the shower; you can also use a handheld shower to properly rinse out corners.
Hydrochloric Acid
Before using hydrochloric acid on your pebble stone floor, you have to make sure that the pebbles in the flooring can handle the harsh chemical.
If it can, mix 1 part hydrochloric acid and ten parts water to make a powerful cleaner, you can use for stubborn stains on your floor. Apply this cleaner to the floor as you would the vinegar mixture and scrub thoroughly.
Due to the toxicity of hydrochloric acid, you need to make sure the room is properly ventilated by opening up the windows; you can also turn on nearby ceiling fans and also use the bathroom fan to increase airflow.
You also need to wear protective clothing like safety glasses and rubber gloves before handling this mixture.
Related: How to clean floors with hydrogen peroxide
Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning your pebble stone floor not only leaves your dirty grout gleaming, but it also kills bacteria that might have turned your tile grout into a safe haven.
A pebble stone floor is more porous than regular floors, so it requires deeper cleaning. So using steam cleaning, which uses extremely hot steam with intense pressure to push dirt, grime, and bacteria out of your shower floor, helps to ensure that your floor isn’t only clean but also germ-free.
Read: 9 Best Bathroom Steam Cleaners
Steam cleaning is a very easy process to carry out, and you can cover a large area in a short period of time.
Since most abrasive cleaners are not suitable for pebble stone floor, steam cleaning is a more sanitary and healthier alternative. Steam cleaning your pebble stone floor also helps to increase its lifespan and reduce the need to replace pebbles or sealant.
You can use a handheld steam cleaner to clean your pebble stone floor by simply turning on the steam cleaner and holding it about 3 to 6 inches above the floor for a couple of minutes before rinsing with clear water and allowing the floor to dry.
Applying Protective Sealant
Practicing proper care and maintenance routine will help to protect your pebble stone floor. Try to seal the grout and the floor at least once a year to enable the pebbles to resist stains and discoloration
This is very important due to the porosity level of the floor that causes it to easily absorb liquid. But, when a sealant is applied to a pebble stone floor, it helps to reduce the accumulation of soap scum and other unsightly residues. They wash down easily into the drain Instead of clinging to the pebbles.
Maintenance Tips
When spot cleaning, ensure to always use soft sponges and rags to avoid damaging the sealant or scratching the floor.
Do not use abrasive cleaners on your floor because it can strip away the layer of sealant and damage the pebbles underneath.
Whenever you are done cleaning, ensure to properly dry your floor using either a towel or hairdryer so that there aren’t any spots left behind.
Always use a soft towel or cloth to carry out a quick wipe-down regularly to keep excess dirt and moisture buildup at bay.
When using a vacuum on your floor, never drag it around on the floor as it can harm the sealant and even damage the pebbles.
Conclusion
Knowing how to clean pebble stone shower floor will enable you to maintain their good looks for as long as possible. As stated earlier, avoid using any abrasive cleaner on your floor surface to avoid damaging it.