The Do’s and Don’ts of Cleaning Stone in Your Shower

Learn which cleansers to avoid and which to use so that the surface in your shower looks its best

Stones that cover shower surrounds, whether travertine, limestone or marble, look great and can last a lifetime. But harsh chemicals can leave scratches, break down sealants and eventually discolor stone. Let’s look at your options to determine what you can use to keep a beautiful stone shower looking as good as the day it was installed.

Do use eraser sponges. A great product that cleans your stone without any damage is an eraser sponge, like the one put out by Mr. Clean. It uses the technology of friction to “melt” the soap scum off the walls of your shower. Because there are no chemicals in the sponge, you can even use it while you are in the shower.

More tips below. 

(Originally posted on Houzz) 

Don’t use distilled white vinegar. The natural acid in distilled white vinegar will break down sealants used on stone tiles and slabs and eventually begin to discolor the stone.

Do use microfiber towels. If you don’t like using a squeegee, you can try wiping the walls of your shower with a microfiber towel. The microfiber will catch and hold onto the soap, skin cells and water.

​ Just remember to wash those microfiber towels once a week to avoid bacteria collecting on them.

Don’t use a liquid or a powdered scrub. The abrasiveness of the scrub can scratch and damage the stone. Also, most traditional shower cleaners you find at stores are very caustic and contain acids that may discolor the stone.

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Do use a squeegee. A squeegee is the best way to keep soap scum off your stone shower walls. Soap scum is soap, skin cells and water droplets that mix together and dry on the walls of your shower. If you use a squeegee before the soap scum dries, you may never have it in your shower again.

Don’t use ammonia. Ammonia is another no-no when it comes to cleaning stone showers. Besides breaking down sealants, if mixed with bleach it can also make for a toxic combination.


Do use the power of steam. Steam cleaners are a great tool for cleaning stone and grout in your shower. There are canister-style steamers that have a hose and attachments that are perfect for steam cleaning flat surfaces. They also have a small direct nozzle that will clean your grout without using any chemicals.
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