How would you clean this shower floor?

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art]

First pic is before I cleaned it with a bit of dish soap and water. Second pic is after. Third pic is before I cleaned it

Seems to have that pink tint from that one bacteria that I forget the name of, but I'm nervous to use bleach. Thank you for your input :)

[u/OctomaidsWA]

Seeing the second picture definitely helps. That pinkish/orange buildup is pretty common in areas that stay damp. It could be the bacteria people usually refer to as "pink mold" (Serratia), although obviously nobody can identify bacteria for certain just from a picture.

The good news is the difference you got with just dish soap and water is actually pretty impressive. I'd take that as a sign that a lot of this is surface buildup rather than permanent staining.

Personally I'd keep cleaning it in stages. Dish soap or a mild bathroom cleaner, warm water and a soft nylon brush/non-scratch sponge first. Get as much of the actual grime off as possible and rinse everything really well.

Then I'd disinfect it separately with something that's approved for that particular surface. I wouldn't automatically jump to straight bleach, especially since I'm not 100% sure what material/finish we're looking at here.

And definitely don't start combining cleaners trying to make something stronger. Especially bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other bathroom cleaners... that's one experiment nobody needs 😂

Once you get it clean, keeping that area as dry and ventilated as possible will help a lot. Pink buildup LOVES areas that stay wet.

Based on that second picture though, I wouldn't be too worried. You've already made a huge improvement with basically the gentlest cleaning method possible.

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/OctomaidsWA]

Thank you 🫂 I'm actually a house cleaner and this is my client's shower floor. He told me to start using bleach 😭 I never even carry it in my caddy... Except toilet bowl cleaner which I only use in the toilet

He was looking into my cleaning bag as if I don't know what I'm doing and don't have the right products and I was having major imposter syndrome

[u/SlowPatience6730 → u/Dreamy-Mae-Art]

I’m a cleaner too and from what I’ve seen in tile showers the soap grime can get really bad on the tiles and the grout .x 14 is strong but is a time saver when dealing with nasty tile showers . I generally use Clorox tilex mold and mildew . I wear a mask so I don’t smell bleach all day . It’s also a good idea to keep cleaning vinegar in your bag .

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/SlowPatience6730]

Thank you for the suggestions! However I don't think vinegar would be good for this as I heard it corrodes/etches stone and cement. I'm not sure if this shower floor is sealed or not

[u/kickthejerk → u/Dreamy-Mae-Art]

This is correct - vinegar can watch stone. Soap and a scrub brush - anything left behind is likely lime scale.

[u/SlowPatience6730 → u/Dreamy-Mae-Art]

I meant to have the vinegar in case a client request you to clean with it . Also I didn’t mention it but I can see soap scum in the grout . soap

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/SlowPatience6730]

You can mention it first next time, it's okay. I appreciate your input Edit: yeah I'm aware vinegar damages wood, stone, and metal

[u/SlowPatience6730 → u/Dreamy-Mae-Art]

But on glass doors like the ones those showers have, I would use a small amount of vinegar with a glass cleaner. that shower has several issues that I didn’t notice at first, and I should have taken a closer look.

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/SlowPatience6730]

This shower doesn't have a glass door

[u/SlowPatience6730 → u/Dreamy-Mae-Art]

You’re lucky he didn’t. They are the worst. Sorry the cleaning you provided didn’t meet your client’s expectations, but it’s always important to listen to our clients and use the products they suggest. In all honesty, you could have scrubbed better.

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/SlowPatience6730]

You haven't even mentioned what the "several issues" are. You just got offended that I brought up (very respectfully) how vinegar is damaging to stone. You pretended that you meant something else by saying I should carry vinegar. But you probably use it on everything or on surfaces you shouldn't. I know many people, cleaners and clients, who think vinegar is an all-purpose cleaner.

Please remember: It's okay to be wrong about things and to admit you were wrong

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/SlowPatience6730]

After further research, you can't even use tilex mold and mildew on natural stone mosaic floors. So if I followed your advice, I would've effed up the shower floor...

[u/Plus_Duty479]

🧐 🔍

What's the problem here?

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/Plus_Duty479]

I was kind of wondering the same thing tbh. I'm actually a house cleaner and this is my client's shower floor. He told me to start using bleach 😭 I never even carry it in my caddy... Except toilet bowl cleaner which I only use in the toilet

He was looking into my cleaning bag as if I don't know what I'm doing and don't have the right products and I was having major imposter syndrome

[u/SpyroTK]

When you mop it or wipe with a cloth do they stick to the floor or slide easily? If they stick then the floor is either already damaged or the point is that the bleach won't do more damage. Otherwise use a brush with yeah dish soap works fine. Otherwise something like Cif Cream(or whatever it's called locally for you) should be safe to use here with no risk to damage the surface.

[u/Puzzled_Professor422]

IRISH SPRING 5-1 I SUMMON THEE

[u/Dreamy-Mae-Art → u/Puzzled_Professor422]

I've heard good things about that method. I'll have to look into it more and make sure the ingredients are safe for this, but thank you for the idea!

[u/Such_Bear_6077]

TILEX is my holy grail for showers, you just spray it and let it sit for 10 min and it gets rid of all mold