One of the most frequently asked questions from new shower pod owners is: how to clean shower pods properly? The good news is that cleaning a shower pod is significantly easier than cleaning a traditional tiled shower, but there are still some best practices to follow to keep the highgloss GRP surface looking its best for years to come.
Why Shower Pods Are Easier To Clean?
Understanding how to clean shower pods starts with understanding what makes them different. Traditional tiled showers have grout lines, porous, textured surfaces that trap soap scum, limescale, and bacteria. Over time, those lines become stained and can harbour mould, requiring abrasive cleaners, scrubbing brushes, and considerable effort.
Shower pods, by contrast, have a seamless, nonporous GRP surface with no grout and no mastic joints. There are no crevices for grime to accumulate in. The smooth, high gloss finish means water and soap residue bead up on the surface rather than soaking in, making regular cleaning quick and straightforward.
How To Clean Shower Pods: Routine Maintenance
For day to day cleanliness, here's how to clean shower pods effectively:
After Each Shower
A quick wipe down with a soft cloth or squeegee after each use is the single most effective habit. This removes water droplets before they dry and leave limescale marks, keeping the surface looking clean with minimal effort.
Weekly Clean
Once a week, apply a gentle, nonabrasive bathroom cleaner to the walls and tray. Spray it on, leave briefly, then wipe over with a soft cloth and rinse. This removes any buildup of soap scum or light limescale before it has a chance to develop into a harder deposit.
Products To Use
The best products for how to clean shower pods are mild, nonabrasive cleaners, standard bathroom sprays, diluted washing up liquid, or white vinegar diluted with water (excellent for limescale). Always rinse thoroughly after use.
What To Avoid When Cleaning Shower Pods?
Knowing what not to use is just as important as knowing how to clean shower pods correctly:
- Abrasive scouring pads or steel wool: These will scratch the GRP surface, dulling the highgloss finish permanently.
- Harsh chemical cleaners: Bleachbased products, solvent cleaners, or anything with strong abrasive particles can damage the surface over time.
- Pressure washers: Pressure washers can force water past gasketed joints because the jet pressure is far higher than normal mains pressure.
- Abrasive powders: Products like scouring powder should be avoided entirely on GRP surfaces.
Stick to soft cloths, soft bristled brushes for any corners or edges, and mild liquid cleaners.
Dealing With Limescale
In hard water areas, limescale is a common issue in any shower. Knowing how to clean shower pods in hard water conditions is particularly useful. White vinegar diluted with an equal part water is a highly effective, gentle limescale remover for GRP surfaces. Apply, leave for a few minutes, then wipe and rinse. For stubborn deposits, purposemade limescale removers that are safe for acrylic and GRP surfaces can be used, always check the label.
Keeping Gaskets And Doors Clean
The gaskets that join shower pod sections don't require any special treatment, they should simply be wiped as part of the regular clean. For glass doors, a glass cleaner or white vinegar solution keeps panels streakfree. Door seals can be wiped with a mild solution to keep them fresh.
How Cleaning Compares To A Tiled Shower?
To put how to clean shower pods into perspective: the average tiled shower requires regular scrubbing of grout lines, periodic resealing of silicone joints, and specialist mould treatment products. It's time-consuming and never truly resolved, as grout and mastic continually degrade. A shower pod, cleaned with a soft cloth and mild spray once a week, simply can't compete for ease. We describe our pods as "fit and forget", a fair reflection of the daytoday reality of owning one.
Contact Advanced Showers
Want to know more about maintaining your shower pod, or ready to upgrade to a low maintenance solution? The Advanced Showers team is happy to help. Visit our website or call us to speak with a specialist and find out which pod is right for your home or project.
