Easy DIY Shower Maintenance Tips
Nothing soothes and relaxes quite like a good, hot shower—but at the same time, nothing frustrates like a shower that has grown gamey, moldy, or clogged. At their most minor, shower maintenance problems can impair the comfort and enjoyment of your daily shower routine; a shower curtain that smells like mold or mildew is hardly soothing, and a shower head that doesn’t unleash sufficient water is a major nuisance. At their worst, shower maintenance problems leave you in dire need of a professional plumber—especially when the shower drain isn’t working as it should.
The good news in all of this is that there are some simple things you can do to ward off these shower maintenance problems. These DIY shower tune-ups can help you derive maximum pleasure from your daily showers, without having to worry about the build-up of mold, mildew, soap scum, or drainage clogs.
Start with the Shower Head
The enjoyment of your shower diminishes quickly when the showerhead becomes clogged with lime deposit; this tends to happen, over time, and it reduces the amount of water that your showerhead releases. It’s an easy thing to fix, however. Just get a small plastic bag and fill it with a cup or so of white vinegar. Using a rubber band, tie it around the showerhead, leaving it to soak overnight.
Much of the time, this will dramatically improve the quality of your shower—but if it doesn’t seem to work, it may be time to replace the shower head altogether.
Addressing Mold
Mold problems can often arise in showers, but there are some easy fixes. If you start to see mold building up, it’s just because there is too much water lingering in the shower after you use it. Try getting a squeegee and drying up water that’s left on the shower stall’s walls and ledges after each use.
Likewise, curtains can sometimes start to smell foul—another moisture problem. You can fix this by getting some shears and cutting the hem off the bottom of the shower curtain. That way, water won’t accumulate there, and you will hopefully notice that gamey smell diminishing.
Drain Issues
Ask any plumber where the most common source of household clogging is, and he or she is very likely to tell you it’s in the shower. With that said, it is fairly easy to prevent clogs from building up in your shower drain. Obtain a drain cover that will catch hair as it falls into the drain. You might also ask one of our plumbers about chemical drain-cleaning products that would work with your plumbing.
By following these simple tips, you can avert some of the most common shower problems—but of course, should a more serious problem arise, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of experienced plumbers!
