Granite is easier to care for compared to marble and other natural stone because of its resistance to ingredients found in hygiene products. Because granite is a popular choice for bath countertops, homeowners tend to select it for the shower as well for a uniform look.
Slate is among the most commonly used stone in showers. It is available in a variety of rich colors, from traditional slate gray to warm terracotta. Just be sure to choose the right kind of slate, as some varieties are more prone to flaking and deterioration.
Porous surfaces are also more prone to staining and attracting mold and mildew growth. Shower materials that are easier to clean are therefore those with smooth and nonporous surfaces such as glass, fiberglass, and acrylic.
The easiest tiles to keep clean (grout is the big culprit) are polished ceramic and porcelain tiles. The polished finish makes it shiny and easier to wipe down. Just as a semi-gloss paint with a shinier finish is easier to wipe clean than a matte finish paint.
The most suitable natural stones for the bathroom are granite, basalt, slate or quartzite. For some areas of your bathroom such as the vanity top, you can use travertine or marble, timeless natural stones with guaranteed added value and beauty.
The more quartz in the stone, the less slippery it was. Micha schist floor stones, for example, which have one of the highest quartz contents the team tested, were also among the least slippery generally.
“Stone can be a good choice for the shower, but it does require special care and maintenance,” says David Bonasera, owner of ESP, a San Jose, California-based distributor of environmentally safe cleaning and sealing products for natural stone. “The most important thing you can do is to be a good steward to the stone.”
Subway Tiles
If you have no intention of renovating your bathroom in a decade from now, then go with a classic white subway tile. They are the most versatile (sometimes overused but still stunning) tile you can install in your bathroom.
Eliminate tile and grout – and everything that comes with it.
Porcelain tile is our number-1 choice for showers because of its diversity, durability, and water-resistance. Unlike some other tile materials, porcelain doesn't have any pores, which prevents the buildup of mildew and soap scum.
How do professionals clean showers? Professionals use acid-based cleaning solutions like vinegar for hard water spots and soap scum. For deep-set soap scum, cleaners will use heavy-duty detergents and degreasers. Bleach cleaning solutions are best reserved for cleaning the mold and mildew from grout.
The best materials to finish a wall and floor for an easy clean shower are going to have as few gaps and seams as possible, hence large tiles are a clear winner. If you really want to avoid grout, you can also use engineered stone panels, stone slabs or back painted glass to reduce the grout lines.
In that case, the best solution is to steam clean your shower tiles. To steam clean your tiles, you only need to keep the shower running with hot water for five to ten minutes. Let the steam build to loosen up the dirt and grime, then wash the stains away. Be careful not to get burned with the hot water!
Natural stone should be cleaned once a week with a pH-neutral cleaning product like Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner. The powerful cleaner dissolves tough soils and buildup without damaging your beautiful stone surfaces, and removes soap scum, body oils and greases, bath oils, soap, and shampoo oils.
Beyond countertops, porcelain can also be used for shower walls and flooring. Porcelain showers are a beautiful option, and when considering porcelain slabs vs quartz, you may want to keep in mind that porcelain can offer a more comprehensive solution for surfaces.
The simplest answer is no, it is best to avoid bleach when cleaning any type of natural stone. Many home cleaning products, particularly bleach and vinegar, are too harsh or acidic to be on natural stone. These cleaners strip down the stone and leave it in a weak, damaged state.
Acrylic. Along with being beautiful and fully customizable, acrylic shower systems are the easiest to clean. This innovative material is naturally resistant to fading, scratching, and staining, and acrylic showers are installed in one solid piece so no stubborn grout lines are present.
Although ceramic tile itself is very easy to clean, tile showers have grout lines that need to be maintained. Unless regularly sealed, they will be prone to mildew, cracking, and possible leaking. A large ceramic tile shower puts many hundreds of pounds on a floor structure.
Go all-white. All-white bathroom designs never go out of style. They also have the added advantage of making the room look bigger as white reflects light better than any other colour. As most bathroom fixtures tend to be white, this also creates a more seamless, unbroken look throughout the space.
Cracked Shower Glass and Rusty Metal Fixtures
Like an old medicine cabinet, cracked glasses and rusty metal fixtures all give the impression of neglect—not to mention, date your bathroom years.
No matter how much you love the thought of filling your shower space with dark tiles, there are a few reasons why that might not be a good idea. In the same way that light colors can make an area look bigger, dark shades can make it seem smaller. If you have a shower that's compact, then dark tiles can be a risk.
When you purchase your new KOHLER® LuxStone shower, you'll gain access to exclusive LuxStone® shower wall designs in a variety of patterns and colors. Our shower is made of an exclusive blend of crushed stone and other natural materials for enhanced durability and low-maintenance cleaning.
Keep It Simple to Clean Natural Stone
You can use any type of mild soap detergent, such as dish or hand soap, and mix it with a little water. Wet the stone first, and then use a bristle brush and soap solution to wipe the stone clean. The last step is to make sure you rinse thoroughly.
Over time, the water can weaken the stone, which can lead to fissures or cracks in the tile. Eventually, the water can penetrate to the subfloor, and once it does that, it can spread to other parts of your home. Water can trap bacteria in the tile, and it can contribute to the growth of mold and mildew in the subfloor.