The £300 plumber’s warning to anyone who uses regular shower cleaners

Keeping the bathroom clean at home is extremely important as it is one of the most used rooms in the house and can harbor a lot of dirt, grime and germs.

However, if you’re not careful, you could end up causing significant damage to your bathroom or plumbing without even meaning to – which can be expensive to fix if you have to call in a professional.

Nobody wants to have to do expensive shower repairs, so to help people out, expert Ryan McNicholl from plumbing parts supplier Spares Direct has lifted the lid on some very common cleaning products that can do more harm than good when you use them in the shower – including one that many of us might use to deal with a blocked or slow-flowing drain.

He strongly advised against using a drain cleaner to clear any blockages in your shower as they often contain very harsh chemicals that can damage your shower pipes if used regularly. He said they can also cause damage to the rubber gasket around the drain, which could end up being a very expensive repair job.

Similarly, you may find yourself reaching for bleach to clean your shower, especially if you’re dealing with moldy areas around tiles or caulking.

But Ryan warned: “Bleach is a strong alkali that can break down grout and erode the surface of tiles. It can also cause the color of grout and tiles to fade over time.”

Damaged grout can cause leaks in the shower, which Ryan warned could cost up to £300 to fix – so it’s best to avoid bleach when trying to remove mould.

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