Yahoo News Plumber's £300 warning to anyone who uses common cleaning product in the shower
Keeping your bathroom clean at home is hugely important, as it's one of the most-used rooms in the house and can harbour a lot of dirt, grime and germs.
However, if you aren't careful, you could actually end up causing significant damage to your bathroom or your plumbing without even meaning to - which can be expensive to repair if you need to call in a professional.
Nobody wants to have to fork out for pricey shower repairs, so to help people out, Expert Ryan McNicholl from plumbing parts suppliers 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 cleaning product to banish any blockages in your shower, as these often contain very harsh chemicals which can damage your shower pipes if it's used regularly. He said that these can also cause the rubber seals around your drain to deteriorate, which could end up being a very pricey repair job.
Similarly, you might find yourself reaching for the bleach in order to give your shower a clean, especially if you're dealing with mouldy areas around your tiles or sealants.
But Ryan warned: “Bleach is a strong alkali that can break down grout and erode the surface of tiles. It can also cause the colour of grout and tiles to fade over time.”
Damaged grout can cause leakages in your shower, which Ryan warned could cost up to £300 to re-grout - so it's best to steer clear of the bleach when trying to tackle mould.
