A shower is a place where water, lather, and hair are always left. Generally, water and scum make the shower floor slippery. If your feet get stuck here, you may wonder, ‘Why do my feet stick to the shower floor’?
There are several possible causes of sticky feet in the shower. Some are the suction effect, adhesive forces, hard water, sweat, soap, product residue, lack of foot scrubbing, non-slip shower mats, health issues, and peroneal nerve damage.
I will explain each of these causes and how to avoid them. I will also give you some tips on properly cleaning your shower floor.
Why Do My Feet Stick To The Floor When I Walk?
We, often or less, might have experienced our feet stuck to the floor. This can happen due to silly reasons or life-threatening symptoms. If you wonder what causes your feet to get stuck on the surface in walks, read below:
1. Suction Effect
When the flat, smooth surface of your foot comes into contact with the similarly smooth surface of the shower floor, and there is a layer of water between them, it can create a suction effect. Your feet will act as suction cups. This is the same principle that allows suction cups to stick to flat surfaces.
2. Adhesive Forces of Water
Water has adhesive properties, which tend to stick to surfaces. Water is between your foot and the shower floor when you step in a shower. This water can create adhesive forces between your foot and the shower floor, causing your foot to stick.
3. Hard Water
With its high mineral content, hard water can sometimes turn your favorite soaps into a sticky residue. A water softener might be an excellent addition to your home utilities to mitigate this unexpected effect.
4. Sweat
Sweat is another cause that can make your feet stick to the floor. You might have put on your socks for a long time. This makes your feet sweaty, and when you walk barefoot, you will feel your feet and the floor are fond of each other.
5. Soap Residue
Soaps, when not thoroughly rinsed, can leave behind a slippery film. Mixed with water, this residue might transform into an adhesive-like texture under your feet. To prevent the soap’s encore performance, ensure every bubble is washed away before stepping out.
6. Shower Product Residue
When you use shampoos, conditioners, body washes, or other products in the shower, they can leave behind residues that make the floor sticky when wet.
To avoid this problem, rinse the floor thoroughly after each use. Also, be careful not to step on any sticky substances on the floor, such as oily lotions or creams that you apply to your feet.
7. Lack Of Scrub
When you water, air-dry, or mop your feet, the stickiness problem may be solved. But sometimes doing these won’t be enough. You may wonder why my feet feel sticky even after showering or drying.
It means that water, air, and towel are not enough to dry your bottom feet. Rather, you need a deep wash in that area. While in the shower, scrub your feet, especially the bottom area, with good soap.
8. Non-slip Shower Mats
Non-slip shower mats or stickers are for your protection but can also contribute to the feeling of stickiness. They grip your feet to prevent slips, but this can be mistaken for a sticky scenario.
9. Health Issues
Health issues can cause sticky feet too. One of them is plantar hyperhidrosis. It indicates the excessive sweat production of the sweat glands of the feet.
Diabetic patients are at risk of moist feet as well as injuries because of that. In some cases, extremely high blood sugar levels develop sticky hands and/or feet.
A quick dose of insulin can relieve this instantly. Sometimes people may feel their top-to-bottom sweat excessively from a shock, infection, or attack.
10. Peroneal Nerve Damage
In worst cases, damage in the peroneal nerve results in foot drop and difficulty in moving feet, in other words. The peroneal nerve is responsible for the lifting or movement of the foot.
It can be injured due to diabetes, leg surgeries, damaged spine, and brain diseases. Other reasons, like alcohol reaction, prolonged kneeling, and plaster casts, can make the peroneal nerve disabled temporarily.
When the foot drop happens, people find their feet stuck to the floor while walking. Or they cannot lift the front half of their foot.
Also read:-Clear Epoxy Over Tile Shower Floor
How Do You Clean A Shower Floor?
You already know that a shower floor becomes sticky due to many reasons. But the best solution is to clean your shower. So, how do you do it? I know how annoying and hard it can be to clean a shower floor that is covered with dirt and residue.
That’s why I will share some ways that I have learned over the years. With these simple steps, you can make your shower floor clean and smooth again.
But you need to do a little work before you start cleaning your shower floor.
- Remove all bathroom items and shower products.
- Sweep dust and cobwebs with a broom or brush.
- Wash the floor to drain the remaining dust.
- Dry the floor.
Commercial floor cleaners are effective, but they may cost a lot. DIY cleaners are no less than them. Now follow any of these homemade recipes for cleaning slippery shower floors.
Dishwashing Soap And Water
- 1-2 tbsp of dish soap
- 1 cup of water
Mix these two and pour them into a bottle. Make sure the solution is less thick and easy to spray. Spray the floor with it. Scrub it with a soft brush and rinse the floor well.
Vinegar And Water
- Equal parts of vinegar and water
First, mix them in a bucket. Then, dip a sponge in the solution, and start rubbing the floor with it.
Corners and stains need extra attention. So, rub hard on them or scrub them with a brush. Rinse the floor thoroughly and dry it with a towel.
Vinegar, Salt, And Soap
- One cup of vinegar
- 1 cup of hot water
- 1 cup of salt
- 2 tbsp of dish soap
First, mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Then add salt and dish soap to the vinegar solution and mix well for 3-5 seconds.
Spray, cover the entire bathroom floor, and leave it for 10 minutes. Dip a sponge in water and wipe the floor thoroughly with it. Rinse and dry with a towel.
Lemon Juice And Water
- Lemon juice
- Warm water
The quantity of lemon juice will depend on the size of your bathroom floor. Spray generously over the surface, heavily on rust stains and grime.
Let the juice sit for 5 minutes, and wipe it later with a damp sponge. Use warm water to rinse the floor and towel dry it.
Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide
- ½ cup of baking soda
- ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide
First, pour these two into a spray bottle and shake for 20-30 seconds to mix well. Then, spray on the floor and wait for 10 minutes.
After that, wipe thoroughly using a clean mop or rag. Finally, give the floor a warm water bath and towel-dry the floor.
Baking Soda And Lemon
- Baking soda
- Lemon
Again, no fixed quantity of the ingredients; rather, use them depending on the floor size. You can use baking soda and lemon in two ways.
First, sprinkle baking soda on the floor. Second, cut lemons in halves. Take half to scrub the floor and squeeze the juice out while scrubbing. Keep doing this.
Alternatively, coat the pulp side of each lemon half with baking soda and use them for scrubbing. When you are done, rinse and towel dry the floor.
Bleach And Water
- 3 parts of water
- 1 part of bleach
Mix them in a bowl or bucket. Apply it on the floor, scrub the surface and every corner with a sponge/brush, and leave it for 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly, towel dry, and ventilate the area.
Ammonia And Water
- ¼ cup of ammonia
- A gallon of water
Ammonia is harmful to health, so wearing gloves and safety glasses is a must before touching it. Mix ammonia and water, apply, scrub with a brush, rinse, and dry with a towel.
How Often Should I Clean Shower?
A good rule of thumb is to wash your shower every 2 weeks maximum. For daily or multiple bathing times, the shower should be cleaned once a week. If you bathe every 2-3 days, then you don’t have to clean your shower once a week.
In case your shower chamber is made of glass or has a glass door, wipe it after every shower. Use a squeeze to remove water, vapor, and soap scum buildup from the glass surface.
Also read:- best tile for shower floor non slip.
FAQs
After reading till now, you already have a clear idea about your feet sticking to the shower floor. However, if you are not sure about anything regarding the problem, the following questions might aid you in clearing your confusion:
How Do You Protect Your Feet In A Public Shower?
A public shower is a breeding place for germs. Avoid walking barefoot to protect your feet here, and always wear shoes or flip-flops. Don’t use soap, towels, or footwear from public showers or of other people; rather, bring your own.
Avoid putting on socks on wet feet. And pre-treat your feet with antifungal products so that bacteria, viruses, or fungi won’t catch up with your feet.
How Do I Clean My Shower To Prevent Athlete’s Foot?
To prevent athlete’s foot, clean the shower floor, bathroom grate, and bathtub floor with a disinfectant regularly or weekly.
Also, wash your daily items, like towels, wash clothes, bath mats, sheets, and socks, in piping hot water. You can add any disinfectant in the wash. Make sure to sanitize your bathroom flip-flop too.
What Is The Easiest Way To Clean A Shower Floor?
Using dishwashing liquid is the easiest way to clean a shower floor.
Make a thin solution with dishwashing liquid and water, and spray it over the floor. Scrub it off and rinse thoroughly.
You can use a solution of 2 cups of white vinegar and 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid. Make sure to leave it on the floor for 30 minutes before scrubbing.
How Do You Get Rid Of Sticky Skin?
Alternate your heavy, greasy creams and lotions with lightweight and watery ones. Use blotting paper to soak up grease and sweat from your skin.
Talcum powder gets rid of stickiness and dries up the skin, so use that. Bathe regularly, and also exfoliate your skin with soap while bathing.
Final Words
I hope this write-up clears up your confusion about why your feet stick to the shower floor.
Sticking your foot to the floor can cause severe accidents if you hurry to move forward. To stop this from happening, be patient and try to elevate your feet slowly one by one. And move by doing your best not to let your feet stick again.
Additionally, clear your shower chamber regularly and treat your feet with medicine when necessary.
Also read:-How To Clean Marble Shower Mold? The Five Best Ways.
