Kohler cast iron shower pans

2 years ago

Greetings, planning stage for a primary bath remodel and leaning toward the Kohler cast iron pan. I've looked through quite a few discussions and can't seem to find an answer to my question. How easy is it to keep the non-slip textured surface clean, especially as it ages. I prefer a white shower pan for a timeless design and I'm afraid of "dirty stripes" across the bottom. If you have a shower pan for 5-10 years plus, I'd value your input and what you use to keep it sparkling.

Thank you!

Love my cast iron shower pan!

Sorry, keep looking!

Featured Answer

PRO

StarCraft Custom Builders

last year

last modified: last year

Glad you like it. We recommend the pan where appropriate. It is a lifetime product. However, I disagree with the recommendation above for keeping it clean.

SoftScrub is an abrasive and will put microscopic scratches in you pan. These scratches will collect dirt. The more your scrub, the more scratches, and more places for dirt to accumulate. It's a losing game.

That horribly stained cast iron sink in your grandmother's kitchen was the result of decades of scrubbing with an Ajax. It was not a stain. The enamel coating is glass and glass does not stain. It is dirt in millions of microscopic scratches in the enamel.

Soft scrub is not as harsh as Ajax. Its abrasive is calcium carbonate, not the very hard quartz particles in Ajax. But it will still scratch.

Kohler sells a cast iron sink cleaner for use on its enameled sinks that will work as well on your pan. It expensive though and probably hugely profitable since its ingredients are very cheap.

It is basically diatomaceous earth and an oxalic acid. Being Irish-German from Nebraska, I am too cheap to buy a six month's supply of Kohler cleaner for $18.00. I just buy the ingredients and mix my own.

You will need Bar Keeper's Friend( $3.00) for its oxalic acid and a bag of diatomaceous earth ($9.00) to make two year's worth of cleaner.

Mix about 30% BKF and 70% diatomaceous earth (you don't need to be too precise). One heaping tablespoon sprinkled on the pan is enough to clean the whole thing. Buff with a sponge, soft cloth, or soft nylon bristle brush. Rinse completely.

Diatomaceous is white in the bag, but turns brown when wet (it's dirt after all). It is a very soft abrasive. It will remove dirt without scratching the enamel.

Use it on any enamelized cast iron fixture: sinks, tubs. shower pans, etc. (I don't know if its the oxalic acid, but something in the mixture removes soap scum from bathtubs like its not even there.)

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Comments (13)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
2 years ago
Your cleaning fears are misplaced. It will look good for years.
Linda Stryker
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you!
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RedRyder
2 years ago
I saw this pan in a high end hotel and loved it. I would assume it’s easy to clean. It looks great.
just_janni
2 years ago
Getting a porcelain over cast iron surface clean is pretty darn straightforward. A little soft scrub with bleach and you'll be 100% good as new for years to come. I LOVE a nice shower pan.
Linda Stryker
Original Author
last year
Follow up posting. The bathroom is done and the shower pan is a breeze to keep clean. I gather my fears were based on those old textured shower pans that were permanently discolored in the non slip areas. Highly recommend.
Linda Stryker
Original Author
last year
@starcraft thanks for the tip. I remember my mother's well used and discolored sink well. Thanks for the tip. Sounds like this is something that will also help prolong the life of my favorite enameled dansk cookware too!
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
"SoftScrub is an abrasive and will put microscopic scratches in your pan."

SoftScrub disagrees.
PRO
StarCraft Custom Builders
last year
last modified: last year
Hi Joe,

Does softScrub actually disagree?

When I talked to the company about its product, I was told that while calcium carbonate is a milder abrasive than the quartz or aluminum oxide in most abrasives, it can still scratch enamel.
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
StarCraft:

From my previous link:

"Although Soft Scrub cleansers feel gritty to the touch, the distinct formula makes them gentle on surfaces, but not on grime."
Linda Stryker
Original Author
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
Doesn't matter what soft scrub says.... The pan really doesn't get very dirty..... some soap residue or stray hairs. I clean with diluted dawn dishwashing detergent and a soft sponge. Scrubing is not necessary. Tiles may add style but this baby will truly last forever in your forever home!
RNmomof2 zone 5
10 months ago
Do you find the pan slick or slippery? We need a 48 by 48 and those are difficult to find. Kohler has one but it gets bad reviews for being slippery and the drain cover is dangerous because it slips out.
Linda Stryker
Original Author
10 months ago
@RNmomof2 zone 5 I do not find it slippery at all. NOTE: We use dove moisturizing BAR SOAP. Years ago I used a moisturizing BODY WASH that contained oils/emollients designed to leave a soft, sometimes oily, coating on your skin. When these products are rinsed off, this residue can accumulate on the surface of the tub or shower floor making them slippery.