The Shockingly Effective Shower Cleaner You Need To Try

The Only DIY Shower Cleaner You’ll Ever Need

Having a clean shower feels wonderful, but between hard water stains, mildew, and soap scum, the process of cleaning the shower can take forever. And if you’re not using the right cleaner, it may be next to impossible to get your shower to look or feel as clean as you’d like, no matter how much scrubbing you do!

Considering that this homemade shower cleaner is one of my all-time most popular pins on Pinterest, chances are you’re as interested in finding a more effective shower cleaner as I used to be!

At one point, I had tried so many different shower cleaners with middling results that I started to suspect that I’d encountered a new, impenetrable type of super-scum. (That wasn’t true in the slightest, but it made me feel better at the time!)

I knew there had to be an easier way to clean the shower, so I did a lot of research and eventually discovered a homemade shower cleaner that erased tough stains, soap scum, and hard water deposits with ease! Read on to find out why this has become one of my favorite homemade cleaners!

Why Are Hard Water And Soap Scum So Hard To Clean?

All water has trace minerals in it, but the higher concentration of minerals in hard water makes it more prone to leaving behind water spots and crusty mineral deposits. Estimates suggest 85% of water in the United States qualifies as hard water, and that means most of us deal with stubborn mineral buildup and stains that come along with it.

But it’s not just hard water stains in the bathroom making life difficult — the humid conditions in your bathroom can also lead to mildew growth. (If you do have mold or mildew in your shower, focus on getting rid of mold first.)

And unless you already use a daily shower cleaner (which you can DIY with dish soap, rubbing alcohol, rinse aid, and hydrogen peroxide) on your shower walls, you might be contending with slimy, pink soap scum too! The combination of these grimy substances requires a powerful cleaning solution, and not just any cleaner is up to the task!

If you have a vinyl shower curtain, you can always start over with a fresh one and spray it with a bathroom cleaner after showering to prevent soap scum from building up on the bottom. But you can’t swap out your glass shower door or acrylic shower surround for a new one, so that’s where my favorite shower cleaner comes in!

Discovering The Best Homemade Shower Cleaner

The first time I tried this amazing DIY shower cleaner, I was honestly shocked! It had done what so many other bathroom products had failed to do by dissolving that stubborn, grimy, super-scum layer and revealing the clean, shiny surface underneath. I didn’t even know it could look that clean!

This truly is the best homemade shower cleaner I’ve ever tried. It works like a charm on glass shower doors and enclosures, acrylic and fiberglass shower surrounds, and even tile and laminate surrounds. (I will note that it’s not the best choice for natural stone showers because the acidity of vinegar can damage porous stone surfaces.)

Here’s how you can make (and use) my favorite homemade shower cleaner at home!

How To Make The Best Homemade Shower Cleaner & Soap Scum Remover

To make the best homemade shower cleaner, just combine equal amounts of Dawn dish soap and white vinegar in a spray bottle and gently shake to mix. Spray down your shower with it, wait half an hour, then rinse clean.

For more detailed instructions, read on!

The dish soap and vinegar will combine more readily if the vinegar is warm, so I suggest starting by heating a cup or so of white vinegar in your microwave until hot. Carefully pour the vinegar into a spray bottle.

Add an equal amount of Dawn dish soap to vinegar in the spray bottle, then replace the lid and gently shake to mix.

It’ll be even easier to make more shower cleaner with a set of my cleaning recipe spray bottle labels. With these stick-on labels (designed for use on dark-colored bottles), you’ll never have to go searching for the recipe ever again!

The cleaning recipes feature seven labels printed with the name and recipe for my favorite DIY cleaning sprays, including an all-purpose cleaning spray, my favorite window and mirror cleaner, granite cleaner, and dusting spray.

OGT readers love these labels! Here’s what just three of them had to say:

“I didn’t know I needed these until they arrived! I love that I have the “recipe” on the label and don’t have to hunt for it online. SO glad I got these….you should, too!”

NANCY

“Thank you for creating these – they are so helpful. Definitely not something I wanted to have to DIY—it would have taken me forever! Such great quality. I’m confident these will hold up for years.”

JEANETTE

“In the midst of a busy day it’s always so convenient to have the directions to make a fresh bottle of cleaning spray right on the bottle. I love anything that makes my life simple but more efficient.”

YVONNE

How To Use Your Homemade Shower Cleaner

Spray the cleaner liberally around your tub and/or shower. Let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour, then use a scrub brush (if needed) to break up any lingering grime. Rinse thoroughly, and you’re done!

When using this cleaner, make sure your bathroom is well-ventilated. Turn on the fan and open any windows because this stuff is POTENT! Luckily, the vinegar smell dissipates quickly after rinsing (and the result is well worth it — promise!)

How It Works

This homemade shower cleaner works so well because it’s two cleaners in one! White vinegar helps to eliminate odors, dissolve tough messes, remove stains, and does about a hundred other things, too.

Dawn dish soap cuts through stubborn grease and grime with ease, and it has almost as many uses as vinegar! The soap also makes this homemade shower cleaner thick enough to cling to your tub and shower rather than running right down the drain.

Combined, these two powerhouse ingredients make the best shower cleaner ever, and once you try it, I’m sure you’ll agree! Happy cleaning, and enjoy your sparkling tubs and showers!