How to clean a shower the right way, according to cleaning experts
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Cleaning a shower can be as easy or as difficult as you make it, and the difference in how much time and effort is required for the task comes down to how often you do it. If you regularly clean your shower, it’ll be a fairly easy job that will take about 10 minutes, tops. But leaving a shower unattended for too long will require more time, elbow grease and heavy-duty products to get it sparkling clean.
We rounded up everything you need to know to keep your shower clean, including expert tips on how to address common problems like mold and mildew growth, and tips for keeping the shower and tub cleaner, longer.
How often to clean a shower
Regular, routine cleaning is important when it comes to showers, where soap scum and bacterial buildup can form quickly. “I recommend cleaning your tub and shower at least every other week to prevent buildup of soap scum and mildew,” says Katie Dills, a brand president of The Cleaning Authority. “For a routine clean, wipe down the tub with a mixture of white distilled vinegar and hot water.”
However, showers that are used frequently by multiple people may need to be cleaned more often. Julie McKinney, the global director of microbiology and virology at Reckitt (the maker of Lysol) says, “I would recommend cleaning your bathtub once a week and disinfecting it every few weeks. This all depends on how many people use it and whether it’s a regular occurrence.”
What you need to clean a shower
Before getting started, make sure you have the following cleaning agents and tools for cleaning a shower.
Lysol Power Foaming Bathroom Cleaning Spray
When choosing a cleaning agent for your shower, it’s essential to know the fabrication to ensure you pick products that are safe for those materials. Lysol’s bathroom cleaner is safe to use on acrylic, porcelain, enameled steel, fiberglass and cast-iron surfaces.
Calyptus 75% Pure Super-Concentrated Vinegar
For a DIY shower cleaner, mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Distilled white vinegar can also be used to descale a showerhead that has developed mineral deposits.
Swan Hydrogen Peroxide
Dills uses a DIY grout-cleaning solution made by mixing a half cup of baking soda, a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of dish soap.
Lysol Mold and Mildew Foamer With Bleach, 2-Pack
For a more heavy-duty mold and mildew eliminator, look for products that contain chlorine bleach. Be sure to wear protective gloves and ensure proper ventilation when working with products that contain bleach, and never mix bleach or bleach-based products with cleaning agents like vinegar, lemon or ammonia.
The Rag Company All-Purpose Microfiber Terry Cleaning Towels, 12-Pack
Using the right tools for the job has a big impact on the ease and efficacy of cleaning your shower. Microfiber cleaning cloths pick up stubborn buildup like soap scum better than sponges, rags and paper towels, making chores like cleaning the shower faster, easier and more effective.
$18 at Walmart
$15 at The Rag Company
Scotch-Brite Dobie All-Purpose Pads, 6-Pack
A nonabrasive scrub sponge like the Dobie Pad will help to gently scour away stubborn buildup without scratching delicate surfaces or finishes.
Mr. Siga Grout Cleaner Brush Set
A set of cleaning brushes in different shapes and sizes will help remove soap scum and bacterial growth (like mildew and mold) from grout, joints and the tracks of sliding glass doors.
Boomjoy Tub Cleaner Brush
If you have a hard time reaching all the areas of your shower that need to be cleaned, a long-handled telescoping brush with interchangeable microfiber pads and scrub brushes will solve that tricky problem.
Docrok All-Purpose Stainless Steel Shower Squeegee
A squeegee is an essential tool for keeping shower walls and glass shower doors from developing soap scum, water marks and bacterial buildup between cleanings. “After each use,” Dills says, “use a squeegee to dry your shower and bathtub floors and walls.”
Bissell SteamShot Deluxe Handheld Steam Cleaner and Sanitizer
The Bissell SteamShot is a handheld steam cleaner and sanitizer that can be used for a wide range of deep and seasonal cleaning jobs. There are some drawbacks and safety concerns, but all in all, the SteamShot is an incredibly powerful cleaning tool — especially for use on grout.
How to clean a shower
Dills and McKinney broke down the steps for cleaning a shower:
Start by removing all personal-care products, grooming tools and any other items stored in the shower and setting them aside.
Spray all surfaces and walls with a shower cleaning agent.
Allow the product to sit for a few minutes to penetrate soap scum, bacteria and other buildup. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions prior to use for guidelines on how long to allow the product to work for optimal results.
Wet a microfiber cloth and use it to wipe the entire surface of the shower, starting with the walls and working down to the shower basin. Rinse the cloth with clean water as needed. Use a long-handled tool to clean any hard-to-reach areas.
Rinse and/or wipe the surfaces clean, and if necessary, use a scrub brush or nonabrasive sponge to tackle corners and grout lines.
How to deep-clean grout
To deep-clean stained or dingy grout, Dills recommends using a DIY solution of a half cup of baking soda, a quarter cup of hydrogen peroxide and a teaspoon of dish soap. “Mix altogether, then place the mixture onto the grout and let it sit for approximately 10 minutes,” she says. After allowing the cleaner to penetrate the grout, scrub it with a grout brush or an old toothbrush and then wipe the area clean with a wet microfiber cloth.
How to clean mold and mildew buildup in a shower
Mold, mildew and other bacteria are quick to grow in showers, which is why routine bathroom cleaning is so important, as is ensuring your bathroom is well-ventilated. “Ventilating your bathroom is a crucial step often skipped when cleaning your shower,” McKinney says. “Always try to open a window or turn on the vent to get the air circulating, as this will make it easier to clean and less likely for mold and mildew to form.”
To kill mold and mildew, McKinney recommends following these steps at weekly intervals, or when mold or mildew growth appears:
Pre-clean the surface using the above guidelines for cleaning a shower.
Spray the surface with a cleaning agent designed for mold and mildew elimination, like Lysol Mold and Mildew Remover.
The surface should remain wet for five minutes to ensure the product has time to penetrate and kill mold, mildew and other bacteria.
Allow the surface to air-dry.
How to clean a showerhead
Mineral deposits can obstruct your showerhead, which affects water pressure. Use this method for cleaning your showerhead without any fancy tools.
Mix a solution of equal parts water and distilled white vinegar in a sandwich bag. The bag should be about halfway full with the vinegar solution.
Attach the bag to the showerhead, ensuring it’s submerged in the vinegar solution, and secure the top of the bag to the neck of the shower head with a rubber band.
Allow the showerhead to soak in the vinegar solution for 30 minutes. Remove and discard the bag and cleaning solution, and dry the showerhead with a microfiber cloth, using firm pressure to wipe away buildup.
Clean buildup on the nozzle with a toothpick, pushpin, paper clip or toothbrush.
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