How to Make an Effective DIY Shower Cleaner That Actually Works

Shelby Vittek
·4 min read
Carol Yepes / Getty Images
Carol Yepes / Getty Images

With no shortage of mildew, mold, soap scum and other germs, cleaning a dirty shower can be a real chore. To clean it thoroughly, it's important to have an effective shower cleaner.

There's no shortage of store-bought shower cleaner products available. But if you're looking for something less harsh and less costly, or would prefer to clean your bathroom with a homemade cleaning spray made from ingredients you already have in your home, then try out one of these DIY shower cleaners.

What You'll Need

To make a DIY shower cleaner, check your pantry for the following ingredients:

How to Make a DIY Shower Cleaner With Vinegar and Water

You can use vinegar to clean just about anything. Vinegar is an acid that can cut through dirty and can kill bacteria. To create an all-purpose vinegar cleaning solution that you can use to clean your shower in addition to other areas of your home, you need:

  • 1/4 cup vinegar

  • 4 cups warm water

  • 2-3 drops essential oil (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a clean spray bottle. Shake well to mix.

Use the vinegar solution to clean shower doors and walls. This DIY shower spray is best for everyday use, and will help ward off hard water buildup.



Tip

Use vinegar on ceramic and porcelain tiles only. Acidic cleaners like vinegar can damage cement and natural stone tiles, which are beautiful but more delicate.



How to Make a DIY Shower Cleaner With Vinegar and Dish Soap

This crowd-favorite DIY shower cleaner is easy and cheap to make, and is also incredibly effective. It will magically cut through soap scum on tubs, tiles, faucets, and showers—no need to even scrub. All it takes is equal parts of white vinegar and dish soap. To make it, you need:

  • 1 cup vinegar

  • 1 cup Dawn blue dish soap or other liquid dishwashing soap

  1. Heat the vinegar in the microwave in a microwave-safe container until it's very hot. (The dishwashing soap will dissolve easier when the vinegar is hot.)

  2. Carefully remove from the microwave and pour the hot vinegar into an empty spray bottle.

  3. Pour dish soap into the spray bottle and swirl the mixture.Once the ingredients have combined, label the spray bottle so you know what's inside it.



Tip

Don't shake the mixture or you will end up with a bottle full of bubbles. The goal is to integrate the soap into the vinegar.





To use, spray the area you want to clean. Let it sit for up to 30 minutes. Rinse with hot water and wipe down with a microfiber cloth if needed.

How to Make a Vinegar-Free DIY Shower Cleaner

If you are sensitive to vinegar or its aroma, there are other household ingredients you can use to make an effective DIY shower cleaner. This vinegar-free shower spray is also an excellent no-rinse shower cleaner. To make it, you will need:

  • 1/2 cup isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol

  • 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

  • 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing soap

  • 1 tablespoon dishwasher rinse aide

  • 2 cups water

Pour all of the ingredients into a clean spray bottle and shake gently.

To use, spray the vinegar-free shower cleaner on tubs, doors, shower walls and shower curtains just before you step out of the shower. Because it contains no bleach, ammonia, or harsh chemicals, it will not damage surfaces or sealants.



Tip

Unlike DIY shower cleaners that contain vinegar, this vinegar-free shower cleaner is safe to use on stone, marble and granite.



Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dawn and vinegar clean showers?

The 50-50 combination of Dawn dish soap and vinegar is a very effective for cleaning showers. This powerful cleaning solution will break down soap scum, hard water build up on tubs and showers, and can also be used to clean sinks and appliances.


All you have to do is spray the vinegar and Dawn dish soap solution onto the surface you want to clean, let it sit for 15-30 minutes, and then wipe clean.

How do you make a no-rinse shower cleaner?

You can use household ingredients such as white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, dishwashing soap and/or hydrogen peroxide to make a no-rinse shower cleaner.

Read Next: How to Clean a Shower

Read the original article on The Spruce.