Steal this recipe for the best homemade shower cleaner, and never deal with soap scum and water stains again! It's made with two essential ingredients, but it works better than commercial shower cleaners!
Lately, I’ve been switching to homemade cleaning products—and honestly, it’s been a game changer. I got tired of all the overhyped cleaning products on the market. I’ve tried so many of them, including the pricey ones, but most just didn’t live up to their claims. In my search for an effective, safe, and budget-friendly shower cleaner, I stumbled upon a DIY recipe that truly works.
Believe it or not, you don’t have to spend a fortune to keep your shower sparkling clean. I ditched store-bought cleaners for some time now after discovering this homemade solution that works like magic! And the magic ingredient? It’s not some complicated chemical formula—it’s the simple, affordable, and surprisingly powerful white vinegar, something most of us already have in our kitchens.
So if you’re tired of battling soap scum and grime on your shower doors and walls, give this DIY shower cleaner a try. It’ll leave your glass, tiles, and floors fresh, clean, and shining—without the harsh chemicals or high cost!
Benefits of a Homemade Shower Cleaner
All I want in my bathroom is a clean shower, but it's a task that so many commercial shower cleaners have failed at. So when I found the homemade shower cleaner recipe, tried it, and proved that it works more than any other store-bought cleaners I have tried, I knew I just had to share it with other homemakers.
And I love this homemade shower cleaner more because of the following reasons:
It is Cost Effective
Vinegar and dish soap are two of the most common substances in any household. Combined, these two make a much more powerful shower cleaner than you can find in stores, and they cost way cheaper, too. Any frugal mom would agree to use a cheap, effective bathroom cleaner over fancy-looking, expensive, but subpar ones. I always make and use this homemade shower cleaner, which has helped me save money on my grocery budget.
It Is Safer
Commercial shower cleaners are usually laden with harmful chemicals and synthetic substances that can pose health risks. They can be hazardous to you, your family, and your environment. But since this is a homemade shower cleaner that contains only 2-3 ingredients without any toxic components, you can be more confident about your safety.
It is Flexible and Customizable
I know I have been going on about how this shower cleaner only has two easy-to-find ingredients, and that's the main reason why I love it! But you can customize it by adding your favorite essential oils.
How to Make a Homemade Shower Cleaner
This best homemade shower cleaner recipe is so simple yet effective you'd be amazed with what it can do. From hard water stains, soap scum to mildew, you can count on this shower cleaner to do the job. And what thrills me the most is that it's essentially made with just two ingredients, which are super cheap and easy to access.
What you need:
- Spray bottle
- Dawn dish soap
- Distilled white vinegar
Procedure:
- Mix equal parts of dawn dish soap and distilled white vinegar into a spray bottle.
- Give the spray bottle a good shake to combine the ingredients.
- Your DIY shower cleaner is ready to use anytime you want.
How to Use the Best Homemade Shower Cleaner
Now that you've made the DIY shower cleaner, it's time to put its powers to use. And let me tell you this: using this shower cleaner is incredibly easy. Here's how I clean my shower with this homemade shower cleaner.
- Clear the area. When deep cleaning your shower, put away all the items in the bathroom to have a better visual of the soap scum and water stains you need to get rid of. Before cleaning, I remove all the soap, shampoo bottles, and shower paraphernalia.
- Take the spray bottle containing your homemade shower cleaner and generously spray on all areas. This includes glass shower doors, floor, bathtub, and shower walls.
- Let it sit. Giving your DIY shower cleaner time to work magic is important, so let it sit for at least 10 minutes. At this point, the active ingredients in dawn dish soap and cleaning vinegar break down the dirt and bacteria in your shower.
- Time to scrub. Use a microfiber cloth or scrub brush to clean your shower. Pay attention to the soap scum and stains on your shower floor and walls, as well as keep an eye on molds and mildew. I usually like to use an old toothbrush to scrub away scum and stain buildup. Using a squeegee to clean your glass shower door is also wise.
- Rinse. Now that you've scrubbed down on all the stains, molds, and hard water stains, it's time to rinse your shower. I recommend using warm water when rinsing, as it helps break down dirt and grime build up further.
- Wipe to dry. Finally, use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to wipe down your shower. This prevents streaks and water spots, leaving your shower clean and gleaming!
- Repeat as needed. I usually deep clean the shower once a week, but I also like to do a quick clean after my daily shower. I put a spray bottle of the homemade shower cleaner accessible in the bathroom to clean the shower as I go.
Pro tip: Use baking soda with vinegar. Baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive, so it helps scrub down water stains and soap scum. Combined with vinegar's acidic properties that break down buildup, this homemade shower cleaner can also be a great alternative.
Why is This Homemade Shower Cleaner Effective?
Dawn dishwashing liquid and vinegar cleaner have strong cleaning properties, making their combination a potent yet safe bathroom cleaner.
Vinegar has always been used in cleaning around the household. Its acidic content removes soap scum and breaks down the build of water stains and mineral deposits.
Cleaning vinegar contains 6% acetic acid, while white vinegar has 5%. Both of them contain antimicrobial properties that cut grease and dissolve mineral buildups. However, cleaning vinegar is made for cleaning, while white vinegar is rather multipurpose, as it's also used for cooking.
The other component of this homemade shower cleaner is Dawn dish soap. Although you can use other dish soap, I always return to Dawn. Dawn Ultra Dish Soap is nominated as one of the best dish soaps in 2023, praised for its ability to clean tough stains.
You're probably already using white vinegar and dish soap individually to clean all sorts of dirt, grime, and stains inside your home, but when you put them together, you'll have one of the best homemade cleaners at such a low price!
Does vinegar smell after using the homemade shower cleaner?
You might be concerned about using white vinegar in your homemade shower cleaner, thinking it might leave a strong smell in your bathroom.
But the vinegar smell dissipates quickly, so you don't have to worry about it leaving a scent. You might notice vinegar smells while cleaning, but it should disappear after a few minutes. If you want to minimize the strong vinegar smell, do can do one or more of the following:
- Ventilate the area. Keep doors and windows open while cleaning your shower and bathroom.
- Add essential oils to subdue the vinegar smell. Add tea tree oil, lemon essential oil, or any of your favorite scents to make your shower smell fresher!
- Use distilled white vinegar. It has a much milder scent than regular white vinegar.
- Adjust the quantity of vinegar. Try tweaking the amount of vinegar you combine with the dish soap and see if the smell becomes bearable for you. However, be cautious not to dilute it too much, as it may affect the cleaning effectiveness.
Final thoughts
And there you have it—the best homemade shower cleaner! The secret? Two everyday ingredients: dish soap and vinegar. Once I tried this cheap, safe, and effective combo, I never looked back.
This simple mix saves me time, energy, and money. I just spray it on, wait a bit, and rinse. A few minutes each week keeps our shower sparkling clean.
Have you tried this DIY cleaner? What homemade solutions do you love? Let’s chat!
