This homemade shower cleaner is one of my all-time most popular pins on Pinterest, so chances are you’re looking for an effective, natural shower cleaner you can rely on. You can keep a clean shower clean with a simple daily hydrogen peroxide shower cleaner, but you’ll need something stronger if your shower is as grimy as mine used to be!
Between hard water stains, mildew, and soap scum, cleaning a dirty shower can be a lot of hard work! Without an effective cleaner, it may be impossible to get your shower as clean as you’d like it to be, no matter how much scrubbing you do!
Luckily, this two-ingredient DIY shower cleaner is inexpensive to make and erases tough stains, soap scum, and hard water deposits with ease. All you need is white vinegar and Dawn dish soap to make it, and the resulting cleaner can help with other cleaning tasks too — another reason why it’s one of my favorite homemade cleaners!
Table of Contents
Why Are Hard Water and Soap Scum so Hard to Clean?
All water contains trace minerals, but the higher concentration of minerals in hard water makes it more prone to leaving behind water spots and crusty mineral deposits. An estimated 85% of our water in the U.S. qualifies as hard water, meaning most of us are familiar with the stubborn mineral buildup and stains that come with it.
In addition to combating the effects of hard water, you might also be dealing with slimy, pink soap scum in your tub or shower. Effectively tackling both grimy substances requires a powerful cleaning solution (or a great deal of vigorous scrubbing, but I prefer to let my cleaners do the hard work for me!)
Note: If there’s mold or mildew in your shower, focus on getting rid of mold before worrying about hard water or soap scum.
What Makes This the Best Homemade Shower Cleaner?
The first time I tried this amazing DIY shower cleaner, I was honestly shocked at how well it worked! It had done what so many other tub and shower cleaners had failed to do: dissolve the stubborn, grimy layer of soap scum and reveal the clean, shiny surface underneath.
This truly is the best shower cleaner spray I’ve ever used. It works wonderfully on glass shower doors and enclosures, acrylic and fiberglass shower surrounds, and even tile and laminate surrounds. (I don’t recommend using it on natural stone showers or tubs, as vinegar can damage porous stone surfaces.)
Jillee’s Take:
Before I learned about this DIY shower cleaner, I had tried so many underwhelming store-bought cleaners that I was convinced my shower was doomed to griminess forevermore. Luckily, I eventually came across this recipe, which works so effectively that I’ve been using it to clean our tubs and showers for over 10 years now!
How to Make the Best Homemade Shower Cleaner & Soap Scum Remover
This shower cleaner DIY couldn’t be simpler: combine equal amounts of Dawn dish soap and white vinegar in a spray bottle and shake gently to mix. Spray your shower with it, wait half an hour, then rinse clean!
For more detailed instructions, read on!
Start by heating a cup of white vinegar in your microwave until hot. (Heated vinegar combines more readily with dish soap than vinegar at room temperature.)
Carefully pour the heated vinegar into a spray bottle, then add the dish soap and replace the spray top. Gently shake the bottle to mix.
How to Use This Homemade Shower Cleaner
Spray the cleaner liberally around your tub or shower, then let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. After waiting, use a scrub brush (if necessary) on spots of stubborn grime, or try my painless sponge mop hack for shower walls. Rinse thoroughly, and you’re done!
This shower cleaner recipe is perfect for tackling stubborn grime at the bottom of your bathtub. If you need a bit of extra scrubbing power, use a broom, and you’ll be done in a jiffy!
Before using this cleaner, ensure your bathroom is well-ventilated — turn on the fan and open any windows because the vinegar smell can be quite potent! The smell will dissipate as soon as you’re done, and the results will be more than worthwhile.
How This DIY Shower Spray Works
This homemade shower cleaner is effective because it combines two powerful cleaning agents uniquely suited to tackling grimy tubs and showers. White vinegar helps eliminate odors, dissolve tough messes, remove stains, and break down stubborn mineral deposits.
Dawn dish soap, on the other hand, not only cuts through grease and grime but thickens this homemade shower cleaner so that it can cling to your tub and shower. Combined, these two ingredients make the best shower cleaner ever, and once you try it, I’m sure you’ll agree!
Keep This Recipe Handy
Making more shower cleaner has never been easier with my Spray Bottle Recipe Labels. These durable, waterproof labels stick securely to your bottles, keeping them organized while displaying the full recipe right on the label. Say goodbye to rummaging for instructions—everything you need is right there, ready to go!
This shower cleaner is just one of 11 recipe labels you can mix and match to create your own custom bundle. Each set arrives neatly packaged in a clear plastic bag, making it a thoughtful gift for the DIY enthusiast in your life.
I’m not the only one who loves these labels! Take it from these OGT readers:
The bottles with the labels are perfect! Even my husband has been impressed with the shower cleaner. Now our shower doors are sparkling!
BRH
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
FINALLY!! Yep, you heard it right! I finally purchased the brown spray bottles + the stick-on recipes + the directions, and I’m a whole new kid!! I have “my act” together, and I’m ready to roll! I feel like half the cleaning projects are already complete! Don’t be jealous; just get yours in order, too!!
Helen
Daily Maintenance to Keep It Sparkling
Once your tub and shower are sparkling clean, use a simple daily shower spray to keep them clean and shiny for weeks! My favorite waffle weave microfiber towels are an ideal partner for a daily shower spray, forming a powerful pair that keeps shower doors and walls spotlessly clean!
I used to rely on a squeegee to keep our glass shower enclosure clean, but it was never quite enough to prevent soap scum buildup. Luckily, I eventually discovered that microfiber cloths outshine any squeegee by effortlessly absorbing moisture and soap residue.
What makes microfiber so effective? It’s all about its incredible absorbency, holding up to six times its weight in water. You can tackle your entire shower enclosure with one cloth!
We have been using a squeegee in the shower for years. Your use of the waffle weave microfiber towels to wipe down shower walls was an ah-ha moment for me. Even my husband was impressed with how much faster the towels made that chore.
Judith
To tailor this solution to your needs, I recommend my Microfiber Cleaning Cloths for smaller showers and my larger Microfiber Kitchen Towels for more spacious areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use This Shower Cleaner on Unglazed Tile?
Because unglazed tiles stain easily and are rather delicate, I wouldn’t recommend using this cleaner on them (or any other vinegar-based cleaner, for that matter!)
How Long Can I Store This Cleaner?
Vinegar doesn’t expire, so you can keep this cleaner for up to a year if you store it in a cool, dark place.
Can I Use This Cleaner on Sealed Grout?
According to Grout Magnificent, vinegar is safe to use on sealed grout. It should not be used on unsealed grout or grout that needs to be resealed.
Can I Use This to Clean My Fiberglass Shower?
Absolutely! This cleaner works great on fiberglass tubs and showers.
Do I Need to Reheat It?
The purpose of heating the vinegar is that it helps it combine with the soap more easily. Once the two ingredients are mixed, you shouldn’t need to reheat it (though there’s no harm in doing so).
This Shower Cleaner Is Clogging Up the Spray Bottle — What Do I Do?
This cleaner is thick by design because thicker cleaners cling more effectively to shower walls. But if it’s too thick and clogs up your spray bottle, you can easily fix it by adding more vinegar.
Can I Use This Cleaner In a Plastic Spray Bottle?
You can certainly store and use this cleaner in a plastic spray bottle, though I recommend using a sturdy one.
Is This Cleaner Hard to Rinse Off?
This cleaner requires more rinsing than others due to the amount of soap in it, but it’s nothing a handheld sprayer attachment can’t handle! (No sprayer attachment in your tub or shower? Increasing the amount of vinegar in the cleaner will make it easier to rinse off.)
Conclusion
This effective shower cleaner DIY is simple, inexpensive, and uses simple household ingredients you probably already have at home. Dawn dish soap and white vinegar are powerhouse cleaners in their own right, and, when combined, help eliminate stubborn tub and shower grime with minimal scrubbing.
This easy shower cleaner contains no bleach or harsh chemicals — just two pantry ingredients that work like magic! Give it a try, and I’m sure you’ll love it as much as I do.
More Dawn & Vinegar Cleaning Tips
- These 28 uses for Dawn dish soap range from fun to functional (and some are both!)
- Learn about the best ways to use vinegar around the house.
- Use these 8 vinegar cleaning tips to make your bathrooms sparkling
Do you have any favorite shower and tub cleaning tips?
Homemade Shower Cleaner (Recipe)
Video
Equipment
- 16 oz spray bottle
- Microwave safe measuring cup
Ingredients
- 1 cup Dawn dish soap
- 1 cup white vinegar
Instructions
- Heat the white vinegar in your microwave until hot, then pour it into your spray bottle.
- Pour the dish soap into the bottle, then replace the lid and shake gently to mix.
Hi Jillee, What reason is there for warming the vinegar?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Also, a tip for your other readers in the British Isles Fairy Washing Up Liquid is the alternative to Dawn Dish Soap. For readers in other locations, check P&G website for your country
This didn’t work for me. Perhaps the minerals in Washington are different. I used no-fume oven cleaner. With a little scrubbing, it was much more effective.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.As far as I can determine the why as to heating the vinegar has not been addressed. And… if one doesn’t use the whole concoction does it have to be reheated prior to its next use? I don’t get it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.There is no need to reheat it. Warming it the first time just helps the ingredients mix better.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi, I have a rather unpleasant reaction to many fragrances, including the blue Dawn liquid. Will the clear Dawn Ultra pure essentials liquid work for this recipe?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, Eileen, it should be fine.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve used the vinegar & Dawn cleaner ever since I first read about it on your site years ago. Now I can use it once a month with little to no scrubbing because I use a homemade shower spray to prevent mold, mildew and soap scum. My shower curtain stays clean, my faucet dries streak free with no water spots or buildup between cleanings with the vinegar & Dawn. Love it! I used a 32. oz. repurposed hydrogen peroxide bottle, so I triple this recipe to fill it up. The empty spray bottles from the Dollar Tree have a flexible tube on the sprayer & fit this bottle perfectly. I didn’t even shorten the sprayer tube, just let it curl around the bottom of the bottle. After each shower we spray the shower & curtain down with this solution, then leave the curtain open with a couple of inches of airflow on each end so the liner curtain can dry. Just make sure the edges of a plastic curtain or liner haven’t stuck to themselves. Don’t wipe, don’t squeegee. In an hour or so it’s completely dry & we open the curtain back up. If you don’t like the smell of tea tree oil don’t worry. There is no smell after it dries. I’m shocked at how well this works. BTW, I use it on a fiberglass shower stall.
- 1 cup distilled water
- ⅛ cup hydrogen peroxide
- ⅛ cup rubbing alcohol
- ½ teaspoon Sal Suds (I use Dawn)
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 20 drops tea tree essential oil
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My mom has used this before in the master bathroom shower which only my dad uses. She was wanting to know the exact amounts of vinegar and Dawn. This is great. Thanks
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I have Natural stone in my shower, is this okay to use? I thought vinegar wasn’t good for stone but I can’t seem to find anything that will clean and disinfect my shower walls without hurting the stone. Any ideas?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I wouldn’t use vinegar on natural stone without first consulting with Mr. Google or even a tile store to ask about the particular stone that you have. In general, they say not to use vinegar on stone because it can etch or burn the surface. They make cleaners specifically for natural stone, so that might be a safer bet on such an expensive investment. It would likely be best to save the vinegar solutions for glazed tiles and sealed grout.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The grout can become moldy if there is insufficient ventilation in the bathroom. In this case, I would open the windows even briefly and use a chlorine bleach. We solved this issue by having a vinyl Tub Surround installed in 1989, and it is staying shiny and clean with no mold, I use Clean Shower on that, too.
You ROCK, Jillee! I too have tried so many cleaners, including DIYs, that promise the best and easiest way to clean a shower. No. Nada. Zip. None work well without way too much elbow grease (rough with my fibromyalgia and back issues), or not at all. Then I read THIS post and couldn’t think of a single reason not to try it as I have a V E R Y long list of my fave posts from you. In folders and Pocket on my laptop, in neatly typed lists and photos in my “Household” and “Recipes” 3-ring binders. So, I tried it this morning. I sprayed it on the (really nasty) shower floor to try it out, let it sit while I had breakfast, and then went to check it out. I started with a toothbrush (yes, really – to get in the corners) and was blown away by how EASY it was! I was too excited to pause to get my big, stiff scrubbing brush. I used the toothbrush to gently brush down the entire shower floor! You know the results, dear Jillee: I now have a sparkling clean shower floor and the walls are next. BTW, I didn’t use Dawn, just a generic version. THANK YOU!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you, Jillee!!! You are my Hero! This works wonderfully… Any stubborn spots? Use my DrillBrush. What, you don’t have a DrillBrush? Got mine on Amazon, I’ll never hand-scrub again!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I live in the U.K. But still have the same shower scum issue. We don’t get Dawn in this country so will any dishwasher soap work as well as dawn?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hello Cath, in the UK it’s called Fairy. Other name, same product.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Procter & Gamble
Yes, I use Fairy liquid, and it works super well. I add lemongrass essential oil to mask the smell. When using the Apple scented Fairy liquid, I use clove essential oil.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Incidentally, you can use shampoo as well. Shampoo and dishwashing liquid are similar in that they’re both detergents and do a great job of stripping grease. You can wash dishes with shampoo and wash hair with dishwashing liquid, but not too often as your hair may dry out quicker.
Use plain white vinegar on stains. It has no color in it to make another stain to clean up.. this really works great.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is this safe to use on grout in the shower, and will it whiten the the grout? Or would you recommend something else?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My grout just had scum, not a “dingy” problem. This worked GREAT to eliminate the scum. That being said, I do have a few spots of mold and, while it’s somewhat removed, it did not completely eliminate the mold.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Acids soften and dissolve inorganics (such as minerals, grout, stone). Even a weak acid like vinegar will do damage over time. If you have hard water stains on your grout, you’ll have to use an acid to clean it and eventually have to regrout (if you’re a DIYer, not as hard as it seems). You might be able to get it clean then prevent hard water minerals from sticking with preventative spray (I like 50/50 alcohol/peroxide mix with a little bit of dish soap and liquid jet dry). To clean organic matter (including soap scum), use sodium percarbonate, aka dry hydrogen peroxide, aka oxygen bleach. I clean nearly everything inside and outside my home with it. Showers/tubs, toilets, sinks (porcelain, stainless, etc.), most anything washable can be cleaned with it. A very safe cleaner too. I used to buy oxyclean but switched to stain solver years ago (not affiliated, just happy customer).
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hadn’t read this before my other comment, but since this solution does not entail vinegar maybe it works for natural stone showers, instead of buying the very expensive commercial cleaners for natural stone.
I use this to kill bugs in my house. I can’t wait to use it on my tub.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.DUDE! This worked so well in a shower that was gross and that went way to long without a proper cleaning. I attempted all kinds of cleaners. Natural and the hard chemical stuff. The warmed vinegar did bother me a bit but totally worth it and better than bleach and I didn’t feel gross after cleaning with it. I cleaned the sink, shower and I think I want to clean the inside of the dishwasher with this stuff!! So happy I found this blog!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Why must I heat the vinegar? what exactly does heat do to the vinegar vs. using just room temp vinegar? and then you claim it can still be effective once it cools down for future uses?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It simply helps the vinegar and Dawn combine a little better – you are welcome to try it cold vinegar if you like :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Okay, so I really hate the whole cleaning the shower routine. When I tell you I put it off until it really needs to be done believe me my shower looked disgusting. As embarrassing as it sounds to actually admit it, it was bad, really bad. I’m always game for anything that will make the task as easy as possible. Since my shower was sooo bad it took me a little longer than it probably should take for this to work. I sprayed it on, let it sit for a half hour and let me tell you, I was AMAZED at how easily it cleaned up all of the soap scum and shined up my shower like new! Crazy to think that a few simple ingredients would do such a great job! I would recommend this to everyone…better than store bought aerosols any day!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Is this something that can sit in the spray bottle for multiple uses? I’m looking for something that I don’t have to make every single time I go to clean my bathroom (I like to clean a lot), and I’m worried that since the vinegar needs to be heated that I’ll need to mix it new every time.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, it can be stored is a spray bottle – make as much as you want to :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You can save any unused product until you need to use it again. I didn’t warm the vinegar at all when I mixed it. I think it just helps to break down/mix with the dawn dish soap. Mine mixed up just fine without heating.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you so much for this tip. I was dubious to so the least when I read your article, we had tried all sorts of chemicals in our bathroom to remove stubborn soap scum, to no avail. Then you recommend vinegar and dishwasher detergent, no way!
How wrong we were, after following your method the scum simply wiped straight off, no elbow grease required!
Amazing, thanks again for sharing!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It may just go by a different name. In some areas they have “Fairy Liquid,” which is very similar to Dawn. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just used the vinegar and dawn mixture on my shower, tub and shower liner. i was so pleased at how it came out that you might have thought i won a million dollars. it looks clean and it does sparkle and the vinegar smell was not bad at all. I did wipe it dawn with an old hand towel. I will continue to use that method. Thank you so very much for your brilliant ideas . your new # 1 fan forever. My husband thanks you too because he’s the one that inherited that job from me. We are both in our late 80’s.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m so glad! Thanks Rita ❤️
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just tried this on my moldy shower(not cleaned for over a year) and I heated the vinegar,added the Dawn, sprayed the shower, let it set for a hour, then wiped it down with a rough sponge. I couldn’t believe how much scum washed off and how easy it was to clean.I will get rid of all my store bought products and only use this formula.Thank you for this.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m so glad! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.If I can’t find Dawn Washing Liquid, then can I use some other??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Sure! Dawn is my favorite, but any dish soap will do the trick :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Of course!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Does it work on the glass shower door? That’s where I can’t seem to be able to get clean. I only use vinegar to clean but haven’t tried the combo with soap.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Absolutely! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Brenda, I do not know where you live but I live in western MA and our stores carry an inexpensive product called “Clean Shower,” it comes in a spray bottle that is refillable and they carry the refill bottles. You take your shower, when you are done spray your shower and walk away, no need to rinse or wipe it down, but you can if you wish to do so.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi do you have to heat the mixture before you use it every time?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Nope, just heat it for the initial mixing :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t have a microwave so how do I heat vinegar. Also how do you rinse all that dawn soap away?
Just heat it on the stovetop – not quite to a boil. I just use my shower head to rinse, but you can also use a bucket or large cup. :-)