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.
I’ve tried everything to clean the gunk that collected around the drain in my husband’s sink. Between our hard water and his shaving cream it was getting really bad. I even tried efferdent tablets. NOTHING worked. I used this today today and it came right off! I didn’t even need much elbow grease. This stuff is a miracle cleaner!! Thanks so much for posting it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yay! I’m so glad, Jean!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Price Chopper/Market 32 and perhaps other stores, stock a product called “Clean Shower.”
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It does not contain a chlorine bleach, but it contains hydrogen peroxide and it has no smell.
There is no mixing.
You spray Clean Shower on the shower as soon as you leave the shower while the walls are still wet.
I use it each time I shower, so does my husband. There is no need to wipe down the shower.
We’ve had the same stall shower since 1989, and we’ve never had mold or soap scum.
I urge your readers to try it if they can find Clean Shower in their local supermarkets.
I do love, love, love your recipes, even if I have to modify them for my GF husband, it is easy to do.
This stuff is AMAZING!!! Worked like magic on my tub and shower surround AND my stainless steel sink. Going to buy Dawn and white vinegar by the gallon!!! Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Jillee,
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I used your shower scrub/ scum remover to clean my whole bathroom from ceiling to floor! It’s fantastic! Made the job so much easier!
Thanks for the recipe!
Val
I’m so glad! Thanks Val!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Why don’t I see the ingredient list and amounts. My bathrooms are gross! I need this!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It’s in there :-)
You’ll need:
a spray bottle
Please log in or create a free account to comment.1 part Dawn dishwashing liquid
1 part white vinegar
I just tried this today and it worked great! No scrubbing, just rubbed a bit with a sponge and it was nice and clean! I am sharing this with everyone I know. I also used it on the sink countertops and sinks and they are sparkling. It worked much better than cleansers and other cleaners I have tried and with minimal effort. Thank you so much for sharing this cleaning dynamo!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here’s a post all about it Cheryl :-) http://jillee.co/2zVll89
Please log in or create a free account to comment.OMG! I just used this recipe for shower cleaner and it works better than the super-high-powered-jet-fuel-bathroom-cleaner from the store! It smells intense and also like GINGER ALE. Never buying the store junk again. Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m so glad you like it! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Mixed this up tonight to clean my husbands gross, filmy, yucky, bath tub and shower. It hadn’t been cleaned for a long time, because we both avoid doing it. I never found anything that worked. THIS DOES WORK!!! He came home from work and said the tub looked brand new!! It only took me maybe 5 minutes of scrubbing after I let it sit for awhile. I also used it on our gas stove top, it’s white, and I hate it. It worked very fast too. I love Dawn soap for everything, and vinegar smell doesn’t bother me.
So excited it worked great!!!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m so glad you liked it! It really is the best :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The Dawn and Vinegar is super for removing blood stains.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do you think this would work on cleaning a dirty boat and does it need to be rinsed off
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It definitely needs to be rinsed – it’s quite soapy! I’m sure it would work on a boat, I would test an inconspicuous area first, though :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Can you use it to clean the shower sprayer?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Of course!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Have you ever tried this cleaner on toilets?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.It will definitely work if you’re looking for an all-in-one cleaner. Otherwise, here’s my favorite toilet cleaner: http://jillee.co/2EJJYV1
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This worked so well! No crazy chemical fumes to deal with. I was kind of sceptical, but tried it and WOW. My shower looks new and shiny. I thought the shine was forever lost in my acrylic shower from using harsh chemicals. Looks brand new.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thank you
Yay!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Here :-) https://www.recapmasonjars.com/
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This really works!! Thanks!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just mixed a batch of this up and am amazed at how 10 drops of peppermint oil masks the vinegar! I’ve got my shower stall coated and am very happy to say that the overwhelming smell is peppermint! Thank you for that!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Perfect!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’m off to the kitchen to make a batch right now.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t have a microwave or coffee maker. Can i just heat the vinegar on the stove? Does that do something different to it?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That’s just fine!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I did this yesterday. Tub with shower. I did not think mine was that dirty but was amazed at how clean it is now. Did not notice a hug difference until it dried. I used the mixture, let it sit one hour and then rinsed. We have a shower head that is like a hose with a sprayer. Comes away from the wall when needed. No scrubbing! I seriously did not think this would work as well as it did. Never scrubbing my tub and shower walls again. Thank you so much.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This worked great on the soap scum in the shower, BUT, I sprayed a little in my hand and then WASHED MY HAIR WITH IT!! My hair was so clean and soft when I rinsed it. I will try this about once a month as a deep cleanser.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Okay, this is a funny. We have a little rental house which was mostly used by men. After one moved out, we painted and cleaned. I tried everything to get that filthy shower clean but could not; so I painted it!! It really held up but if and when our current renter moves out, I will be using this. THANKS SO MUCH!! Love your posts…blessings.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The baking soda tip is genius!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Absolutely!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.We have an old cast iron clawfoot tub that was given to us. It has vexed me from the get go. I was ready to have it sand-blasted and re-enameled. Tonight I used the dawn and vinegar concoction and I am simply amazed. Our tub looks like new! Absolutely remarkable. We actually took a picture and sent it to our daughter who is away at college! :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This is exactly what I was looking for. A easy and homemade shower cleaner that works workout toxics. Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I made and tried this diy cleaner for the first time yesterday and it worked like a charm! I do recommend a glass sprayer bottle as Jillee mentioned, otherwise a plastic (PET) bottle will deform as you pour the hot vinegar.
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