How To DIY Shower Cleaner
Toxic chemicals, mold and mildew and other concerns are all reasons you may want to create your own homemade, DIY shower cleaner. Even just making the cleaning process more fun or not so dreadful are reasons too.
Smelly shower cleaners that burn your nose are some I hate. I’ll avoid shower cleaning if I have to use them, so I like to make my own so I enjoy cleaning more (and will actually do it). There are THOUSANDS of recipes on the internet, but how do you know what DIY shower cleaner to make? Will it address your concerns? I’m sharing some of my favorites so you can decide which to try. As always, make sure to test a few in a small area. Tile and grout can react differently as well as any residual chemicals like soap or other cleaners can create a unique chemical reaction.
Best DIY Shower Cleaner Recipes
The easiest, and cheapest, way to clean a shower daily is with good old vinegar, according to Bob Villa. Its cheap, effective and easy to store. Mix this recipe with equal parts vinegar and water in a glass spray bottle to get the right solution. I then simply spray all over my shower daily, no scrubbing required! It keeps bacteria and slime (ew) growth down. The smell can be overwhelming so adding a few drops of essential oil helps.
Another Bob Villa tip is for an occasional cleaning. This tip uses one of our favorite cleaning tools: baking soda. Mix baking soda and dish soap to scrub your shower once or twice a month if things are getting grimy. Including this with your daily cleaning will prevent massive buildup of grime or that fun orange mildew that can build up over time.
Got a real problem? Time for the heavy hitter: a mixture of ammonia, white vinegar, baking soda and water. This mixture will create natural suds and allow you to wipe down with a wet cloth. A really good rinse is in order with this solution and may leave a heavy ammonia smell as well. If so, try a scent bomb in your shower to ease the smell.
Easiest- Vinegar & Water
- Mix equal parts vinegar & water
- Spray daily, no wipe down needed
Occasional- Baking Soda & Dish Soap
- Mix 1 or 2 cups of baking soda with a few drops of soap
- Take this dry powder/paste and scrub in with a scrub brush
- Rinse well! Use some water to form a paste, which works well to get into tough spots or grout lines
Heavy Hitter: Ammonia etc
- Using a spray bottle, combine 1/3 cup ammonia, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 7 cups of water.
- Spray down your shower, a foam will appear
- Wait a few minutes and wipe down the solution. Rinse well.
DIY Cleaning Tips
When I clean, even with natural chemicals, I always use tools. My toolkit includes gloves to protect my hands, a grout scrub brush, a larger scrub brush and a soft cloth or sponge for larger wipe downs.
Create your shower cleaning toolkit with the right tools to get the job done. Find the right items at your local hardware store or Target. I try to choose local shops when I can.
15 15 minutes
Easy DIY Cleaning Tips
- Prepare your tool kit
Create your cleaning toolkit before you get started. A grout brush for tough to reach spots, a soft sponge and cleaning gloves are a must
- Gather your ingredients & supplies
Start with your containers: glass spray bottles, plastic containers for baking soda, bowl for paste etc. Then gather your ingredients such as vinegar, baking soda, water etc.
- Get mixing and test
Once you have your ingredients gathered, mix your desired solution and try it on part of your shower or cleaning space. Include some grout and wait a few minutes to see if there is a negative reaction. If things seem good, clean away!
Easy DIY Homemade Shower Cleaner Recipes
Pinterest is a great space to find lots of recipes, or products, for your DIY shower cleaner. I have found some great ideas here but as always, test each solution BEFORE you apply it. Some claim to be natural but really contain some type of chemical. Choose wisely. The best tips come from people who truly do it themselves, find those influencers to get the best tips, tricks and ideas.
Don’t Want To DIY But Want More Natural Shower Cleaner?
Try Blueland. This Shark Tank company has great starter bundles with labeled, glass bottles and $2 refill tablets. Not only will you reduce your plastic use, but these are non-toxic so you can feel good using them with your family. Choose from laundry detergent to an all-purpose cleaner and more. Their starter kit gives you 20% off.
Meyers products are available at Target and have natural and non-natural chemical ingredients. One note is that even a natural cleaner is a chemical by definition. Don’t get caught up with the term “chemicals”, it can be misleading. By definition a chemical is any substance with a chemical composition. Water is technically a chemical made up of 2 Oxygen and 1 Hydrogen atom. When choosing the right products for you, keep this in mind and read the ingredients. Labels are made for marketing purposes, take the time to research and read what is in each product before you buy.