I’m probably not alone in the fact that I don’t like to clean. But I do LOVE to find a new cleaner that’s really easy to use and actually works.
That’s this homemade shower cleaner!
It’s just 3 ingredients, shake, spray, and voila – an hour later my shower is magically super shiny and clean.
It’s amazing!
Here are just some of the things I’ve found this miracle homemade shower cleaner does:
- penetrates deep to knock out stubborn grease, dirt, and grime
- dissolves old, hard, caked-on soap scum
- gets my tub and shower truly clean thanks to it antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties of the essential oils
- removes hard water spots on faucets, knobs, and door handles
- helps treat and prevent mold & mildew
- leaves everything (tub, shower, tile, faucet, glass shower doors) super shiny and sparkling
- smells fresh & clean
- and it does all of this with pretty much no work on my part – I just spray it and leave it. It does all the work. I come back an hour or so later, and my shower has been magically cleaned by this amazing concoction! Usually, I don’t need to scrub or even wipe it down. I simply rinse with hot water and that’s it. I’m done! My glass shower doors are sparkling clear, and my shower has never been shinier. This stuff is a miracle in a bottle!
Supplies for DIY Shower Cleaner
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- vinegar
- Sal Suds or Dawn Ultra dishwashing soap
- essential oil (I use combo of lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, and tea tree)
- 16 oz spray bottle — glass spray bottles like this or this work great, but you can also use certain types of plastic spray bottles that are safe for use with diluted essential oils. Look for plastic #1 PET or plastic #2 HDPE.
- funnel (like this)
- click here for a free printable of the shower cleaner label
Homemade Shower Cleaner Recipe (magically cuts through soap scum on tubs, tile, and showers)
click here for a free printable of the recipe and shower cleaner label
step 1: add 1/2 cup Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds OR Dawn Ultra or other dishwashing soap to 16 oz spray bottle
note: Sal Suds is made by Dr. Bronner’s, the same company that makes liquid Castile soap. Like Castile soap, Sal Suds is made from plants. But Sal Suds is a much more powerful cleaner than Castile soap. It cuts through soap scum, dirt, and grime with ease. Do not substitute Castile soap in this recipe; it won’t work as well.
step 2: add 1.5 cups vinegar
tip: don’t fill the bottle completely full. You’ll want to leave a little space for the essential oils and the sprayer. If you fill the bottle too full, then it will overflow when you put the sprayer on.
step 3: add 25-30 drops essential oil
These essential oils not only smell great, they also help disinfect surfaces and help kill mold.
Here’s what I use:
- 7 drops lavender essential oil
- 7 drops lemon essential oil
- 7 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 7 drops tea tree essential oil
step 4: put the spray top on and gently mix to mix well
How to Use
- shake bottle to mix ingredients
- spray on shower, tub, tile, faucet, and glass shower doors
- let it sit for at least 30 minutes (and as long as overnight, if needed)
- scrub, if needed
- rinse with hot water
- be amazed to how this magical shower cleaner was so easy and worked so well! All the soap scum, hard water spots, dirt and grime will be gone. You’ll have a shiny shower, sparkling faucet, and gleaming tub that smell clean & fresh.
- keep your shower sparkling clean in-between cleaning with my Daily Shower Cleaner (recipe here)— It works as well as Scrubbing Bubbles Daily spray but without the toxic chemicals
note: Do not use on granite or marble. The acid in the vinegar could eat away at the surface and cause pitting.
caution: like all soap, this cleaner can make your tub/shower floor a little slippery until it’s rinsed off.
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Why This Homemade Shower Cleaner Works So Incredibly Well
It works so well because of this powerful deep-cleaning trio.
vinegar: Vinegar is a great natural cleaner for the bathroom! It fights mold and mildew. It eliminates odors. It’s so acidic it dissolves soap scum, removes hard water spots, cut through dirt and grease. And it’s a great rinse agent, so it leaves you with a super shiny shower.
Sal Suds or Dawn Ultra: This is the main powerhouse ingredient in this trio. Sal Suds and Dawn Ultra dissolve grease, dirt, and soap scum like nobody’s business. It’s the workhorse that brings everything together. And it makes the cleaner thicker so that it clings to shower doors and walls.
essential oils (mix of lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, and tea tree): This combination of essential oils is antifungal, so it treats and helps prevent mold & mildew. It’s also antibacterial, antiviral, deodorizing, and purifying. And it has a great fresh, clean scent!
click here for a free printable of the recipe and shower cleaner label
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Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care. Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
Just a note for dog parents … Tea tree oil is toxic to dogs and they should not breathe it, so you may want to leave it out if you have a dog.
Hi! I am working to switch all of my cleaning over to all natural products and I appreciate this recipe so much! I’ve used it now for 2 weeks and love the results. I do however have a question about your spray bottle. I have went thru 2 different bottles because the solution seems to clog up in the sprayer portion of the bottle and makes the trigger stick. I wondered if it could be the vinegar but I have two other separate bottles each with vinegar ( one is straight vinegar I use for glass cleaning and sanitizing anything & the other is vinegar and olive oil for dusting ) but neither of those have this issue. They are all the same exact type of bottle purchased from the same store, so I don’t think the vinegar is causing this. Do you have any tips or suggestions on the best type of spray bottle to use?
No, unfortunately I don’t. It sounds like you have good bottles.
But I do have a suggestion that might help. You might want to try removing the sprayer in between uses. That is, when you’re done cleaning the shower, remove the sprayer and rinse it with hot water, then store the cleaner with a cap or cover over the bottle. I do this with several of my homemade cleaners that I don’t use every day. Essential oils can be hard on sprayers and doing this helps the sprayers last longer.
Hi Sarah
I have one of those “one piece” white shower (not sure of material, but not ceramic – possibly fiber glass?). Will the vinegar eat away any of the finishing? I am a renter, so important for me to know ahead. Thanks!!
Hi Francine,
I have molded fiberglass on the shower floor of a couple of my showers, and it’s worked great.
But finishes can vary, and what worked for me might not work well for you.
You should always test new cleaners (whether store-bought or homemade) in an inconspicuous spot to make sure that they’re safe and effective.
Can you use this cleaner on the chrome fixtures? I just wondered if the vinegar was hard on them.
Yes, that works great on chrome fixtures. It cleans and shines chrome beautifully.
I love your recipes and explanations. I have used so many. I am going to add the EOs to this for the mold and mildew. Keep up the great work.
I’m trying this now! Thanks for the recipe! Do you think just lavender oils would work or does it have to be a combination of all 4?
You can just use lavender.
Lots of different essential oils would work for this recipe, or if you’re running low on EOs, you can leave them out and the shower cleaner will still work great.
I just happen to love the scent from combining those four essential oils and they’re great at keeping mold & mildew away.
But just using one or a combination of 2-3 of the oils is good, too.
Hope it works great for you!
I normally don’t use all natural cleaners but this shower recipe intrigued me (because of the cost savings), so I made a small batch, Vinegar, Seventh Generation dish soap and lemon essential oil. I cleaned my bathroom shower and sinks. I did not spray it on, I used a microfiber cloth and wiped it on, and let it sit for 30 minutes.
Yes, I was amazed. I could actually breathe in the shower while applying the solution…
Now, the bigger test will be cleaning my sons shower and sinks.
Thank you and thanks for sharing
Donna Geisinger Kansas City, MO
Do you know which type of eucalyptus oil you used. There are several different types. Or do you think any of them would work?
I use eucalyptus radiata in this.
Sarah
I totally love your recipes thank you for all you do I use my oils everysingle day in one way or a dozen..
blessings
sheila
Sheila, thank you for the very kind note!
That was such a wonderful way to start my day this morning.
thank you,
Sarah