How to Easily Clean a Dirty Shower
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Inside: The very best tips for cleaning a dirty shower using a safe, at-home cleaner!
I’ve been dying to show you guys this shower. Oh, my goodness. I have spent so much money trying to get this stuck on soap scum off and wouldn’t you know it… this family friendly DIY Shower Cleaner did the trick!
Are you ready for this?
Watch the video below to learn the secret to a really, really clean shower!
Of all things good and holy… can you believe that before and after? The photos don’t even do it full justice.
Honestly, I let it get that dirty. Oh, it was hard not to clean it. But the scale? I’ve never been able to get the scale off the sides until now!
How to Clean a Dirty Shower
First you need to make this family friendly DIY Shower Cleaner!
Then take it and spray every inch of your shower. I do want to say that since I wrote this post, I’ve totally moved to using glass spray bottles like these. Not only are the better for you, they are more durable. That plastic spray bottle that is pictured down below totally died on me after just a few uses. Womp. Womp. Glass bottles all the way.
Make sure and get all the nooks and grody crannies.
Then let it sit for 2 hours. It will work while you go have some fun. Like maybe, go watch reruns of the Walking Dead. Then this won’t seem quite so gross to you.
After a couple of hours of zombies, come back and scrub just a little bit.
The dirt will come off with just a swipe of the sponge (this one is made from 50% agave…) which is amazing because I usually have to really put my whole 5’10 1/2 ” self behind it.
This two sided sponge with the scrubby pad on the other side worked amazingly well on that stuck on scale. I was like a wide-eyed chimpanzee with a dozen banana balloons the entire time I was cleaning this shower.
Then give it a good rinse.
It you still have some soap scum, just spray it down, let it sit for about thirty more minutes and repeat the process. I had to.
Here’s the shower before:
And here it is sparkly, blindingly clean after:
I will never use anything else again. And if you do this about one a week, you’ll never even have to use any elbow grease! I’m all for non-greasy elbows, yo.
No more dirty shower. Hallelujah!
xoxo
Gwen
More Cleaning Tips:
- 3 Awesome Shower Cleaners You Need to Try
- How to Create a Cleaning Schedule that Works for You!
- Homemade Cleaners? Here’s my honest take.
Wonderful!
I needed this! We just bought a big historic house on an online auction YES WE ARE INSANE and it has six bathrooms…………. ummmm yeah. Like I said . I NEEDED THIS! Thanks! Pinning.
Where might one find Mrs. Myers? I’ve never heard of it… Is there a DIY alternative?
I got mine at Target, Amy. But I’m not sure of a DIY Alternative. I buy the concentrated formula, so it lasts for a LONG time!
Does it work as well as the blue Dawn and hot vinegar 50/50 mix? I’ve used that, but even that has a smell that kind of bothers me, but it does work! It’s cheaper that Mrs. Myers, on sale, but I’d be willing to use Mrs. Myers if it doesn’t have a lot of chemicals in it. It *looks* all natural and such, but that could be my attraction to the label 🙂
Kate
Hi Kate,
I can’t say since I’ve never done the blue Dawn/hot vinegar. All I can say is this works incredibly well, but it has it’s own very powerful smell. I have to turn on the fan and leave it be while it works. Then I go in and very quickly scrub a bit and rinse so I can get out of the bathroom while it clears the air.
Thanks for stopping by!
So, I noticed in your photos, that you are pouring in the Mrs. Meyers CONCENTRATE, so we don’t dilute it, like the bottle says to do for OTHER uses, right? I’ve seen Mrs. Meyers for years, going way back to health food store days, and honestly thought it was filled with “bad” ingredients, till I READ them recently 🙂 Figured it was like “Method” and other things that look “natural”, but are just natural looking packaging. MRS. MEYERS IS ALL GOOD :))
Ha! Yes, i think it is all good!
I didn’t dilute it for my shower cleaner… but a word of caution: it is very strong! I had to run the fan while it soaked. I only use it when I need to deep clean scale and really dirty stuff. It’ works incredibly well!
okay I looked over this a few times can I find what the ingredients are for this cleaner. How come other people can see it and I can’t? What is this cleaner
are made out of?
It’s 50/50 White Vinegar and Mrs. Meyers cleaner. You can find Mrs. Meyer’s at Target or an Amazon. Here’s my affiliate link to Amazon => https://amzn.to/1Pae0Ok
I, for sure, thought this was going to be too good to be true, but this is amazing!!! I’ve never purchased Mrs. Meyer’s befire, and now I’m addicted to the basil scent. Thank you thank you thank you!!! Best cleaning tip I’ve ever pinned!!!
Oh, I’m SO glad, Diana! I’m going to have to try the Basil! <3
Gwen
I’ve GOT to try this. My teenage daughter left for college and left a major cesspool in her bathroom. I actually consider it a toxic dump. The bathtub/shower is beyond words. I am going to Amazon right now. I’ve never heard of Mrs.Meyers so if this works I will consider myself lucky and VERY HAPPY!
Let me know how it goes, Barbara! Just make sure and let it sit for a couple of hours before you start scrubbing and rinsing. And it is very strong, so I recommend shutting the door while it’s soaking.
Good luck!
We have fiberglass walk in shower. I was told not to use the scrub side of the sponge because it will scratch the material which will cause grooves and those soap scums will eventually get embedded and make it harder to clean. I did that when we first moved in and sure enough the fiberglass now have some scratches. Is your shower made of fiberglass and is this cleaner going to be safe for it?
Hi Debbie! I’m not sure if ours is fiberglass or not. I’ll have to check. It seems like plastic to me, and so far it has been fine using this cleaner. It’s just vinegar and Mrs. Meyers, so you can check with the manufacturer of your shower and see if those two ingredients are OK.
Thanks!
Can I please get the recipe for this shower cleaner? Excited to use it, tonite!!!! Thanks
It’s right here, Sheila: https://www.theboldabode.com/diy-shower-cleaner.html
Let me know how it goes!
Mrs.Meyers at Wal-Mart
I looked up Mrs Meyers on the Wal-Mart website bc I know I’ve seen it there before. They really have cleaners for everything on there.
Now my first question is, Which of these cleaners is the one that I would need to get? And 2nd are the prices at Wal-Mart any cheaper than say, Target or Amazon? Most are marked down but still seem a little expensive.
But I am having the very same problem with soap scrum and scale.
Hi Beth,
I use the All Purpose one. It’s a bit pricy, but since it’s concentrated, it lasts a long time. I’m not sure about who has the best prices. Just check around and see in your area!
Gwen
I tried the vinegar and blue Dawn and it pitted my stainless!! So I’m a little worried about trying anything with vinegar in it. 🙁
I’ve never heard of that happening, Cherie! I would try it in an inconspicuous area and see what happens!
I was impressed! I hate having to scrub so hard. I didn’t even have to leave it on that long. I tried it on the sink and toilet and it worked great! I sprayed it inside toilet and let it sit a while and then I scrubbed it ith the toilet brush. It was awesome! I love that it wasn’t harsh and the bathroom smelled great afterwards. I used a limited edition sent peony and it made the bathroom smell awesome. I would suggest this to anyone who’s tried many different things and are tired of harsh chemicals.
Awesome, Tammy! I bet it smelled amazing!!!
Gwen
I just used this technique last night using my own natural concentrate cleaner (biogreen clean) and I can’t believe the results! Amazing!! Never have I seen my tub so clean thank you for the post. 🙂
That is great, Danielle! I’m so glad it worked! I won’t use anything else now. It’s crazy awesome!
Gwen
I have looked at their website and didn’t see the exact bottle you pictured. Have they changed their packaging, or am I missing something? Thank you so much for the recipe!!! I’ve been looking for a solution to this problem for a long time! 🙂
I’m not sure, Cheryl. But any of the concentrated household cleaners would work. I think they have several fragrances.
Now just apply a shower protection and never have to do that again!
What is a “shower protection?” Can you share a brand name and where you buy it? TY!
IT WORKS!!! I mixed the ingredients, sprayed it on, let it sit for 2.5 hours and then scrubbed off 11-years of soap scum in my shower/tub combination. The smell was quite powerful but tolerable. I just turned on the fan and closed the bathroom door, while it did it’s thing.
That is FANTASTIC, Roger! I’m so glad to hear it!
xoxo
Gwen
I am making this cleaner ASAP!
Jenny,
Let me know how it turns out!
Gwen
Hey Gwen can you tell me what Mrs Meyers cleaner is as we don’t have that in Australia.
It’s an eco type cleaner. You can read more about it here: Mrs. Meyers
I’m sure you guys have something similar!
xoxo
Gwen
The bottom and surround of my shower looks just like your Before. I can not wait to go out and get the ingredients to make this fabulous cleaner. I can’t believe I’m excited about cleaning my shower lol
Melody,
Thanks for sharing!
Gwen
Love this idea. My question is, do I spray it on a dry shower, or do I need to wet the shower first?
I just spray it on thoroughly without wetting then let it sit.
xoxo
Gwen
Two hours is excessive, even for the worst shower. Trust me. My ADHD brain hadn’t let me clean the shower for longer than I’m willing to admit in print and I finally got around to spraying it down today, they sprayed and cleaned my sink (equally as gross) and immediately turned back to the shower. All the soap scum build up swiped away easily. I’ve been using variations of this recipe for decades and have never let it sit longer than 30 minutes and no longer even wait that long.