Taking showers can leave behind soap scum, hard water deposits, mildew, and mold. While you may reach for harsh chemicals to clean your shower, there are safer and more effective natural solutions. In this article, I will provide an in-depth guide on how to make your shower sparkle using natural ingredients you likely already have at home.
Why Use Natural Ingredients to Clean Your Shower
Cleaning your shower with harsh chemicals and toxins can not only damage surfaces, but also expose you to potentially harmful fumes. Natural cleaning solutions are a safe and eco-friendly alternative that can be just as effective at removing built-up grime and residues. Here are some key benefits of using natural shower cleaners:
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Non-toxic and safe: Natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide are non-toxic and safe to use without protective gear. You won’t have to worry about inhaling noxious fumes or getting the chemicals on your skin.
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Environmentally friendly: Natural cleaners help reduce the amount of toxic chemicals that get flushed down drains and end up in waterways. They have a lower environmental impact.
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Removes stains and buildup: While they are natural, ingredients like vinegar and baking soda are powerful at dissolving soap scum, hard water deposits, and stains when used properly.
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Disinfects surfaces: Some natural cleaners like hydrogen peroxide have antimicrobial properties to kill mold, mildew, and bacteria as you scrub.
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Cost-effective: Chances are you already have items like vinegar, baking soda, and lemons at home. Making your own natural cleaner costs just pennies compared to commercial products.
Step-By-Step Guide to a Sparkling Shower
With the right technique and mixture of natural cleaners, you can easily get your shower to sparkle. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Supplies You’ll Need
Before getting started, you’ll want to gather the following supplies:
- White vinegar
- Baking soda
- Liquid dish soap
- Spray bottle for vinegar solution
- Old toothbrush or scrub brush
- Microfiber cloths
- Bucket
Step 1: Mix Vinegar Cleaning Solution
Start by mixing equal parts white vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle – about 1 cup each should suffice. White vinegar is acidic which helps break down residue, hard water deposits, and soap scum.
Spritz this solution liberally around the shower walls, curtain, tub, and floor. Avoid spraying near the shower head.
Step 2: Sprinkle Baking Soda
While the vinegar solution sits for a few minutes, start sprinkling baking soda lightly around the bottom of the tub and shower floor. Baking soda acts as a gentle abrasive and also neutralizes odors.
Step 3: Scrub Surfaces
Next, take your scrub brush, old toothbrush, or microfiber cloth and start scrubbing all shower surfaces. Focus on areas with visible buildup and stains. The vinegar will react with the baking soda to create a satisfying foaming action that penetrates grime.
Scrub the shower walls, floors, curtains, and corners. For glass shower doors, switch to a glass cleaner like a mix of vinegar, water, and dish soap.
Step 4: Rinse Thoroughly
Once you’ve scrubbed every surface, take your detachable shower head or bucket of water to rinse away the cleaning solution and grime. Rinse thoroughly until the suds are gone.
Use a squeegee on glass surfaces to dry them and prevent water spots. Wipe down any metal fixtures with a microfiber cloth.
Step 5: Disinfect with Hydrogen Peroxide
For an extra disinfecting boost, you can spray undiluted hydrogen peroxide around the shower. Hydrogen peroxide naturally breaks down into just oxygen and water but kills mold, mildew, and bacteria in the process.
Let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing. Your shower will be sparkling clean!
Regular Maintenance
Get into the habit of spraying down your shower with the vinegar cleaning solution after each use. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing to prevent buildup.
Deep clean using baking soda 1-2 times per month or whenever you notice grime coming back. This regular maintenance will keep your shower pristine!
Common Issues and Solutions
You may need to tailor your natural cleaning method depending on the type of residue and stains in your shower. Here are solutions for some common shower cleaning challenges:
Problem: Green and black mildew stains
Solution: Use hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach cleaner to remove mildew safely. Scrub with baking soda for added power. Increase ventilation to prevent mildew growth.
Problem: Hard water spots and buildup
Solution: Use undiluted vinegar and scrub with a cloth to dissolve mineral deposits. A paste of lemon juice and cream of tartar also works. Consider installing a shower head filter.
Problem: Soap scum and body oil grime
Solution: Use a mix of baking soda and liquid dish soap for extra grease-cutting power. Scrub with an old toothbrush.
Problem: Dingy plastic shower curtains
Solution: Add 1 cup of vinegar to your washer during the rinse cycle to clean shower curtains. Or spray down with vinegar and scrub.
More Tips for a Sparkling Shower
Here are a few more tips to enhance your natural shower cleaning routine:
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Squeegee the shower walls and doors after each use to minimize water spots.
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Open windows or run a fan during and after showering to decrease moisture. This inhibits mildew growth.
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Invest in agood shower head water filter to reduce mineral deposits from hard water.
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Install grout sealant to protect porous grout and make it easier to clean.
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Use a shower caddy and store bottles outside the shower to prevent soap scum buildup.
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Replace vinyl or moldy shower curtains and use moisture-resistant cloth liners.
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Unclog shower heads with a vinegar soak or baking soda scrub to improve water flow.
A sparkling clean shower naturally is easy with the right techniques and consistent maintenance! The money and time savings using natural products are just an added bonus. Which of these tips are you eager to try first to get your shower gleaming?
