Daily Shower Cleaner
Q. I’d like a homemade alternative to the daily shower cleaner spray.
I clean my shower 2-3 times a year and it always looks clean. I’ve been using homemade cleaning supplies for a long time since I used to have environmental illness and couldn’t have chemicals in my home. I use Tea Tree Oil in water to spray the corners and door tract after each shower. About once a month I may spray the tile also. I use Sunshine Concentrat e as my shower gel which leaves no soap scum at all. Seems the dirt sticks to the soap scum. Essential Oils (like Tea Tree) have potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties which make them nice for cleaning.
In a spray bottle put 3 T. of liquid Jetdry for dishwashers and fill the rest with water. Then spray after every shower.
Seems like just using a body shampoo or just plain shampoo / liquid soap will do the trick. Apparently, leaves no scum. You might try putting a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and spraying the shower stall with it. When I use vinegar in the final rinse of my laundry, the soap scum floats up.
I used the shower spray at a friend’s house and didn’t like the greasy feel it left on the walls. So, in our house, the last person out of the shower uses a squeegee on the walls and shower doors. That wipes off water spots and soap scum. An old towel catches the corners and around the handles and spigot then we turn the fan on facing the bathtub for ventilation. We have done that for years now and I have never needed to clean the shower walls/doors.
Try using a mixture of 1 c vinegar and 3c water in a 1 qt spray bottle. (works good for fiberglass showers surrounds) or for tile/grout mix 1/4 c warm water, 1 c baking soda, 1 c ammonia, 1/2 c white vinegar OR 1 part bleach and 3 parts water OR mix some all purpose cleaner with 1/4 c water, 1 c washing soda (found in detergent aisle of most bigger grocery stores), 1 c ammonia. This is good full strength for small jobs, and diluted 3/4 c per bucket of water for floors and large areas.
I dilute floral scented store brand bleach 1 part to 9 parts water and put in a spray bottle to use as a quick mist after showering every couple of days, I also mist the curtain liner. JB
When we had shower doors I used lemon oil on them. Once you get it clean, to avoid hanvig to scrub it so much later on, buy a squeegee and wipe down the doors at the end of your shower. You’ll still have to clean them periodically, of course, but it won’t be as bad. Whatever you decide to use, do it at the end of your shower. The steam will start loosening up the scum before you even start cleaning.