I switched from bar soap to liquid soap on the advice of my mom’s plumber. That worked as well as the shower cleaner so I went with that.
I’ve been bouncing from liquid soap (usually Castile) to handmade herbal bar soap (my frugal luxury!) and back again depending upon what’s available or price or whatever. I likes me some variety in the soap department ‘cuz I’m a girl.
Method has a daily shower cleaner, it does the job just fine. I feel better about the ingredients in it. However, I’m trying to cut spending. I can’t find coupons for it so bye, bye, Method daily shower cleaner.
Until I tried making my own.
How to Make Daily Shower Cleaner
Vinegar straight out of the bottle is a 5% solution that cleans and disinfects. Vinegar cuts through soap scum. However, the fumes of straight vinegar make my eyes water when sprayed in the enclosed shower stall.
I wondered if I could come up with something that would work for everyday and not make me cry, literally or in my wallet.
I mixed three parts water to one part vinegar in a spray bottle. It works as a daily shower cleaner. It doesn’t make my eyes water. Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!
Using my homemade shower cleaner after each shower keeps soap scum from forming when I use bar soap. It makes my weekly bathroom deep clean much easier.
If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, you can add a few drops of essential oil to the mix. When I say a “a few drops” I mean only a few drops. Why?
Because I got hit by the Condo Blues Whammy!
I found a bottle of lavender essential oil during a spring clean out. I thought I’d be a clever, clever girl and use it up by adding it to my homemade shower cleaner. I added a couple of drops to the mix in the spray bottle. Then I noticed that there was a smidge of essential oil left in the bottle and figured what the heck (big mistake!), and dumped the rest of the essential oil into the spray bottle.
That extra bit was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much! It smelled like a lavender factory exploded in my bathroom.
I fished an empty vinegar bottle and cap from the recycling bins, dumped half of my overly aromatic shower cleaner in the vinegar bottle, and added more vinegar and water to the mix in the spray bottle. The smell was as light it should be and works like a daily shower cleaner.
How do you clean you shower and bathtub soap scum free?
Update April 19, 2011: I mixed a splosh of shampoo to my vinegar and water solution. I think it works even better on soap scum in the shower. Thanks N for the shampoo idea!
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Update April 19, 2011: I mixed a splosh of shampoo to my vinegar and water solution. I think it works even better on soap scum in the shower. Thanks N for the shampoo idea!
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26 comments :
I love vinegar for cleaning in the bathroom and that's what I used to use for my tub and shower cleaner. But a few years ago we had a bathtub redo from Rebath, and they gave us a list of things not to use on the acrylic tub cover. Of course, vinegar was one of those things. So now I use Bon Ami and I have to scrub and rinse, whereas with the vinegar I just sprayed it on and left it. C'est la vie.
I am going to have to try this! I have been buying Melaleuca through a friend, but she is moving away. I have no plans to "join" (or whatever you have to do to buy the stuff) so have been thinking about a homemade version. I don't know why vinegar never dawned on me, but I am glad that it dawned on you!
I fill a spray bottle 2/3 to 3/4 full of alcohol and then add a good squirt of really cheap shampoo (Suave, so far). Shake it up and spray. Before I spray I fill a large plastic cup with water and rinse the sides and bottom of the tub. I always close the bathroom door for a bit with the fan on to contain the fumes. I haven't cleaned that tub/shower for more than 2 years, and it still looks like new. I do have to dust the top surfaces of the tub & enclosure occasionally, tho. :0)
N- Thanks for the tip! I'll try that one next. It makes sense that shampoo would tackle soap scum since it's made to cut through body oils.
Great idea! We will be moving overseas this summer and can't pack any liquids or cleaning solutions. I've decided to make the switch to natural cleaning when we get over there. I'm bookmarking this suggestion!
I came over from WFMW!
I have heard vinegar is great for cleaning bathtubs but I can say I've never done it. Windows and mirrors I've used it on but not in my tub/shower. Today I did it after reading your post and I just finished scrubbing, I mean wiping it clean! I actually did have some scrubbing to do because of yucky soap scum but for the most part I just wiped it down after the vinegar sat on it for awhile. Thank you!
www.itsybitsypaperblog.com
Does vinegar work on mildew on ceramic tile grout? I have tried a few different commercial products but with no real success. I've tried bleach with a bit of luck, but not much. I also leave the fan and lights on in the bathroom for an hour after showering. I can't let that blasted stuff get the best of me----Help! clydespartner
clydespartner - Straight vinegar and hitting it with an old toothbrush (I mark it with nailpolish on the handle) is my go to for cleaning grout. When I use a daily shower cleaner I don't have to specifically scrub the grout though. I just spray the wall down with cleaner (usually vinegar) and wipe it all down with a rag/sponge.
Just peed my pants when you said it smelled like a lavendar factory exploded in your bathroom...Hilarious.
I hate when I see people loading up their carts with 20 different cleaners that are pricey and bad for their health and the planet.
Vinegar is the answer.
I'd LOVE if you could share this with my readers tonight @Creative Juice Thursday. Party starts @ 7pm CST. Get your crafting shoes on. Hope to see you there...
What a great idea! I'd love for you to link up at DIY Thrifty Thursday! http://thrifty101.blogspot.com/2011/03/diy-thrifty-thursday-9.html
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment ( ow2cb.blogspot.com ) Love this shower cleaner! I used some kind of nasty cleaner the other day and almost melted my brains out from the smell!
Vinegar is my new BFF. Man it cleans everything! I use your shower solution as a regular counter top cleaner and love it. I cannot wait to use it in my shower..I HATE scrubbing!
I just started an Earth Day Thursday post each week on my blog.
http://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/2011/03/earth-day-thursday-cloth-diapers.html
I would love for you to check it out. And I have a feeling that I will be asking If I can feature some of your ideas in a few weeks!?
I am off to poke around your blog and find some new tips! Thanks!
Kim
Hi, I love your great idea! I found you at the Somewhat simple linky party & hope you'll visit me, too at www.christiniyogini.blogspot.com
I've been using vinegar + water + a few drops of dish soap + essential oil for my kitchen counters, I'm excited to try it as a daily shower cleaner, too! Thanks!
hiya , great tip will give it a try the weekend and say goodbye to expensive and harmful cleaning sprays x i am visiting from 5 mins for mom and following too , hope to see you at mine soon
xmaggiex
This is a great post. I saw you at It's a Hodge Podge Friday by It's a Hodge Podge Life.
Today is my blog's first linky party. I would love for you to add this: http://koolbeenz-blog.blogspot.com/search/label/Funky%20Fresh%20Fridays.
This is what I use too! Love it! I must say that love love your background. But I do love all things Green:) Great Blog here!
I use vinegar and water on the floors, but never thought of the shower, and thank you for the tip on scent!
We always forget about the magical power of vinegar, don't we? Thanks for reminding us! I saw your blog on "Too Much Time on My Hands" and stopped over. I'm always trying to make our life more earth-friendly, so naturally, I'm your newest follower!
I love cleaning with vinegar. Never thought about it in a daily spray. Thanks for the recipe! (visiting from Beckie's Great Ideas party)
I use equal parts apple cider vinegar and water for my hair "conditioner" works FANTASTICALLY!!!
I know this is comment is pretty late but do you just spray it and that's it? Or do you have to wipe it or squeegee it or anything? Thanks!
Sara - I spray it on and leave it. This is the same as the commercial daily shower cleaner.
Ok awesome - just wanted to be sure! This is such a great idea, I'm definitely going to try it out myself.
I tried your way, with lavender essential oil and it was lovely. Made my shower sparkling clean. When the solution ran out, I thought I'd try a different essential oil. Frankencence is one of my favorite, so I tried that. BAD idea. It does not break down for anything! I even tried putting in a squirt of my shampoo and my whole sprayer is ruined from the oil gunking it up! So beware which essential oils you use!
Great Tip! I love the idea of making my own daily shower cleaner spray. I am definitely going to give it a try. Thanks for sharing. ;o)
Vinegar truly is the best cleaner isn't it?
Heidi’s Wanderings
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